PHILO ORALS

Question 1

Discuss Kierkegaard’s quotation, “Truth is subjectivity,” and it’s existentialist
Insights.

Answer 1

• truth depends on our experiences
• meaning of truth might not be true for others
• we should embrace and live our unique truth
  -subjectivity is freedom, demands responsibility

Question 2

Elaborate the ethical implications of proclaiming the Death of God and the
transformation of human beings into Übermensch.

Answer 2

• the Death of God challenges us to reconsider the foundation of our values
• Übermensch represents an individual who has transcended conventional morality.
• individuals must now determine their own values and meaning in life.

Question 3

What is Husserl’s method of epoché, and what are its effect/s on our natural
orientation to the world.

Answer 3

• epoche aims to suspend or “bracket” all judgments about the natural world to study the structures of consciousness
• letting all experience come to us rather than experiencing it from preconceived notions
• Common sense is a preconceived concept; it isn’t something we can experience; in a way, it is hard to say what’s common or isn’t common unless we can experience it by ourselves purely

Question 4

Elaborate on Heidegger’s notion of Dasein and its relation to being in the world (De.
In-der-Welt-sein), care, and time/temporality.

Answer 4

• Dasein - German term Heidegger used to describe human existence
• In-der-Welt-sein - how we exist as part of a larger context
• Heidegger replaced the term “existence” with “care”
• Time/Temporality, it’s something that influences you and how you understand your place in the world

Question 5

Explain Sartre’s quotation, “Existence precedes essence,” and its relation to
freedom, bad faith, and authenticity.

Answer 5

• (e.g., a knife is designed with the essence of cutting), humans first exist without any predetermined purpose.
• there is no predefined human nature or essence to constrain us, we are entirely free to create our own essence
• “We are who we make ourselves and not who we are pre-determined to be”

Question 6

Elaborate Beauvoir’s critical analysis of the other-ing of women-subjectivity, and
the notion of performativity in gender.

Answer 6

• Beauvoir explores how society constructs women as the “Other,” positioning men as the default human beings and women as the subordinate
• Beauvoir acknowledges that societal expectations are internalized by individuals, leading them to perform their gender in ways that align with cultural norms.
• The social expectations of gender are merely a repeating performance act that sustains gender identity and aligns with gender norms

Question 7

Discuss the importance of context, history, and tradition in informing and orienting
the meaning of the texts and our experience, according to Gadamer’s
Hermeneutics.

Answer 7

• Context
  Gadamer introduces the concept of the “horizon,” which refers to the range of vision that includes everything seen from a particular vantage point.
• History
  Our interpretations are influenced by the historical trajectory that has shaped our perspectives
• Tradition
  Gadamer views tradition as a vital continuity that connects us with the past.
• involves interpretation

Question 8

Elaborate the structural importance of narrative identity, the transformative power
of texts to life, according to Ricœur.

Answer 8

• Narrative Identity is the way in which individuals understand and articulate their own identities through the stories
• He argues that literary texts, particularly narratives, have the capacity to transform our understanding of ourselves and the world.
  -When readers engage with a text, they enter into a dialogue with it,

Question 9

Elaborate James’s pragmatic theory of truth, and the practical aspect of his
Epistemology.

Answer 9

-belief is true if it proves itself to be useful and satisfactory in our lived experiences
- James’s epistemology is grounded in the practical application of knowledge
-James argues that truth is not static but evolves over time as our experiences and interactions with the world change

Question 10

Explain the concepts of sense, reference, and truth, according to Frege.

Answer 10

• Sense
  The concept of sense refers to the way in which a term or a sentence presents its meaning
• Reference
  pertains to the actual object or entity in the world that a term or expression stands for.
• Truth
  Truth, for Frege, is the ultimate aim of language and logic.