Big Philosophical Ideas FINAL

What does Kierkegaard mean by 'the teleological suspension of the ethical'?

The 'teleological suspension of the ethical' is described as faith trumping the unethical action of an individual.

Who is the Biblical figure who embodies the teleological suspension of the ethical according to Kierkegaard and what did he do?

The Biblical figure that represents the teleological suspension of the ethical is Abraham, and he sacrificed his son Isaac because God requested him to.

What are the 'stages of life's way,' according to Kierkegaard?

a) aesthetic, or a life of pleasure; b) ethical, or a life of morality and the universal reasoning; c) religious, or a life of faith, which is the most ideal.

What is the difference between a 'tragic hero,' like Agamemnon, and a 'knight of faith,' according to Kierkegaard?

The knight of faith engages in unethical behaviors for the purpose of faith, like Abraham, while a tragic hero have murdered their children for ethical purposes and for the sake of their communities, like Agamemnon and Brutus.

According to Kierkegaard, one gets to faith only by virtue of what?

An individual achieves faith by virtue of the absurd, which indicates that by embracing absurdity, they are closer to God.

According to Kierkegaard, what is the 'sickness unto death'?

The 'sickness unto death' is not physical death, but rather despair from a spiritual death, which results from not embracing the full identity of self.

What is the difference between the Master Morality and the Slave Morality, according to Nietzsche?

Their source of origin, the Master Morality are attributes that are engaged in to please God or the warriors of Greece, while the Slave Morality is sourced from resentment and is more powerful than the Master Morality.

What is the difference between 'good and bad' and 'good and evil'?

Within the Master Morality, 'good' is defined as eating, drinking, fighting, and sex, or what pleased the warriors of Greece, while 'bad' was the life of a slave. In the Slave Morality, 'good' were attributes that pleased God and was equivalent to the Master Morality of 'good'. 'Evil' was described as sinning, which is similar to the Master Morality of 'good'.

What is the 'revaluation of all values,' according to Nietzsche?

An assessment to revaluate all values, including knowledge, morality, religion, art, and the State.

Which is more powerful, according to Nietzsche, the Master Morality or the Slave Morality? How do we know?

The Slave Morality is more powerful, as Nietzsche concluded, since its source of origin is resentment, unlike the Master Morality. The Slave Morality was formed from individuals attempting to make the best from their situation, while the Master Morality applauded the accomplishments of individuals.

What words did God place over the gateway to Hell, according to Dante? What words ought to be placed over the gateway to Heaven, according to Nietzsche?

God placed the term, "I was created by eternal hate" for Hell, and "I was created by eternal love" for Heaven.

What was the mental attitude of the slaves who created the Slave Morality?

The mental attitude of the individuals that established the Slave Morality was that of gratefulness, they were grateful they were alive but were not fond of their circumstances.

What does 'mnemotechnics' mean and what is the oldest form of it, according to Nietzsche?

Nietzsche describes mnemotechnics as the process of intensive spiritualization and states that the oldest form is nihilism.

How does Nietzsche think the human 'conscience' was created? Explain.

He explains that while numerous animals have minds, only human beings are conscious. Conciousness was created through the establishment of desires, values, and beliefs.

What does Nietzsche claim is at the core of the 'festive'?

Nietzsche claims that pleasure and pain lies at the core of the 'festive' and serves as the value of all claims.

What does Heidegger mean by our 'thrownness'?

Heidegger states that the concept of 'thrownness' is an individual not choosing to emerge in this world, yet still being present.

What does Heidegger mean by 'dasein'?

Heidegger terms 'dasein' as human beings, which translates to 'being there' from German. He implies that a 'dasein' is an individual that is active in the world of philosophy.

What does Heidegger think is important about the idea of 'being-toward-death'?

The notable idea that Heidegger presents is the self-awareness that an individual can possess that they will perish.

How, according to Heidegger, do individuals 'flee' their authentic selves?

An individual can be aware that they will perish, but will flee this awareness by engaging in the 'They,' which is a generalized method of thinking that identifies humans as one unit.

How does Sartre define 'existentialism'?

Sartre defines existentialism as the essence of a human being is a being whose is not to be, indicating that an individual cannot have a set purpose or an 'esssence,' rather, they make themselves what they would like to be.

