Phillip

Philosophical and Religious Views on Meaning

Leo Tolstoy on Christianity

• Tolstoy’s Dilemma: Encounters a crisis asking, “What then?”—questioning the relevance of achievement in light of suffering and death. This is compared to Ivan Illych’s existential awakening.
  
  

• False Comforts: Examines and dismisses various sources of supposed meaning (family, art, knowledge, philosophy) using a metaphor of a man clinging to life beside a dragon.
  
  

• Limits of Rational Knowledge: Rationality fails to provide satisfactory answers to life’s ultimate questions. Tolstoy turns instead to faith.
  
  

• An Alternative Path: Embraces Christianity and the “folk” perspective for meaning, seeing belief—not reason—as the path to understanding life’s value.
  
  

Short Paper Question (Tolstoy): Why can't rational knowledge answer Tolstoy’s question about life’s meaning? Do you agree?

Philip Quinn on Christianity

• Types of Meaning:
  
  

  • Axiological Meaning (AM): Pertains to value.
    
    

  • Teleological Meaning (TM): Pertains to purpose.
    
    

  • Complete Meaning (CM): Combination of both AM and TM.
    
    

• “Imitation of Christ”: Advocates for living like Christ (not just admiring him) to attain TM. The problem of death is countered through the hope of an afterlife (AM).
  
  

• Non-Christians: Emphasizes a pluralistic and humble approach to meaning, resisting the idea that Christianity holds a monopoly on morality or meaning.
  
  

Emil Fackenheim on Judaism

• Divine-Human Relationship:
  
  

  • Explores the fragile, yet mutual, meeting between humans and the divine.
    
    

  • Stresses command, covenant, and mutual responsibility.
    
    

• Judaism and Meaning:
  
  

  • Raises questions about whether Fackenheim’s views are unique to Judaism, broader Abrahamic traditions, or all monotheistic faiths.
    
    

  • Seeks clarity on how Judaism specifically provides meaning.
    
    

Christopher Gowans on Buddhism

• Two Worldviews:
  
  

  • Scientific vs. Buddhist moral worldview.
    
    

• Suffering (Dukkha):
  
  

  • Central theme; explained through the First and Second Noble Truths.
    
    

• Nirvana (Nibbāna):
  
  

  • The cessation of suffering and goal of spiritual practice; incorporates the concept of “no self” and enlightenment.
    
    

• The Meaningful Life:
  
  

  • Realized through the Fourth Noble Truth and the Eightfold Path (wisdom, morality, meditation).
    
    

Upcoming

• Next Class Topic: Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard.
  
  

• Readings: Preface, Attunement, Speech in Praise of Abraham, Preamble from the Heart.
  
  

• Discussion Leaders: Jayleen and Sam.
  
  

Short Paper Question (Kierkegaard): Analyze Kierkegaard’s distinction between faith “for this life” and “for a future life” in Abraham’s story.

WEEK 8

Class Topic: Søren Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling

1. Introduction to Kierkegaard

• Lived: 1813–1855.
  
  

• A devout Christian philosopher.
  
  

• Considered an early existentialist.
  
  

• Fear and Trembling (1843) was written under a pseudonym.
  
  

• Uses pseudonymous authorship to explore different viewpoints.
  
  

• Referenced translation: Hannay edition.
  
  

2. The Biblical Story of Abraham (Genesis 22)

• Main Figures:
  
  

  • Abraham (aged 99 at Isaac’s birth), father.
    
    

  • Sarah, his wife (aged 90).
    
    

  • Isaac, their son.
    
    

• Story Overview:
  
  

  • God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
    
    

  • Abraham obeys, prepares the altar.
    
    

  • At the last moment, an angel stops him.
    
    

  • A ram is sacrificed instead.
    
    

  • Abraham is blessed for his obedience.
    
    

3. Key Sections of Fear and Trembling

A. Preface

• Reflects on doubt as per Descartes.
  
  

• Contrasts rational doubt with faith.
  
  

• Emphasizes that faith is harder than doubt.
  
