Exam 2- Regarding Henry, Augustine, Aquinas Flashcards
How does Henry’s affairs tie into Aristotle’s Mean?
Henry’s extramartial affairs with Linda before his accident displays an excess of lust or desire. Deficiency would be neglect, he may have neglected his family prior in pursuit of work. The movie reflects Aristotle’s Means by illustrating Henry’s shift from the excess of workaholism and infidelity to a more balanced and virtuous life.
Key details to remember
from “Regarding Henry”
- Henry’s first words when recuperating was Ritz. It turned out to be the name of the hotel he cheated with Linda in.
- Henry cheated with Linda, his wife Sarah cheated with his coworker Bruce.
- Prior to accident, Henry never cared about the morality of his court cases. After the accident, he knew what he did was morally wrong and tried to make up for it by reconciling with the victim. (Gave witness nurse words to the victim’s wife.)
- Henry made up with Sarah at the end. Maybe two wrongs make a right?
What does Henry’s journey symbolize?
Henry’s journey represents a transformation from a morally questionable and work-focused individual to someone seeking redemption. His journey symbolizes the importance of personal growth and virtue.
What is the primary goal of Stoicism?
Stoicism emphasizes living a virtuous life in accordance with nature as the key to true happiness.
Stoicism
Philosophical school that believed in the unity of space, time, and matter. They believed in immanence but not the transcendent. Nature is all there is.
Founded by Zeno
“Pillars” of Epictetus
- Self-control
- Freedom
- Detachment
- Piety (Humility)
- Duty
Cardinal Virtues/Values
- Wisdom
Good sense- Arranging one’s course selection so one graduates in four years.
Good calculation
Quick wittedness- Operating well under pressure
Discretion- Knowing how to tell the truth but at the same time not to hurt others’ feelings
Resourcefulness- Know where and how to find items you want to buy or how to fulfill your goals - Courage
Piety- Respect for authority and the gods
Honesty- Not cheating others in business or academics, or not lying
Equity- Fairness in evaluating situations - Justice
Endurance- Not being a quitter. Being able to persevere In the face of opposition of obstacles
Confidence- Believing in oneself in the face of setbacks or failures
High-mindedness- Thinking of others as well as oneself (giving a bus seat to a handicapped or elderly)
Cheerfulness- Cheerful as opposed to grumpy disposition
Industriousness- Hard working and perseverant - Moderation (Temperance)
Good discipline- Not procrastinating
Seemliness- Good manners
Modesty- Not boasting, but not putting oneself down
Self-control- Not indulging oneself; not wasting time (I don’t feel like studying, but I’ll study)
Stoic “Logic”
- Stoics introduced propositional logic, distinct from Aristotle’s, similar to modern logic
- Knowledge can be attained through reason, in principle capable of separating true from false
- Knowledge can only be achieved by peer expertise and collective judgement
Protective Fence would be logic
Stoic “Physics”
- The universe started with a primordial fire
- The world is made of matter
- Causation is universal
- The universe is organized rational (logos)
Nurturing ground would be physics
Stoic “Ethics”
Basically Cardinal Virtues
- Wisdom (phronesis)
- Courage (andreia)
- Justice (dikaiosyne)
- Temperance (sophrosyne)
Precious fruits would be ethics
Cosmic City of Aurelius (oikeiosis)
How will your actions affect yourself, your family, friends, the community, humanity, and the universe
Self -> Family -> Friends -> City -> Many cities -> Universe (cosmic city)
Manicheans
Matter was evil
Gnostic -> Spiritual world involved special knowledge
Founded by Mani
Immanence
Immanence- The divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world
Augustine
- Humans have the free will to turn to god or away from god in a moment of temptation to be a saint or a sinner.
- God gives us free will because if there was no free will, there will be no morality and no basis for us to be praised or blamed.
“No man is ever blamed for what he has never been given, but he is blamed if he has not done what he should have done with what he has been given.”
He also is a believer in the trascendent along with immanence.
Augstine’s City of God and City of Man
Your citizenship in the city of God is deprived by soul, not place and time.
- Citizens of the city of god live by a principle of conduct which is the love of God, turn to God in obedience of divine law, the objects of love for citizens of the citizen of god is God, one’s neighbor, and one’s self.
- Citizens of city of man live by the principle of love of self, they are egotistic and selfish, with free will, the citizens of man turn their backs to god in defiance of divine law.
