Concepts Flashcards
Jung’s shadow and frauds unconscious
The relentless pursuit of security is often rooted in fear, a primal emotion that drives us to seek control over the unknown. According to Carl Jung, the aspects of ourselves that we repress—what he calls the “shadow”—are often the source of our deepest fears. These repressed elements lurk in the unconscious, influencing our behavior in subtle but powerful ways. Similarly, Sigmund Freud’s theory of the unconscious suggests that much of what drives human behavior is buried beneath the surface of our awareness, including the fears and anxieties that compel us to seek security at all costs. In both cases, the desire for security can be seen as an attempt to protect ourselves from the unknown aspects of our psyche, the parts we fear might emerge if we let go of control. However, this obsession with security, born out of fear, can limit our ability to fully experience life, as it keeps us trapped in a cycle of avoidance and repression rather than growth and self-discovery.
psychosocial development
Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development highlight how societal influence is crucial in forming identity, particularly during adolescence, when the need for social acceptance often outweighs the desire for self-expression.
indivudality
As Jean-Paul Sartre argued, “existence precedes essence,” meaning individuals are not confined by societal roles but can create their own identities through conscious choices.
Rather, human nature is the ability to construct meaning in our lives, despite biological
constraints. Jean-Paul Sartre’s idea that “existence precedes essence,” along with English
Philosopher John Locke’s idea of human nature as “tabula rasa” - mind at birth is a clean slate
- perhaps suggests that human nature simply does not exist, as we are not born with a set of
natural rules that can meaningfully categorise humans. Instead, what we make of our existence is
up to the individual themselves
science truth
Scientific truth is, by nature, provisional. As philosopher Karl Popper, inimitable Philosopher of Science Karl Popper emphasized, scientific theories can never be definitively proven true; they can only withstand repeated attempts to falsify them. This makes scientific knowledge inherently flexible, always open to refinement as new evidence emerges.
sceicne trutyh examples
The Copernican Revolution, which replaced the geocentric model of the universe with a heliocentric one, was not just a simple correction; it was a profound rethinking of our place in the cosmos. What was once considered an unshakable truth was revealed to be merely a stepping stone to a deeper understanding. Similarly, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution opened a new chapter in our understanding of life, but even this groundbreaking work has been expanded and refined by modern genetics.
politics
Democratic systems, for instance, have historically enabled significant social change through mechanisms such as voting, public discourse, and progressive legislation. The civil rights movement in the United States, for example, demonstrated how democratic processes can lead to profound societal shifts toward greater equality and justice. Similarly, gender equality movements have leveraged democratic institutions to push for legal reforms that challenge deep-seated societal norms.
On the other hand, Marxist ideologies have often sought to radically transform society by addressing systemic oppression. While revolutionary in nature, these movements have aimed to create a more equitable society, though sometimes at the cost of individual freedoms and the very humanity they sought to protect. The challenge lies in balancing the drive for societal evolution with the preservation of personal liberties and compassion for all.
life, do what you can bro
Thrownness (Geworfenheit): This concept refers to the idea that humans are “thrown” into existence without choice—we find ourselves in particular situations, with specific histories and circumstances that we did not choose. Despite this, we must navigate life and make choices within these given conditions.