  

• Introduces the concept of “fear and trembling”:
  
  

  • Psalm 2:11: "Serve the Lord with fear..."
    
    

  • Philippians 2:12: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
    
    

B. Attunement

• Presents four imaginative retellings of Abraham’s story.
  
  

• Explores alternative emotional perspectives (e.g., despair, resignation).
  
  

• Purpose: Emphasize the paradox of Abraham’s unshakable faith.
  
  

C. Speech in Praise of Abraham

• Celebrates Abraham's faith.
  
  

• Faith vs. despair: Abraham does not despair despite what is asked of him.
  
  

• Abraham's greatness lies in his faith for this life, not merely hope in an afterlife.
  
  

• The difficulty: Believing that the impossible is possible.
  
  

📘 Short Paper Prompt #1:

Kierkegaard writes, “Abraham had faith, but he had faith for this life.”
Students are asked to explore the meaning of this phrase, and why faith “for this life” makes Abraham’s action even more demanding.

D. Preamble from the Heart

• Examines how we preach about Abraham today.
  
  

• Modern perspectives might find his act monstrous or incomprehensible.
  
  

• Raises the question: Can ethics justify Abraham’s decision?
  
  

Key Themes:

• Love and Faith:
  
  

  • Abraham loves both Isaac and God.
    
    

  • He does not hate Isaac, yet is willing to sacrifice him.
    
    

• The Ethical vs. The Religious:
  
  

  • Abraham goes beyond the ethical, acting on a higher divine command.
    
    

• Infinite Resignation:
  
  

  • The step before true faith.
    
    

  • Giving something up forever—but faith allows one to believe it will be restored.
    
    

• Knight of Faith:
  
  

  • A figure who lives in faith and accepts the absurd.
    
    

4. Core Philosophical Concepts Introduced

• Faith for this life vs. faith for a future life:
  
  

  • True faith accepts the loss but still hopes for the impossible in this world.
    
    

• Infinite resignation:
  
  

  • A preparatory act where one gives up something valuable for the sake of a higher truth.
    
    

• Faith and the Absurd:
  
  

  • Abraham believes he will still be with Isaac despite the command—an absurd faith.
    
    

5. Looking Ahead

Next Week's Topic:

• Continued exploration of Fear and Trembling.
  
  

• Focus on Problema I & II.
  
  

New Discussion Leaders:

• Mattea and Andrea.
  
  

📘 Short Paper Prompt #2:

What is the “teleological suspension of the ethical”?
Explain how Abraham's story embodies this idea and why it challenges ethical norms.

✅ Summary Takeaways

• Kierkegaard presents Abraham as a paradoxical hero of faith, whose actions defy ethical norms but are vindicated through absolute faith in God.
  
  

• Faith, as portrayed by Kierkegaard, requires trust in the absurd, willingness to sacrifice, and belief in restoration without rational assurance.
  
  

• This text introduces profound philosophical questions about the nature of ethics, religion, and the human condition.
  
  

WEEK 9

🧠 Problema I: Teleological Suspension of the Ethical

🌟 Central Question:

Can there be a “teleological suspension of the ethical”?

This means: Can a higher purpose (telos) justify suspending universal ethical norms?

🧩 Key Concepts Explained

🧱 The Ethical:

• Described as universal, applying to all people, at all times, in all situations.
  
  

• Implies no exceptions—deviating from it is typically viewed as irrational or sinful.
  
  

🎭 Tragic Heroes vs. Abraham:

• Tragic heroes like Agamemnon, Jephthah, and Brutus sacrifice loved ones for ethical ideals (e.g., duty to country or a vow to God).
  
  

• Their actions are ethically comprehensible even if painful.
  
  

🔍 Abraham’s Uniqueness:

• He receives a particular command from God to kill his beloved son Isaac.
  
  

• Unlike tragic heroes, Abraham cannot justify his action ethically—there is no universal principle guiding him.
  
  

• Kierkegaard says Abraham “sets himself against the universal.”
  
