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Unit 1 Meaning of Life Flashcards can be used as a study source outside of class and discussion.
Sartrean heroes
Individuals who embrace their freedom and are willing to pursue deep, personal values and desires, even if that leads to eccentricity.
Cavendish's view on obstacles
Cavendish suggests using art and fiction to maintain one's self and essence amidst external challenges.
Essence
The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially that which determines its character.
Moderate Sartre
A perspective that advocates exercising freedom while being mindful of not infringing on the freedom of others.
Objective morality
The idea, as contended by Socrates, that questions of morality and value have factual truths that exist independently of personal feelings or societal agreement.
Subjectivity in preference
The concept that individual choices, such as liking ice cream or pizza, are based on personal taste rather than universal truths.
Origin story of moral truths
Socratic inquiry about whether moral truths are established by a powerful being or if they exist independently.
Freedom-fighter
An individual who actively promotes and defends the freedom of themselves and others, often facing obstacles in the process.
Eccentricity
The quality of being unconventional and slightly strange, often embraced by those pursuing true desires.
Personal responsibility
The duty to consider the impact of one's actions on the freedom and rights of others.
Ralph Cudworth's reasoning on God's behavior constraints
Cudworth argues that if God is understood as good, there must be constraints on His behavior to maintain His goodness.
Socrates' view on learning morality from religion
Socrates believes we do not learn morality from religion because morality is fixed and permanent, independent of any particular religious beliefs.
Socrates on the nature of morality
Socrates asserts that morality is not relative to each society or individual preferences; it is a fixed truth.
Role of God in morality according to Socrates
If morality is independent of God, then God's role is to recognize and follow moral truths rather than create them.
Real but undetectable aspects of reality
Examples include mathematics, logic, justice, and love—things that exist but cannot be detected through the senses.
Socrates' belief on subjective value
Socrates suggests that life is more meaningful if values are not merely subjective, implying a serious nature to real values.
Horse-breeder analogy
Socrates uses this analogy to illustrate that just as a horse-breeder knows the best for horses without being a horse themselves, society should seek objective understanding of goodness.
Traditions and systemic corruption according to Socrates
Socrates argues that many societal traditions are corrupt, stemming from problematic foundations that lead to systemic issues.
Importance of examining our lives, per Socrates
Socrates believes the unexamined life is not worth living; understanding goodness helps assess and improve society's values.
Mind-body dualism in Socrates' view
Mind-body dualism posits that the mind and soul are separate from the body, with the soul's pursuit of truth being paramount.
Facticity
The aspects of our existence that we are thrust into, such as our environment, physical characteristics, and other uncontrollable factors.
Transcendence
The ability to rise above circumstances and make choices that shape our essence and identity.
Sartre's Extreme View
The belief that individuals create their own essence through choices and values, implying complete freedom in decision-making.
Existential Choice
The process of making decisions that reflect personal values, but may not encompass every aspect of existence.
Social Norms
The guidelines for behavior that are accepted within a society, which can pressure individuals to conform.
Anguish
The feeling of anxiety or deep concern regarding the freedom to make choices and the responsibility that comes with it.
Essence precedes existence
The philosophical notion that one's essence or purpose is determined before their existence, often contrasted with Sartre’s belief that existence precedes essence.
Neuroscience
The scientific study of the nervous system, which may provide insights into habitual behaviors and decision-making processes.
Choice Mode
The state of actively making decisions, as opposed to being influenced by habits or external factors.
Values
Beliefs or ideals that guide an individual's behavior and choices, often complex and developed over time.
Cavendish's Blazing World
A fictional world created by Cavendish where women can achieve essences not available on 17th-century Earth.
Extreme Sartre
A philosophical view associated with Jean-Paul Sartre that emphasizes radical freedom, often critiqued for neglecting social constraints.
Cavendish's Bell in Campo
Another fictional world created by Cavendish that allows women to achieve essences beyond the limitations of 17th-century Earth.
Moderate Sartre
A perspective that values freedom as sacred and emphasizes the need to fight for the freedom of others.
Subjective Truth
A truth that varies based on personal feelings or opinions.
Objective Truth
A truth that is factual and exists independently of individual beliefs or feelings.
Definition vs Example
A definition provides the meaning of a term, while an example illustrates that definition.
Omni-powerful Being
A being that is all-powerful, often associated with discussions about the nature of goodness and morality.
Goodness is Arbitrary Objection
The argument that if goodness is defined by God, it becomes arbitrary, depending solely on divine whims.
God's All-Powerfulness Objection
The claim that if goodness exists independently of God, it implies that God is not all-powerful.
Goodness = God
A view that equates goodness with the nature of God, facing criticism for failing to explain the essence of goodness.
Critique of Subjectivity in Morality
The perspective that if morality is entirely subjective, then there would be no basis to judge or critique values like those held by Hitler.
Radical Freedom
The concept that individuals have the complete freedom to choose their values and beliefs.
Sartre's View on Choices
The idea that we are always in choice mode, even when we choose not to choose.
Criticism of Sartre
An objection to Sartre's view that suggests there may be beliefs a person cannot choose to adopt.
Yale Lab-Manager Study
An example illustrating how choices of others can limit an individual's ability to define their essence.
