exam 2 Revision

Question 1

What is existentialism?

Answer 1

Life does not come with a heavy purpose. Instead it is up to you to find or create your own throughout actions, decisions and relationships.

Question 2

What do existentialists argue?

Answer 2

That people are ‘condemned to be free’ meaning while they have freedom to make choices they must also confront the anxiety and responsibility that comes with their actions outcomes.

Question 3

Sartre – Existentialism- what are Universal guidelines?

Answer 3

There are no inherent guidelines for our actions; we must create our own moral code and meaning in life.

Question 4

Sartre – Existentialism- What does authenticity mean to sartre?

Answer 4

To accept the full weight of ones freedom and create meaning to your own life, as we are the ones who give it a purpose.

Question 5

Sartre – Existentialism- what does existence precedes essence mean?

Answer 5

We are born blank slates, unlike objects are who are made with a predetermined purpose i.e. a butter knife. We develop our own essence through our actions and choices, we choose who we want to be.

Question 6

Sartre – Existentialism- What does free will mean in this situation?

Answer 6

There is an absence of god meaning we are condemned to be free thus we are faced with uncertainty over never really knowing whether the actions we take are the right ones.

Question 7

Sartre – Existentialism- what is bad faith in relation with Sartre?

Answer 7

Bad faith is when we avoid responsibility by blaming external forces e.g. parents or religion instead of owning up to them.

Question 8

Sartre – Existentialism- choices and our morality, what are they?

Answer 8

Even though we are free to choose, our choices should be made with universal perspective, they must show what would be good for all of humanity.

Question 9

Sartre – Existentialism- what is anguish?

Answer 9

We must feel the anguish that we are fully responsible for any choice we make and can never escape the responsibility of them or their outcomes

Question 10

Sartre – Existentialism- How do we choose what action to take?

Answer 10

We are fully responsible for our actions so take the ones that you are willing to accept any blame for. Attempting to shift this responsibility and you face bad faith.

Question 11

Nietzsche – Existentialism- what is self-understanding?

Answer 11

It is important to understand ones self to create your own goals and challenges, aiming to become the best version of yourself.

Question 12

Nietzsche – Existentialism- What is his Will to power idea?

Answer 12

The drive to master oneself and shape your own destiny- not to be mistaken for the desire for domination.

Question 13

Nietzsche – Existentialism- What is an Ubermensch?

Answer 13

A person who ignores societal norms and create their own values, to live authentically free from any external moral constraints.

Question 14

Nietzsche – Existentialism- what is morality according to him?

Answer 14

There are no objective truths.

Question 15

Nietzsche – Existentialism- what are eternal values?

Answer 15

There are no eternal truths, moral judgments are merely human preferences.

Question 16

Nietzsche – Existentialism- master vs slave/herd morality

Answer 16

Master is based off of self-affirmation and instinct, while slave morality arises from fear and opposition to the powerful, viewing them as evil.

Question 17

Nietzsche – Existentialism- what was his critiques on science?

Answer 17

That the modern reliance on science is the new form of truth, like how religion once was, but it is rejected as moral judgment.

Question 18

Nietzsche – Existentialism- how do you live authentically?

Answer 18

live according to your own instincts and potential, reject the herd mentality.

Question 19

Nietzsche – Existentialism- What is eternal recurrence

Answer 19

That all events in the world repeat infinitely in the same sequence.

Question 20

Nietzsche – Existentialism- What is the purpose of the eternal recurrence thought experiment?

Answer 20

To focus on present life, remove the thoughts of possibly being able to escape it.

Question 21

Nietzsche – Existentialism- what is a scenario on eternal recurrence?

Answer 21

A demon tells you one night that you will repeat your life forever, over and over having to repeat every joy and every pain. the question that remains is- Would you be upset or embrace the idea?

Question 22

Nietzsche – Existentialism- What is this thought experiment meant to make the reader feel/do? what is the challenge that it presents?

Answer 22

If you wouldnt joyfully accept eternal recurrence then you are not living your life authentically, How can you live in a way that you would joyfully affirm your life, including its hardships, knowing it repeats forever?

Question 23

Heidegger – Existentialism – what is the overview of his view?

Answer 23

You must accept death to live an authentic life as we are always moving towards it, if you don’t then you are living inauthentically.

Question 24

Heidegger – Existentialism – authentic attitude

Answer 24

The authentic attitude is to accept death as a present possibility, acknowledging it can come at any moment and embracing the anxiety that comes with this awareness.

