Episode #7: The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham

This week we're going to learn about how Locke got the alias of "Jeremy Bentham." Interesting, the real Bentham believed in utilitarianism: which essentially is a philosophy that embodies the phrase "the ends justify the means." Thus, morality depends not on any universal idea of truth, but rather what is moral is that which is useful and contributes to one's society. This connects to his belief in legal or civil rights over natural law. Remember from my island's class, that the real John Locke was a prime contributor to "Social Contract Theory," meaning that people give up certain personal rights to a government for the sake of the community (i.e. we follow laws that may go against our moral beliefs for the collective safety of everyone)

So, basically in connection to Locke, Locke's "civil laws" (a.k.a. Bentham's beliefs) that he abides by are the island's laws, not the laws or morality or nature and Locke believes Jack et al should all come back to the island for the sake of the island (a la the real Locke), thus sacrificing their personal lives for the community/island.

Interestingly, Jack, who has been such an adversary of Locke's since Season 2, is so willing to sacrifice everything he has to get back to the island and justify Locke's suicide note to him from last episode: "I wish you had believed me."

Hawking-Faraday Points

"The room we're standing in was constructed years ago over a unique pocket of electromagnetic energy. That energy connects to similar pockets all over the world. The people who built this room, however, were only interested in one."

- Ms. Hawking, episode 5x06 "316"

Maybe they were that narrow-minded, but we need not be. This is pretty interesting.

Lagrangian Points: New Scientist | Wikipedia

There are five “Lagrangian points” in space where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravitational fields cancel each other out. It feels very reminiscent of these places Ms. Hawking refers to. Which, incidentally, is a theory with a long history on Lostcampia. I’m confident that those other spots will come into play before this is over.

We know of two: the island, and the church in L.A. It’s also possible that the spot in the desert where Ben finds himself in 4.09 “The Shape of Things to Come” has some significance; there is no such thing, after all, as a magnetic monopole. The island could be the "north pole" of the magnetic field, and the desert could the "south pole". 

(The Earth's magnetic field isn't actually quite so simple as one north pole, one south pole. Rather, there are, apparently, tons of poles which happen to currently be aligned. There's a spot, for instance, off the southwest coast of Africa where compasses point south. Thank you, 8th grade CSP. :))

So. We know those places. Let's try to think of others.

1. The poles & the center of the Earth

The only three meaningfully unique points on a spinning sphere, I figure. We know Penny has an Arctic listening post.

2. Eden

There’s a ton of Eden symbolism in Lost. (Most notably, Adam and Eve.) If the island itself isn’t Eden, it may yet play a meaningful role.

3. Bethlehem

There was some interesting talk of Jesus in 316, and there's certainly been plenty of symbolism throughout the show. Maybe these special points can be associated with special people

4. Shangri-La

Because we needed something less Judeo-Christian-centric on this list. :) “In the novel Lost Horizon, the people who live at Shangri-La are almost immortal, living years beyond the normal lifespan...” -Wikipedia

---

Alternately, these places could be meaningless. The church in LA doesn't seem all that special, after all. And surely there's a reason the Dharma Initiative set its sights only on the Island. But hey, it's fun to think about. So: what do you think? :)

316

Thanks for the Valentine's wishes, Toph (and Juliet).

This week rolled around fast.... any predictions for 316?  Sounds like we'll find out more about Eloise Hawking and getting back to the Island at least.

316 may refer to an oft-quoted Bible passage, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  Essentially, belief in Jesus is key for eternal life.  John Locke's steadfast belief in the Island will somehow grant him some version of immortality, I figure.

I'm holding out hope, though, that since 316 is an area code in Wichita, Kansas, the way back to the island is some sort of tornado.  Or at least invovles clicking of ruby slippers.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Place Is Death

LOST IS BACK!

The Little Prince

Hola everyone. As Liz said last time, "it's that time of week again."

Any predictions or thoughts heading into Wednesday's episode?

I have these:
*My new tenuous theory is that Jacob is Locke. Just as Daniel (possibly) saw his own mother when she was a young woman, I think in the cabin last year, Locke sees himself in the future (after he is dead and reincarnated Island-style, like Jack's dad). When Jacob says, "Help me" to Locke, he's talking to a past version of himself. This has nothing to do with this week's episode, though.

*I think we find out that Jin is alive this week. His actor has been in the credits each week, and Carleton Cuse made some comment that Sun 'thinks Jin is dead' in an interview. I feel like that's lame, but ok. Or, maybe he's reincarnated on the Island, like Claire.