  

📘 P. 88: “With Abraham it is different…”

⚖ Ethics vs. Outcome:

• Kierkegaard critiques consequentialism:
  
  

“If anyone on the verge of action should judge himself according to the outcome, he would never begin.” (p. 91)

• Example: Had Abraham gone through with the act, would he still be justified?
  
  

💡 What Is a Teleological Suspension?

• “Telos” = Goal or Purpose.
  
  

• Suspension isn’t abolishment—it’s a temporary, exceptional override of the ethical for a higher divine purpose.
  
  

• In Abraham’s case, this suspension comes from faith in God, not self-interest or rational reasoning.
  
  

📘 Short Paper Prompt (Problema I):

What does Kierkegaard mean by a “teleological suspension of the ethical”?
How does Abraham’s story illustrate this?

🧠 Problema II: Duties to God vs. Duties to the Ethical

📍 Central Questions:

• Can the duty to God conflict with ethical duty?
  
  

• If yes, how can we justify this conflict?
  
  

• If no, does God become redundant in ethics?
  
  

🧩 Key Themes and Arguments

🧘‍♂ Abraham’s Silence:

• Abraham cannot explain or justify his action.
  
  

• His silence is both necessary and agonizing:
  
  

  • Faith is deeply personal and non-communicable.
    
    

  • He is isolated from others, including those he loves.
    
    

📘 P. 137: “Abraham is silent – but he cannot speak, therein lies the distress and anguish.”

🔥 On “Hate” in Faith (Luke 14:26):

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother… such a person cannot be my disciple.”

• Kierkegaard interprets this not literally as malice, but as the superseding of all worldly attachments by faith in God.
  
  

• In ethical terms, Abraham “hates” Isaac by prioritizing his duty to God over paternal love (p. 101–102).
  
  

Faith vs. Madness:

• Abraham may appear mad or sinful by ethical standards.
  
  

• Kierkegaard asks: Is there a meaningful distinction between madness and faith?
  
  

  • Abraham’s act is irrational, unjustifiable, yet lauded as faith.
    
    

🧍‍♂ Is Faith Accessible to All?

• Kierkegaard: “Whatever truly is great is available equally to all” (p. 108).
  
  

• Raises the question: Is Abraham’s faith an ideal for all, or a unique anomaly?
  
  

❓ Does Abraham's Story Relate to the Meaning of Life?

• Is a meaningful life possible only through faith?
  
  

• Or can it also emerge within ethical life?
  
  

📘 Short Paper Prompt (Problema II):

Why is Abraham silent, and why can’t he explain his action?
Why is this silence so distressing according to Kierkegaard?

🔮 Next Week: Fear and Trembling, Continued

Readings:

• Problema III and Epilogue
  
  

Discussion Leader:

• Sandy
  
  

✅ Summary Takeaways

1. Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is a radical test of faith that transcends ethics, setting up a paradox that Kierkegaard explores deeply.
   
   

2. Tragic heroes act ethically with public justification. Abraham does not.
   
   

3. Faith, for Kierkegaard, involves absurdity, silence, and isolation—but may also hold the key to ultimate meaning in life.
   
   

4. The concept of the “teleological suspension of the ethical” introduces a profound challenge to conventional morality: that God’s commands may exceed universal ethics.

WEEK 10

Problema III: The Question of Concealment

Core Question: Why does Abraham remain silent about God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, and what does this say about ethics, aesthetics, and faith?

Ethical vs. Aesthetic vs. Faith

• Ethical: Demands transparency, responsibility, and universality. Silence in the ethical realm is often considered a failure to fulfill moral duties.
  
  

• Aesthetic: Focuses on personal experiences, beauty, and sometimes dramatized or romanticized concealment. Concealment is often valued and rewarded aesthetically.
  
  

• Faith: Transcends both ethics and aesthetics. Abraham’s silence is not out of ethical failure or aesthetic drama—it’s due to his absolute duty to God.
  