Question 25

Heidegger – Existentialism – inauthentic attitude

Answer 25

The inauthentic attitude involves objectifying death, treating it as something that "happens" to others, and distancing oneself from its reality.

Question 26

What is absurdism?

Answer 26

Life has no inherent meaning, and there are no absolute truths or cosmic justice- just an absence of answers. Absurdism encourages us to actively engage with life, embracing its lack of inherent meaning, rather than succumbing to despair. Instead of despairing over the absurdity of life, we should meet it defiantly, creating our own meaning and value through the act of living.

Question 27

What does camus argue about the absurd?

Answer 27

the essential concept and first truth- in accepting the absurd you take the first step into living authentically.

Question 28

What is bad faith in accordance to absurdism?

Answer 28

Bad faith is the refusal to accept the absurd and continuing to search for meaning or purpose in life where there is none.

Question 29

What is the myth of sisyphus?

Answer 29

Camus compares the myth of Sisyphus- condemned to endlessly roll a boulder uphill, only for it to fall back down- to the human search for meaning. Despite the futility, Sisyphus embraces his task, symbolizing how we can find value and significance in life's repetitive and absurd nature.

Question 30

What is stoicism?

Answer 30

Stoicism aims to teach people to focus on what they can control and accept what they cannot. It emphasizes virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice and self-discipline. this philosophy also encourages us to live in harmony with nature. the goal of the stoics is to find inner peace and happiness through managing emotions when faced with troubled situations and to respond rationally rather than impulsively.

Question 31

Who was Epictetus and what was his role in stoicism?

Answer 31

He was a former slave whom emphasized the importance of tranquility over external possessions or circumstances.

Question 32

Epictetus – Stoicism- how can tranquility be achieved?

Answer 32

Achieved not by controlling surroundings, but by controlling how we think and respond to situations.

Question 33

Epictetus – Stoicism- there are 3 ways to embrace tranquility- what are they?

Answer 33

act in accordance with nature. watch your judgments focus on what you can control

Question 34

Epictetus – Stoicism- how do you act in accordance with nature?

Answer 34

- Accept and adapt to the current situation as it is,. - Respond calmly and rationally after assessing the situation and taking necessary actions.

Question 35

Epictetus – Stoicism- how do you watch your judgments?

Answer 35

- Problems only arise when we feel like we are entitled to things we aren't - to avoid this only make judgments that create realistic expectations and desires.

Question 36

Epictetus – Stoicism- how do you focus on what you can control?

Answer 36

Some things are up to us e.g. our thoughts, actions and emotions but others aren't e.g. external events. - focus on controlling your own reactions, not stressing over things beyond your control.

Question 37

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- who was he and what were his 10 principles?

Answer 37

Aurelius was an emperor and considered the last of the 5 good emperors. He wrote a series of insights on how to build self- discipline. these included: find your purpose, count on yourself, show up everyday, practice voluntary hardship, Practice dichotomy of control, never play the victim, practice delayed gratification, ignore naysayers, find wise people to emulate and honestly review your day.

Question 38

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- How do you find your purpose?

Answer 38

- Understand your purpose to fuel motivation and self-discipline. - Start practicing immediately, even if it’s small steps. - Self-discipline grows from having meaningful reasons for your tasks.

Question 39

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- what does counting on yourself mean?

Answer 39

- Create a practical action plan for your goals. - Commit to both major goals and the small, necessary steps. - Self-discipline means consistently taking needed actions.

Question 40

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why is showing up everyday important?

Answer 40

- Consistency and persistence are key to progress. - Don’t let failure define you; instead, focus on daily improvement. - Each day is a fresh start; keep going despite setbacks

Question 41

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to practice voluntary hard ships?

Answer 41

- Expose yourself to small discomforts regularly (e.g., skipping a meal, taking cold showers). - Builds resilience and prepares you for real hardships

Question 42

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to practice on control?

Answer 42

- Focus on what you can control, and let go of the rest. - Embracing this mindset fosters inner strength and calm.

Question 43

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to never play the victim?

Answer 43

- Avoid self-pity and excuses; take responsibility for your actions. - Mental toughness involves stepping up, even if you’re not at fault.

Question 44

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to practice delayed gratification?

Answer 44

- Resist instant rewards in favour of long-term benefits. - Delayed gratification is a core part of self-discipline.

Question 45

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to ignore naysayers?

Answer 45

- Don’t let others’ criticism or doubts disrupt your peace of mind. - Seek feedback only from those you respect; ignore habitual naysayers.

Question 46

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to find wise people to emulate?