Are all existentialists atheists, according to Sartre?

He states that there are two forms of existentialists, the atheist, and the Christian. However, an individual who practices existentialism is more likely to be an atheist as compared to a theist.

Is anguish (angst) a bad attribute, according to Sartre? Explain.

Angst is not a bad attribute, because it teaches individuals to become self-aware and make our own decisions, which provides meaning.

How does a person make an authentic life for themselves, according to Sartre?

An authentic life for an individual is formed through the awareness that if a particular identity is maintained throughout time, because we are choosing that identity in each moment.

What is 'bad faith' (mauvaise foi), according to Sartre? Provide an example.

Mauvoise foi is a corruption of the essence of being, and an example of bad faith is lying to yourself about yourself, like saying 'I can't do this' when you are entirely capable.

What is the 'drain hole' of the world that Sartre encounters while walking through a park?

The 'drain hole' that Sartre encounters is the objectifying of an individual within the premises of another, described as a man observing Sartre in a park that he believes belongs to him.

What happens to the individual peering through the key hole in the hotel hallway, and why is it important?

The individual inside the hotel room is objectified by the one that is outside the room, while the individual that is outside is objectified by feeling shame from the one that caught him.

What does Beauvoir signify by 'the ethics of ambiguity'?

This publication rejects the ideas of God and humanity, and supports her theory that ethical systems cannot be created from philosophy.

What are the six stages of moral development, according to Beauvoir?

a) obedience and punishment of moral judgments; b) self-interest in how an act may benefit oneself; c) conformity guiding moral judgments; d) authority in valuing and maintaining social order; e) social contract and understanding rules as opposed to strict order; f) ethical principles and the commitment to justice.

How does an individual move up or down the hierarchy?

An individual must recognize themselves within each stage of moral development, and only then can they advance or retreat their position.

What are 'ready-made' values?

Ready-made values refer to the values crafted by society that are assumed to be the correct values.

What does Beauvoir mean by 'seriousness' and the 'serious man'?

She states that a 'serious man' is an individual that devotes themselves to a worldly end to escape the subjectivity of their existence. Beauvoir uses the term 'seriousness' to describe this act.

Why should I care about anyone else's freedom?

By exercising the will of recognizing freedom in a separate entity, you are acknowledging your own freedom.

What does Beauvoir mean by saying that 'man is a useless passion'?

Beauvoir indicates that 'man is a useless passion' because there is no meaning in life. A man can search for the meaning, but the gain results in frustration.

What is the 'ruse of oppression'?

The 'ruse of oppression' refers to recognizing that individuals may be prejudiced and discriminated against, but refusing to aide them in their struggles.

What is the 'trick of enlightened capitalism'?

The 'trick of enlightened capitalism' is addressing social problems through their practices, rather than through acts.

What does it mean to 'zim zum'?

To zim zum, you are acknowledging the conformity of the world and wishing to utilize your own desires, beliefs, and wishes to fight against this conformity.

What does it mean to say that human beings are 'beings whose being is not to be'?

It is indicated that a human being is essentially a physical being, without a metaphysically distinct soul or mind.

What is the sole serious philosophical question, according to Camus?

The sole serious philosophical question, according to Camus, is the justification of suicide.

How does the 'absurd' enter the world, according to Camus?

Absurdity enters the world through the tension between our human desire for order, meaning, and happiness, while the indifferent natural universe refuses to provide these attributes.

What is Camus' conclusion about Sisyphus' life in his essay 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?

Camus concludes that absurdity exists within the world, particularly, in the fundamental conflict between what is wanted from the universe and what is discovered in the universe, such as formless chaos.

What are some philosophical themes presented in the film Casablanca?

a) despair in not knowing what is to be done; b) nihilism from Rick telling Ilsa to shoot him because she'd be doing him a favor; c) absurdity in residing in occupied territory during World War II; d) ulilitarianism in determining an action as right and understanding why it occurred.

What are some philosophical themes presented in the play Waiting for Godot?

a) despair as nothing was done; b) nihilism that existence is not real; c) nothingness through the journey from birth to death; d) existentialism in discovering who an individual is.