  

Stories Explored to Illustrate Concealment

Several narrative analogies are introduced to explore ethical and aesthetic concealment:

• The Bridegroom – Navigates between silence and confession about a secret, with aesthetic and ethical implications.
  
  

• The Merman – A metaphor for the struggle between aesthetic deception and ethical responsibility.
  
  

• Sarah and Tobias – A tale that explores ethical courage in disclosing painful truths.
  
  

• Iphigenia – Tragic disclosure versus Abraham’s radical silence, showing how Abraham doesn't fit either aesthetic or tragic molds.
  
  

These stories examine disclosure to loved ones and how ethics usually demands it while aesthetics may prefer concealment.

Abraham’s Silence & Its Paradox

• What kind of silence? Abraham does not explain God’s command to Isaac, Sarah, or Eleazar.
  
  

• Why can't he speak?
  
  

  • Anything he says would not be understood in human, ethical terms.
    
    

  • His duty is not just above human understanding—it is indefensible by rational or universal ethical reasoning.
    
    

• Why is this distressing?
  
  

  • He is isolated in his faith.
    
    

  • He suffers because he cannot be understood—this is not a heroic silence, but a spiritually agonizing one.
    
    

• Kierkegaard’s claim: “He can say what he will, but there is one thing he cannot say” — i.e., what would explain everything lies beyond language and ethics.
  
  

Philosophical Resolution

Abraham's story is a paradox:

• If ethics is the highest, Abraham is a villain.
  
  

• If faith transcends ethics, Abraham is a “knight of faith.”
  
  

• Kierkegaard proposes that faith is higher than the ethical, demanding a teleological suspension of the ethical in rare, divinely-ordained instances.
  
  

Epilogue: Faith as the Highest Passion

• Faith is hard: Every generation must discover it anew.
  
  

• Faith vs. reason: Reason cannot fully grasp faith’s demands.
  
  

Broader Themes: Meaning of Life

• Comparison with Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus:
  
  

  • Both Abraham and Sisyphus face absurd or unintelligible tasks.
    
    

  • Both stories highlight nobility in misunderstood or seemingly irrational commitment.
    
    

• Philosophical Questions Raised:
  
  

  • Can anything be higher than the ethical?
    
    

  • Is there a higher good than one’s loved ones?
    
    

  • Can life be meaningful without faith?
    
    

Kierkegaard's answers:

• Yes (to the first two).
  
  

• Likely no (to the third).
  
  

Camus, the Buddha, and others might answer differently, suggesting a plurality of views on meaning and moral hierarchy.

Short Paper Prompts

1. On Abraham’s Silence:
   
   

   • Analyze the nature and cause of Abraham’s silence and why it brings distress.
     
     

2. Next Week's Reading Prompt (Dalai Lama):
   
   

   • Reflect on the claim: “What we usually experience as pleasure is mostly a diminishment of pain.” Discuss its truth and possible exceptions.
     
     

WEEK 11

🌱 Core Content: Practicing Buddhism & Human Flourishing

🧘‍♂ Introduction: The Dalai Lama & Tibetan Buddhism

• Who is the Dalai Lama? Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
  
  

• Historical context: The Dalai Lama’s teachings draw heavily on centuries of Buddhist tradition, especially emphasizing compassion, wisdom, and personal transformation.
  
  

😊 Two Paths to Happiness

1. External/Material Happiness: Comes from sensory experiences and possessions.
   
   

2. Internal/Mental Happiness: Comes from mental peace, emotional regulation, and self-understanding.
   
   

Question posed: Are mental peace and mental happiness the same thing?

❤ Kindness and Human Potential

• Being kind is a cornerstone of personal and communal well-being.
  
  

• It's difficult because of:
  
  

  • Internal struggles (anger, ego, etc.)
    
    

  • External pressures (social competition, fear, etc.)
    
    

• Emphasis on trying one’s best, not achieving perfection.
  
  

🌍 Pursuing Harmony

• The Dalai Lama stresses interconnectedness: humanity is one.
  
  

• The goal is global harmony, not just personal peace.
  