Consumer Bias in Job Markets
Beauvoir's argument that societal expectations influence hiring practices, limiting individual freedom.
Richard Jewell Case
An instance that demonstrates how external forces can restrict personal identity and freedom.
Emmy Noether's Example
A counterexample to Sartre's view, highlighting that not all interests can be easily chosen.
Generational Wealth Gap
The disparities in opportunities for individuals to achieve their essence, influenced by prior wealth.
Darwin's Argument on Survival
The fitness of a creature depends not only on its traits but also on how it is received in its environment.
Obstacles to Freedom
Moderate Sartre's belief that we should help others overcome challenges to their freedom.
Pursuit of Authenticity
Sartre argues for the importance of pursuing one's true essence, even if it is unconventional.
Risks of Pursuing Non-Conventional Essence
Potential pitfalls that may arise from pursuing unsafe or unconventional paths.
Radical Freedom
The concept that human beings are free to make choices, often associated with Sartre's philosophy.
Condemned to be free
Sartre's idea that individuals are forced to make choices and are held responsible for them, implying that freedom is a burden.
Determinism
The philosophical view that all events, including human actions, are determined by previously existing causes.
Essence precedes existence
The view that essence, or the nature of a thing, is determined before it comes into existence.
Choosing for all humanity
Sartre's claim that individual choices reflect on the essence of humanity, but he acknowledges a philosophical inconsistency in this assertion.
Objection to Sartre's view
An argument against Sartre’s claim that we choose our interests, exemplified by an activity one finds inherently uninteresting, suggesting that this challenges the idea of unqualified freedom.
Existence precedes essence
Sartre's stance that individuals first exist and then create their own essence through choices and actions.
Creating our own purpose
The idea that humans define their purpose and meaning in life through the choices they make.
Examine Life
The act of critically evaluating one's own values, practices, and traditions.
Horse-Breeder Analogy
An analogy used to critique how society can perpetuate flawed traditions and values without questioning them.
Gadfly
A metaphor for a person who provokes others into action by criticism, particularly in the context of exposing corruption.
Most Blameworthy Ignorance
A state of awareness in which individuals do not recognize their own ignorance about important societal issues.
Mind-Body Dualism
The philosophical view that the mind and body are fundamentally different substances, with the mind being more valuable than the physical.
The Good
A concept applied to define the appropriate standard of how one should live and act, focusing on achieving virtue and moral excellence.
Socrates' Penalty
Socrates suggested he deserved a reward for his service to the city instead of punishment, which reflects his philosophical stance.
Spiritual Activity
Engagement in reflective practices that promote critical thinking and self-examination of values and customs.
Examined Life Importance
The proposition that questioning and reflecting on one's life is valuable for personal growth and societal improvement.
Harp Analogy
An analogy discussing that a well-tuned harp symbolizes a well-lived life that resonates with harmony.
Euthyphro Dilemma
The philosophical question regarding whether something is good because God commands it or if God commands it because it is good.
Arbitrariness in morality
The concern that if morality is defined solely by God's will, then it may be arbitrary and subject to change.
Independent standard of goodness
A moral standard that exists outside of God's definition and is not determined by divine command.
Socrates' view on morality and God
Socrates argued that goodness is independent of God and that God adheres to an already existing standard of goodness.
The unexamined life is not worth living
A quote by Socrates highlighting the importance of self-examination and philosophical inquiry.
Cultural relativism
The belief that moral codes are determined by cultural or societal norms and can vary greatly between societies.
Moral truth
The concept that certain moral principles, like kindness and the wrongness of torture, are inherently recognizable and not just culturally conditioned.
Role of God in morality
Socrates posits that while God may embody goodness, He does not create it nor does He provide our understanding of morality.
Influences on moral codes
Factors such as family, school, and societal influences that shape individual moral views.
Evolutionary view of morality
The perspective that moral behavior and codes may have developed as a mechanism for survival within humans.
Interdependence
The mutual reliance between two or more groups or entities.
Essence
The fundamental nature or most important quality of something.
Facticity
The concrete facts and conditions of our lives that shape our options, influenced by time, place, and context.
Transcendence
The act of rising above, beyond, or general limits; often related to freedom and personal identity.
Extreme Sartre
The philosophical viewpoint that emphasizes that individuals have complete autonomy to define their essence.
Moderate Sartre
A philosophy that acknowledges personal freedom while recognizing external forces that can hinder self-definition.
Eccentric Desire
A non-conventional interest or passion that may differ from mainstream society.
Generational Wealth Gap
The disparity in wealth that is passed down from one generation to the next, impacting opportunities.
Cavendish
Philosopher associated with ideas about the interdependence of creatures.
Beauvoir on Gender
Philosophical viewpoints by Simone de Beauvoir regarding gender roles and identity.
Sartre's Bad Responses
Sartre's flawed viewpoints on how individuals may dismiss their limitations in self-creation.
Freedom as Sacred
The idea that freedom is a fundamental and revered principle that should be actively pursued.
Extremity of Choice
The belief that individuals must continually choose and redefine their identity.
Bronies, Trekkies
Subcultures or fandoms representing passion for 'My Little Pony' and 'Star Trek', respectively.
Freedom Depends on the Freedom of Others
The philosophy that individual freedom is interconnected and relies on the freedom of all individuals.
