PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy Review for Exam 2

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key concepts and terms from the lecture on Nietzsche's philosophy, the implications of the death of God, and arguments regarding the existence of God.

Madman in the Marketplace

The figure representing humanity's search for meaning in a spiritually empty age, symbolized by the lantern.

God is Dead

A metaphor used by Nietzsche to signify the collapse of belief in God and religion due to modern science and rationalism.

Loss of Meaning and Direction

The consequence of the death of God, leading to a lack of moral compass and purpose in humanity.

Nihilism

The existential emptiness and belief that life lacks intrinsic meaning and value following the death of God.

Gravediggers of God

The ongoing process of declining belief in God as humanity grapples with moral and existential implications.

New Values

The values that humanity must create to replace the lost traditional ones in the wake of the death of God.

Free Spirits

Philosophers or individuals who embrace the freedom that comes with the death of God to create their own values.

Overman (Übermensch)

Nietzsche's ideal individual who creates their own meaning and lives authentically, free from religious or moral constraints.

Cosmological Argument

An argument for the existence of God positing that everything that exists must have a reason for its existence.

Fine-Tuning Argument

The assertion that the precise conditions of the universe necessary for life suggest the existence of an intelligent creator.

Moral Evil

Evil caused by free human actions, such as murder and lying.

Natural Evil

Evil that occurs without human intervention, such as earthquakes and diseases.

Theodicy

An explanation of why a good God permits the existence of evil.

Free Will Defense

Alvin Plantinga's argument that God could not create free creatures who always choose good, allowing for the existence of evil.

Existential Emptiness

The state of lacking meaning or purpose in life, often associated with nihilism.

Master Morality

A morality of the strong, noble, and powerful, characterized by the expression of strength.

Slave Morality

A morality created by the weak, which devalues strength and elevates weakness as virtuous.

Ressentiment

The psychological state arising from suppressed feelings of envy and hatred, leading to the creation of moral values by the weak.

Beyond Good and Evil

Nietzsche's idea that moral judgments are interpretations rather than absolute truths, urging humanity to look beyond conventional morality.