  

🧭 Three Ways to Practice (Buddhist Discipline)

📖 The Buddha’s Life

• Renunciation: Giving up palace life in search of truth.
  
  

• Asceticism: Rejection of indulgence, even at cost to health.
  
  

• Enlightenment: Finding the Middle Way—balance between excess and denial.
  
  

🧘 The Three Core Practices

1. Morality (Sīla): Ethical behavior.
   
   

2. Concentration (Samādhi): Meditative discipline.
   
   

3. Wisdom (Prajñā): Deep understanding of reality.
   
   

🥇 Morality is the foundation: You must first refrain from harming others to build clarity and peace for meditation and insight.

😔 The Scope of Suffering (Dukkha)

⚖ Morality of Individual Liberation

• Refraining from harm is essential.
  
  

• Intentions/motives matter.
  
  

• Even “harmless” actions with selfish motivations may be ethically flawed.
  
  

📜 The Four Noble Truths (Central to Buddhist Philosophy)

1⃣ The Truth of Suffering

• Life is filled with suffering (aging, dissatisfaction, bodily fragility).
  
  

• Even pleasure often masks suffering.
  
  

2⃣ The Origin of Suffering

• Suffering stems from desire, craving, attachment, and ignorance.
  
  

3⃣ The Cessation of Suffering

• There is a path to end suffering: eliminate its sources.
  
  

4⃣ The Path to Cessation

• The Eightfold Path: Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.
  
  

💡 Deep Philosophical Themes

🧩 The Argument: Pleasure Is a Diminishment of Pain

• Pleasures (food, entertainment, etc.) fade over time.
  
  

• If pleasure were “good in itself,” it would get better, not worse.
  
  

• Thus, some argue pleasure is just relief from underlying discomfort or lack.
  
  

Implication: Most pleasures are not enduring or truly satisfying—they’re reactive.

🧠 Counterexamples and Critical Thinking

• Students are asked: Are there pleasures that don’t depend on diminishing pain?
  
  

• If yes, what are they?
  
  

• If no, what does that mean for how we pursue happiness?
  
  

🔁 How Trouble Starts and Stops

😤 Emotions: Hate & Lust

• These are destructive emotional reactions rooted in ignorance.
  
  

• Ignorance leads to harmful karmic cycles (actions & consequences).
  
  

💀 Death

• Two views:
  
  

  • Nothingness conception: Death is the end.
    
    

  • Process conception: Death is a transformation in a continuing cycle.
    
    

• Each has different implications for how we live and die ethically.
  
  

🤔 Critical Reflections on Buddhist Claims

🧪 Is Everything Suffering?

• Class explores whether this is overly pessimistic or an accurate description of life’s instability.
  
  

💭 Is Desire Always Bad?

• Students are asked to assess whether desire is the source of suffering or just one part of it.
  
  

❓ Do We Want to Eliminate Desire?

• If so, what kind of life does that produce?
  
  

• If not, can we moderate it instead?
  
  

📝 Short Paper Assignment

Quote:

“What we usually experience as pleasure is mostly a diminishment of pain” (p. 33)

Prompt:

• Explain this idea.
  
  

• Evaluate its argument.
  
  

• Offer counterexamples if any.
  
  

• Provide your own view: Are there pleasures not reducible to reduced suffering?
  
  

📘 Next Week’s Preview

• Reading: How to Practice, pp. 61–113
  
  

• New Discussion Leaders: Michelle and Annabella
  
  

• Prep for Quiz #2
  
  

• New short paper prompt: Reflect on this quote:
  
  

“When you are concerned about others, your own welfare is fulfilled automatically” (p. 81)

WEEK 12

🧠 Quiz #2 Preview

• In-class, handwritten, closed-book quiz
  
  

• Graded on 0–1 scale
  
  

• Example Q: Why does Abraham prepare to sacrifice Isaac?
  
