Meaning

fathers of existentialism

kierkegaard & nietzche

existentialism: themes

• the human condition (rejection of a detached perspective

• existence precedes essence (you are what you make yourself to be)

• freedom (assuming responsibility for one’s own life

• anxiety and authenticity (live for yourself)

existentialism: existence preces essence

rejection of aristotelian view, says that human beings have a unique function which is creating tthemselvesand meaning.

existentialism: anxiety and authenticity

human existence is in some way ‘on its own’, and powerful emotional experiences open up the possibility of authenticity

existentialism: inauthenticity

a state of living based on external pressures and norms rather than true self-expression and individual freedom.

existentialism: sisyphus

When Camus says “one must imagine Sisyphus happy,” he is saying:

• Even if your situation is repetitive or objectively pointless (pushing the boulder forever),

• You can respond with lucidity and defiance: “I see the absurdity, and I still choose to live and act.”

realist philosophy of god

religious language is intended to accurately describe the world, religious beliefs thought to be literally true or false

realist philosophy of god: swineburne

there is an obligation to seek true beliefs on religious matters, seeking beliefs that investigation shows to be probable

realist philosophy of god: kierkegaard

rejects attempt to base faith in the “god man” on historical evidence, instead focus on faith and choice of faith

Logical Positivism

a philosophical theory asserting that only statements verifiable through direct observation or logical proof are meaningful, rejecting metaphysics and theology as nonsensical.

Logical Positivism: synthetic statements

“all cardiologists specialise in children” → specialising in children not already contained in the meaning of cardiologist

Logical Positivism: analytic statements

has meaning in virtue of the words themselves → “all cardiologists are doctors”, to know what it means you just have to know what the words mean, ie. cardiologists and doctors.

Logical Positivism: god claims meaningless

If “God exists” makes no testable difference to what we could experience, then it is not a factual claim at all (it neither says something true nor something false about the world) ie. invisible gardener (unconfirmable)

logical positivism: why is it dead

self-refuting: principle itself not empirically testable
too restrictive: would rule out lots of things we normally treat as meaningful (ethics, history, math/science principles, etc.).[1]

the picture theory of language: original wittgenstein

meaning works by “picturing” reality (picture theory). - Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.”

the picture theory of language: later wittgenstein

rejects the picture theory. words get meaning from how they are used in language games within forms of life.

wittgenstein religion vs science

don’t treat religious claims as competing scientific hypotheses. some commitments are foundational (not “super certain” conclusions from evidence) and make doubt/reasoning possible.

wittgenstein: hinge committments

some commitments are foundational (not “super certain” conclusions from evidence) and make doubt/reasoning possible.