PHIL 1100 - Meaning of Life Lecture Notes

Week 1: PHIL 1100 - Meaning of Life

Dispute Between a Man and his Ba

  • The Text of the 'Dispute'
    • Dates from the 12th Dynasty of Egypt's Middle Kingdom (1991-1178 BCE).
    • Authorship unknown, possibly written by the first Pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty, Amenemhet I.
    • Concerns a conflict between the personified parts of the human soul.

Parts of the Soul

  1. Physical Body (khet):
    -Not distinct from the soul but is an essential part that needs preservation.

  2. Spiritual (or 'astral') body (sah):

    • Non-physical body that traverses the fields of afterlife.

  3. Name (Ren):

    • Proper name that individuates one from others in life and death; an essential aspect of self.

  4. Heart (ib):

    • Considered the physical seat of the soul (not the brain) that records actions for judgment in the afterlife.

The Ba: 'Soul' or Personality

  1. Represents the 'I' unique to each individual.

  2. Often depicted as a bird with a human head, symbolizing the flight of personal spirit to the afterlife.

  3. Represents the personal impression made on others rather than self-identity.

The Ba Replies to the Man

  • Themes in the Dialogue:

    • "Are you not a man? Are you not alive? What do you gain by complaining about life like a man of wealth?"

    • Reflection on burial and its emotional implications: "If you think of burial, it is heartbreak. It is the gift of tears by aggrieving a man."

    • Emotional desolation without a living soul: even the granite temples for pharaohs become "desolate, as if they were the dead who died on the riverbank for lack of a survivor."

    • "Throw complaint on the woodpile" indicates the futility of complaints.

  • Lessons from the Story:
    • Reminder of suffering as a common aspect of humanity.
    • Call to mindfulness in treating others and oneself.
    • Illustration of the fragmented nature of human subjectivity, emphasizing the necessity of striving for cohesive harmony in life.

Question for Tutorial Discussion

  • The nature of human identity is questioned, positing multiple conflicting aspects of personality.

  • Examines if identity is distinct from various predicates (preferences, etc.) or merely an abstraction.

  • Asks if there exists an 'I' separate from experiences and feelings.

Week 2 Lecture: Plato's Apology

Socrates (470-399 BCE)

  • Historical Note:
    • Wrote nothing; considered philosophy as a form of dialogue/debate.
    • Did not offer positive teachings but tested the ideas of others.
    • His debates are found in the writings of his student, Plato (427/4-348 BCE).

The Apology (Defence)

  • Overview:
    • Represents the debate in 399 BCE between Socrates and his accusers in court.
    • Charged with believing in new gods, making the weaker argument look stronger, and corrupting the young.
    • Accusers struggle to defend their ideas against Socratic questioning.

Socrates' Reply to his Accusers

  • Wisdom and Knowledge:
    • "What has caused my reputation is none other than a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Human wisdom, perhaps."
    • Socrates explains his method of questioning others to reveal ignorance: he finds that those reputed to be wise are often devoid of real wisdom.
    • He states he is wiser than those who think they know something because he recognizes he knows nothing.

  • Misunderstood Purpose:
    • His pursuit of wisdom leads to a life of poverty, as he chooses to assist the god by examining people's understanding of wisdom.

Socrates' Defence of Philosophy

  • Nature of Philosophy:
    • Philosophy is a lifelong pursuit of wisdom rather than the mere possession of knowledge.
    • Rewards of knowledge can lead to monetary or social gain, while philosophy demands humility and a continuous quest for understanding.

Socratic Method and Meletus' Accusation

  • Examination of Influence:
    • Socrates challenges Meletus on whether individuals can harm others, arguing that only good individuals improve society, suggesting Meletus claims are illogical.
    • Questions the wisdom of corrupting the youth when it would harm the corruptor.

Socrates' Moral Reasoning

  • Fear of Death:
    • Socrates claims that fearing death results from the false belief of knowing what one does not.
    • He reasons that death may be the greatest blessing, comparing it to a dreamless sleep or a change of location for the soul.

Socrates Concludes His Defence

  • Emphasizes the value of discussing virtue daily.

  • Declares an unexamined life is not worth living.

  • States he would rather die than to betray his principles or seek to avoid death for personal gain.

  • Critiques the jury for choosing to condemn him.

Week 3: Crito by Plato

Crito Appeals to Socrates

  • Crito's Argument:
    • Crito urges Socrates to escape death, fearing disgrace and loss of a friend.
    • Highlights the potential for public misconception about his unwillingness to save himself.
    • Emphasizes the importance of virtue and moral principles over life.

Socrates' Response to Crito

  • Guidance by Reason: • Socrates insists on adhering to his principles despite the pressure from Crito and society. • Distinguishes between opinions that deserve respect and those that do not.

    • Justice vs. Life:
      • Questions the morality of escaping, focusing on the need to uphold justice, even at the expense of life.

Socrates Defends the State

  • Contractual Obligation:
    • Socrates articulates that he has a social contract with the state, having benefited from its laws and education.
    • Suggests that to disobey the laws would undermine the very structure that allowed him to thrive.

Week 4: Epictetus Tutorial Notes

Introduction to Stoicism and Epictetus

  • Born a slave in the Roman Empire and later taught philosophy in Rome.

  • After exile, lived impoverished in Greece advocating Stoic philosophy.

Fundamental Principle of Stoic Philosophy

  • Control and Detachment:

    • Things in our control: opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion (our own actions).

    • Things not in our control: body, property, reputation (external factors).

Living a Good Life in Bad Circumstances

  • Choice and Reaction:

    • Acceptance of external circumstances leads to tranquility; internal control is crucial for happiness.

Philosophical Views Concerning Free Will

  1. Libertarianism:

    • Human actions result from free will; capability of rational thought and decision-making.

  2. Determinism:

    • Choices are determined by external, unwilled forces; denies true free will.

  3. Compatibilism:

    • Combines determinism and free will, suggesting that freedom exists despite external control.

Epictetus's Compatibilism and the Good Life

  • Sickness and lameness restrict the body but not your choice; attitude can remain unimpacted by circumstances.

  • Suggested to limit aversions to those genuinely contrary to natural faculties.

The Stoic Way of Life

  • Avoiding Attachment:

    • Detachment from material possessions leads to resilience against loss.

  • Unconditional acceptance of reality fosters a more profound sense of tranquility and contentment.

Week 5: Epicurus Tutorial Notes

Introduction to Epicurus

  • Founded 'The Garden', the first school to include women among its students.

Fundamental Principle of Epicurean Philosophy

  • Pursuit of Happiness:
    • Happiness is the presence of pleasure and absence of pain; align behavior with natural needs to avoid conflict.

Epicurus on Death

  • Perspective on Mortality:
    • Death is irrelevant because it lacks sensation; it should not be a source of concern.

The Search for True Happiness

  • Balance of Sensations:
    • Pursue rationally calculated pleasures that maximize overall happiness rather than immediate sensual enjoyment that leads to pain.