  

  • Best answers reference God’s command or faith, not morality
    
    

• Advice: Review readings, slides, and movies
  
  

🗣 Discussion Leads

• Michelle and Annabella (no specific notes included in the slides)
  
  

🧭 Background: Ethical Theories and the Moral Life

👤 Morality vs. Self-Interest

• Philosophical tension: living morally vs. acting out of self-interest
  
  

• What does it mean to live a good life in light of this tension?
  
  

⚖ Two Major Western Theories

• Utilitarianism: Maximize happiness for all
  
  

• Kantianism: Treat every individual with inherent dignity and freedom
  
  

📌 Example Cases:

• Lying: Often wrong in Kantianism, possibly justified in Utilitarianism
  
  

• Trolley Problem: Conflicts arise between deontology and consequentialism
  
  

🧘 Buddhist Ethics

• Has elements of both traditions:
  
  

  • Like Utilitarianism, it values reducing suffering
    
    

  • Like Kantianism, it values respect and intention
    
    

• Focuses on intentions, actions, and mental clarity
  
  

🙅 Refraining from Harm

✨ Goal: Liberation

• Not just ethical action, but spiritual freedom
  
  

• Liberation involves transformation through discipline and insight
  
  

🔟 Ten Non-Virtues to Avoid

1. Physical: Killing, stealing, sexual misconduct
   
   

2. Verbal: Lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, senseless chatter
   
   

3. Mental: Covetousness, harmful intent, wrong views
   
   

🌿 Benefits of Ethical Conduct

• Cultivates patience, contentment, and inner peace
  
  

• Shifts our mindset toward greater compassion
  
  

🧡 Extending Help

💥 Helping Others, Even in Hard Times

• Compassion must persist even with enemies or difficulty
  
  

• Challenges can enhance spiritual strength
  
  

🤝 Equalizing Self and Others

• Step 1: All beings are basically the same
  
  

• Step 2: Others outnumber me
  
  

• Conclusion: Others’ welfare should take precedence over mine
  
  

📌 Philosophical Challenge: Is this a rational or emotionally sustainable view?

🧠 “Wise Selfishness”

• Helping others ultimately helps oneself
  
  

• Quote: “When you are concerned about others, your own welfare is fulfilled automatically”
  
  

🧘‍♂ Exercises and Engagement

🧘 Visualization Practice (p. 84)

• Guided compassion and perspective shift
  
  

• Encouraged reflection: “Does this actually work?”
  
  

📡 Responsibility in Modern Contexts

• What does compassion mean in an age of technology?
  
  

• Human responsibility across personal and global levels
  
  

🕉 Aspiring to Enlightenment

🕊 Seven Meritorious Practices

1. Homage
   
   

2. Offering
   
   

3. Disclosing ill deeds
   
   

4. Admiration
   
   

5. Entreaty
   
   

6. Supplication
   
   

7. Dedication
   
   

🔁 Maintaining Commitment

• Commitment extends across lifetimes
  
  

• For non-Buddhists: treat these as metaphors for long-term dedication
  
  

🧱 Six Pillars of Practical Enlightenment

1. Giving
   
   

2. Morality
   
   

3. Patience
   
   

4. Effort
   
   

5. Concentration
   
   

6. Wisdom
   
   

🧩 Ethics and the Meaning of Life

❓ Is a Moral Life a Meaningful Life?

• Buddhism offers a path that is both moral and liberating
  
  

• Raises the deeper question: Is liberation also meaningful?
  
  

🧭 Moral Conflict with Meaning

• What if meaning and morality diverge?
  
  

• Example: Kierkegaard’s “teleological suspension of the ethical” — Abraham acts against ethical norms in service of divine meaning
  
  

🧬 The Role of the Self

• Is meaning tied to personal identity?
  
  

• If the self is an illusion (as in Buddhism), how do we talk about life’s meaning?
  
  

📝 Short Paper Question

💬 Prompt:

“When you are concerned about others, your own welfare is fulfilled automatically” (p. 81)

Tasks:

• Explain the quote in your own words
  
  

• Discuss one of the Dalai Lama’s examples
  
  

• Analyze: Is the claim true? Why or why not?