Lecture 1 Flashcards
what 4 questions does existentialism aim to answer
1) does the human being have meanings/purpose
2) do specific humans have specific meanings/purposes
3) what would have to be the case in order for there to be meaning (metaphysical question)
4) if there is meaning, how do you find it (epistemological question)
what is telos
greek word for meaning/purpose
what was socrates self proclaimed mission (divine mission)
enlighten other people, clear their mind and help them find truth
bertrand russels stance
almost absolutely certain that there is no purpose; everything is just atoms
what is naturalism
everything is just atoms, no god
what is the metaphysical question of existentialism
what would have to be the case in order for there to be meaning
what is the epistemological question of existentialism
if there is meaning, how do you find it
who coined the term existentialism and when
Gabriel marcel in the 1920s
descarte
‘I think therefore I am’
schelling
‘it thinks in me’
does marcel agree with Descartes or Schelling
schelling
marcel
existence has priority over essence; existence precedes essence
people are not born with predetermined purpose, they are both and then their actions and choices define them
what are the two kinds of existentialism
christian existentialism and atheist existentialism
christian vs atheist existentialism
christian: Core Belief: God exists, and humans are created by God, but they still experience existential challenges, such as anxiety, despair, and the search for meaning.
athiest: There is no God, and therefore, no predetermined essence or purpose for humans. We exist first, and it is through our choices and actions that we define who we are.