Answer 46

- Identify role models who’ve achieved what you aim for. - Learn from their discipline and strategies to support your journey.

Question 47

Marcus Aurelius – Stoicism- why do you need to honestly review your day?

Answer 47

- Reflect daily on your progress and areas for improvement. - Be honest about weaknesses, but forgive yourself and plan for growth.

Question 48

What is epicureanism?

Answer 48

A philosophical system founded by ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. It puts emphasis on the pursuit of happiness and tranquility through the cultivation of pleasure defined as the absence of pain both mental and physical.

Question 49

Epicurus stated that we were making 3 misconceptions when it came to our happiness- what were they about?

Answer 49

Relationships, money and luxury

Question 50

What is the misconception on Relationships about?

Answer 50

- People often think romantic relationships bring happiness, but these can lead to jealousy and conflict. - Epicurus found that friendships offer more genuine joy, as they are usually free of possessiveness and filled with kindness. - He noted that people simply don’t spend enough time with their friends.

Question 51

What is the misconception on money about?

Answer 51

- People believe wealth is essential for happiness, but they overlook the sacrifices it demands (e.g., stress, long hours). - Epicurus believed satisfaction in work comes from helping others in small ways and feeling we make a difference, rather than from wealth or status.

Question 52

What is the misconception on luxury about?

Answer 52

- People obsess over luxury items and serene locations, but they really seek a sense of calm and escape from chaos. - True happiness comes from achieving inner peace, not from external luxuries.

Question 53

What were the 3 things that Epicurus believed happiness comes from

Answer 53

- Spending quality time with friends. - Choosing work that fulfills you, even if it means a simpler life. - Cultivating inner peace through alone time and reflection.

Question 54

the philosophy of aesthetics- what is it about?

Answer 54

Aesthetics covers many areas such as: beauty, how we experience art, whether beauty and art really matters, the sublime, judging beauty and art, whether art can be good or bad and who decides the meaning of art.

Question 55

how does aesthetics cover beauty?

Answer 55

Aesthetics tries to understand what makes something beautiful and why we find certain things pleasing to look at or experience. It makes us asks whether beauty is something real in the world or just a personal feeling.

Question 56

how does aesthetics cover how we experience art?

Answer 56

why do we feel joy, wonder, or even sadness when we see art or experience nature? what makes these experiences special and different from everyday life?

Question 57

how does aesthetics cover whether beauty and art really matters?

Answer 57

why do humans care about art and beauty? Is it just for fun, for learning about something deeper, or for feeling connected to others and the world.

Question 58

how does aesthetics cover the sublime?

Answer 58

The sublime is about big, overwhelming experiences, e.g. seeing a mountain or a thunderstorm that fill us with awe or even fear. It’s a feeling that’s intense but can be both scary and wonderful.

Question 59

how does aesthetics cover judging beauty and art?

Answer 59

Aesthetics explores how we decide if something is "good" or "bad" art. It asks if everyone can agree on what’s beautiful or if it’s different for each person

Question 60

how does aesthetics cover whether art can be good and bad?

Answer 60

it poses the question and gets the audience to think

Question 61

how does aesthetics cover who decides the meaning of art?

Answer 61

Philosophers debate whether the artist’s intention matters most in understanding art, or if the viewer’s interpretation is just as important.

Question 62

Burke – Sublime- how did he compare the sublime to the beautiful?

Answer 62

The sublime affects us more deeply than beauty because it brings fear and uncertainty along with a strange sense of delight, while beauty only brings pleasant feelings.

Question 63

Burke – Sublime- how did he view fear and self-preservation when it came to the sublime?

Answer 63

Burke believed the sublime moves us because it’s linked to feelings of self-preservation, stimulating nerves that could save us in real danger.

Question 64

Burke – Sublime- why did he believe the sublime made us feel insignificant and why did it matter?

Answer 64

Sublime experiences make us feel small and insignificant, especially in the face of nature’s power, like storms, which can put our daily worries into perspective.

Question 65

Burke – Sublime- what did he believe that viewing the sublime would do?

Answer 65

make us feel small and in doing so make our ego and pride are reduce, making us more tolerant and less self-centred.

Question 66

Burke – Sublime- what were the benefits he believed were given once seeing the sublime

Answer 66

Burke saw the sublime as a way to restore perspective and correct our tendency to get caught up in life’s details.

Question 67

Burke – Sublime- why did he believe we needed to see it on a daily basis?

Answer 67

While often associated with nature or art, Burke argued the sublime should be integrated into daily life to benefit our mindset regularly.