Philosophy Oral Exam Review

General Coverage

1. Nietzsche – “God is dead” and new morality

Main Idea:

• Nietzsche says “God is dead” as a metaphor for the decline of belief in absolute, universal moral truths rooted in religion.

• Modern society no longer believes in the same religious foundations—so the old moral system (based on divine authority) no longer works.

Why does he think God is dead?

• Enlightenment thinking (science, reason) pushed people away from religion.

• We killed God ourselves—by no longer living as if God exists.

• But the death of God leaves a moral vacuum.

What does it mean?

• Without God, traditional moral values lose their grounding.

• People may cling to these values out of habit, but Nietzsche says that’s dishonest and weak (slave morality).

• He thinks we need to stop pretending and start creating our own values.

How should moral questions be addressed now?

• Nietzsche says: Re-evaluate all values.

• The “Overman” (Übermensch) is someone who creates new values based on strength, creativity, and honesty—not inherited ones.

• Morality should come from within, not from a divine source or societal rules.

2. Gadamer – The Hermeneutic Circle

Main Idea:

• Understanding is a process, not a one-time thing.

• You understand a part of something only through the whole, and the whole only through the parts.

• This is called the hermeneutic circle.

What does it have to do with history?

• We bring our own historical background (prejudices) to everything we read and learn.

• We never interpret something from a blank slate—we are part of the historical flow.

• History shapes how we understand texts and the world.

What does it have to do with reading texts?

• You don’t just “get” the meaning instantly—you go back and forth between parts of the text and the whole.

• As your understanding grows, your interpretation evolves.

What does it have to do with life?

• Life is interpretation—everything we learn or judge is shaped by what we already believe and experience.

• Self-awareness matters. If you realize your bias, you can grow in understanding.

• Living well means constantly learning and re-evaluating.

3. Lonergan – Cognitional Theory & “The Good”

Main Idea:

• Lonergan breaks down how we come to know things: experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding.

• His theory says that knowing is not passive—it’s a process that involves asking questions and searching for meaning.

Key parts:

• Experiencing: Taking in the world through senses, memory, etc.

• Understanding: Asking questions, making connections.

• Judgment: Asking “Is this really true?” and answering based on evidence.

• Decision: Choosing what to do based on what you judge to be good.

Role of questions:

• Questions are central to knowing—if you don’t ask, you can’t grow in insight.

• Being intelligent means being curious.

What is “the good”?

• “The good” is what we judge as worthwhile to pursue—based on what is truly known and understood.

• For Lonergan, doing the good means following this process honestly, being attentive, intelligent, reasonable, and responsible.

• Real progress (in life, in society) comes from authentic, truthful knowing and choosing.

4. What Good is Philosophy?

Main Idea:

• Philosophy helps us ask the deep questions and seek real understanding—not just memorize facts.

• It helps us be more human by using reason, reflection, and dialogue.

How can it be used?

• Philosophy teaches critical thinking—it makes you slow down and ask: “Is this really true? Is this really good?”

• It helps in ethics, politics, science, personal growth—any area of life where judgment matters.

Why should we study it?

• Because the world is full of noise and confusion—philosophy helps us sort through it.

• It helps us recognize bias, understand others, and reflect on our beliefs.

• It gives us tools to live more thoughtfully and responsibly.

What I’ve learned in this course:

• From Nietzsche: Challenge inherited beliefs and think for yourself.

• From Gadamer: Understanding is a lifelong process shaped by history and dialogue.

• From Lonergan: Knowing is active, and the good comes from honest thinking and responsible choosing.

• Philosophy has taught me how to question well, think clearly, and care about truth.

Expanded Explanations

1. Nietzsche – “God is dead” and new morality

• “God is dead” is not a celebration—Nietzsche sees it as a crisis. The foundation of Western morality (Christianity) has eroded, but we haven’t built anything to replace it. We’re living like the old morals still work, but they’re hollow now.

• Slave vs. Master Morality: Slave morality is about guilt, obedience, and humility (linked to Christianity). Master morality is about power, strength, and life-affirmation.

• Nietzsche criticizes modern people for still clinging to “slave morality” even when they don’t believe in its foundations.

• Revaluation of all values: We must examine what we call “good” or “evil” and ask: do these values help us live fully, honestly, and creatively?

• The Übermensch (Overman) isn’t a dictator or hero—it’s a symbol of the person who lives beyond old morals and creates new ones rooted in their own truth.

2. Gadamer – The Hermeneutic Circle

• The hermeneutic circle means: when you try to understand a text (or a person, or a culture), you go back and forth—your view of the whole shapes how you read the parts, and each new part changes how you see the whole.

• Gadamer says we all have prejudices (pre-understandings), and they’re not necessarily bad. They’re the starting point for understanding anything.

• We are always in history—our context, culture, language, and upbringing shape how we interpret things.

• Real understanding involves dialogue—being open to other perspectives while also being aware of your own.

• Gadamer emphasizes that understanding isn’t just for texts—it’s the key to human experience, relationships, and society.

3. Lonergan – Cognitional Theory & “The Good”

• Lonergan believes that knowing isn’t just collecting facts—it’s about asking questions, gaining insights, and testing them through judgment.

• His stages of knowing:
  

  1. Experience – what we sense, remember, imagine.

  2. Understanding – we ask “what does this mean?” and look for patterns or ideas.

  3. Judgment – we ask “is it really true?” and look for evidence.

  4. Decision – we ask “what should I do?” and act based on what we’ve judged to be good.

• Questions drive the whole process. The desire to know is what makes us human.

• “The good” is not just personal preference—it’s what we responsibly judge to be truly worthwhile, after critical reflection.

• Ethics isn’t just about rules; it’s about living according to insight, truth, and authenticity.

• A person grows morally by becoming more self-aware and more committed to the truth.

4. What Good is Philosophy?

• Philosophy doesn’t just give answers—it trains us to ask better questions.

• It helps us avoid blind spots, biases, and superficial thinking.

• In real life, philosophy helps with decision-making, ethical dilemmas, communication, and understanding others.

• Philosophy makes us more aware of ourselves—our beliefs, assumptions, and values.

• From this course:

  • Nietzsche challenged me to think about where my values come from.

  • Gadamer helped me see that understanding isn’t fixed or neutral—it’s historical and dialogical.

  • Lonergan gave me a method to be a better thinker and decision-maker.

• Studying philosophy has given me tools for lifelong learning—not just academic but personal and moral growth.