Week 1-2

Question 0

Value and subjective

Answer 0

No true or false way to feel about something;

there is no set, factual value of good or bad part of anything;

saying you feel a particular way about something is merely an opinion and can only say something about what you feel.

It doesn’t say anything about the object itself and does not describe the world in any way.

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 1

“Predicates of Value” and examples

Answer 1

express a positive or negative attitude that is something to be pursued/avoided.

Is hard to define exactly because you lean towards subjective or objective rationale in doing so, and that is not ideal.

Ex: sublime, noble, generous, base, embarrassing, poignant…

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 2

Reason

Answer 2

the ability to know the truth

Our emotions are based off of intuitive reason, which we have obtained from our education. This implies that our emotions intuitively know the “truth” about the value of something.

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

C.S. Lewis -

Question 3

Fact/value distinction

Answer 3

Value: the good/bad connotation associated with something,

whether it be something we recognize each individually with the use of our emotions,
or is something that is factual about an object/situation/etc due to the mass accordance of emotions of a population

Fact: what is and what isn’t;
in objectivism, things have a factual value, in subjectivism nothing has a factual value of good/bad

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 4

Objective Value

Answer 4

An emotional evaluation that can get the world right or wrong

Everything has some degree of good/bad value, and we can recognize that correctly/incorrectly through the intuitive reasoning of our emotions.

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 5

Emotions

Answer 5

Our evaluation of how good/bad a situation is dependent on our intuitive reasoning

Our “intuitive reasoning” is gained by how we are trained/educated; if we are all raised with the same moral values, then we all nearly perceive the good/bad in things similarly, thus feel relatively similar about the events that happen; this sets a factual value for something

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 6

“The Tao”

Answer 6

The doctrine of “objective value”

“the belief that certain attitudes are true and others false

and tell us about the universe and who we are”

Everything has a set way of being, a set value of good/bad

the Way that all men should tread in imitation of that cosmic and supercosmic progression, conforming all activities to that great exemplar.

It is a Chinese belief/Way of the world

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 7

Propaganda

Answer 7

Something that induces a person to feel a particular way

it is the goal of the propaganda to make an individual feel such a way, & thus is tailored with the particular predicates that arouse such emotions

C.S. Lewis - The Abolition of Man

Question 8

Cultural Anthropology

Answer 8

Shame and Necessity - Bernard Williams

Studying of a different culture by keeping these things in mind:

• make the culture strange; accentuate the fact that it is indeed a different culture
• Don’t compare the culture in study with your own. Just study the culture for the sake of studying it.
• Do not evaluate the studied culture as more or less good/bad.

Question 9

Cultural Relativism

Answer 9

Shame and Necessity by Bernard Williams

A form of subjectivism about value

An individual’s cultural conception of a good life can only be evaluated from within that culture

Two cultures cannot be judged using the same concepts
-A Cultural Anthropologist doesn’t commit to this but follows this rule regardless

Question 10

Basic Ethical Concepts

Answer 10

Shame and Necessity - Bernard Williams

-ideas of responsible action, justice, and motivations of people to do things that are admired and respectable

Objects of study of a culture because these concepts show by means of which one understands what it is to live well.

Structure the experience of those who possess these concepts.

Question 11

Progressivism

Answer 11

Shame and Necessity - Bernard Williams

-A rejected alternative to studying cultures/history by Williams

Comparison of an ancient culture with a modern one

Believes that modern cultures deploy ethical notions that are more sophisticated and ethically superior

Question 12

Nostalgia

Answer 12

Shame and Necessity - Bernard Williams

Yet another rejected method by Bernard Williams

Acknowledges differences between our culture and the Greeks, but feels the Greeks were superior

Believes we should return to the ethical concepts of the Greeks

Question 13

The study of history as a means to self understanding and transformation

Answer 13

Shame and Necessity - Bernard Williams

We may be able to enlighten some of our illusions about society and ourselves

We rely on same conceptions as Greeks, so studying them can help uncover their unrecognized influence.

We don’t always realize how their ethical concepts play into our modern ones

Question 14

Three Ambitions

Answer 14

The Roots of Ayurveda by Dominik Wijastyk

1) The will for life
2) the drive for prosperity
3) The aspiration for the world beyond

A ma of robust character, intelligence, manliness & courage & who is interested in discovering what’s good for him should develop the three ambitions.

Question 15

Rebirth

Answer 15

The Roots of Ayurveda by Dominik Wijastyk

Can be proven through some extent by using the ways of knowing

A concept that goes beyond the senses and so is rejected by those who can only trust what they see.

A wise man should put aside the views of the nonbelievers because there is much that is true that cannot be directly perceived, so why should this be any different?

The very senses by which we percept visible things goes beyond perception.

Question 16

Four Ways of Knowing

Answer 16

The Roots of Ayurveda Dominik Wijastyk

1) Precept of Authority
2) Perception
3) Reason
4) Inference

Everything has two aspects: the true and the false. These can be investigated by using the four ways of knowing.

An authority is one who is very cultured, knowledgeable, and austere; everything they say is inconvertibly true.

Question 17

Three sources of disease

Answer 17

The Roots of Ayurveda by Dominik Wijastyk

Overuse, underuse, and abuse of sense-objects, actions, and/or time

An imbalance of these things causes disease, but if one is capable of balancing them out, then they achieve the natural body.

An imbalance causes the inappropriate conjunction of objects and senses, violation of good judgement, and transformation.

Question 18

Natural State

Answer 18

When senses, actions, and time are used correctly, the natural state results.

There is no imbalance in these three concepts, so there is no disease on the horizon.

One should seek to balance these things so disease can be avoided by modulating his/her behavior or environment. This will maintain the natural body.

Question 19

Croesus

Answer 19

Herodutus - “The History”

Showed Solon all of his treasures and asked him who the most blessed man was

Thought Solon was a stupid man when he did not state Croesus as one of the most blessed men

Realized that Solon was right in belittling his blessings when he is taken captive

Question 20

Solon

Answer 20

Herodutus - The History

Questioned by Croesus who the most blessed man of all was

Says that blessedness cannot be judged until you see the end of one’s life; that one may be very lucky with riches and wealth one instant, but may lose everything the next, in which he is not blessed. Blessedness essentially stems from the heart and from action.

Question 21

Looking at the end and not just the present

Answer 21

Herodotus - The History

This is part of Solon’s answer to Croesus when asked who the most blessed man of all was

He belittled Croesus’s wealth because it was something that could be temporary, and blessedness can be measured when you see the end of one’s life, how they’ve been honored, and how they’ve acted throughout their life.

Question 22

Cleobis & Biton

Answer 22

Herodutus - The history

The second most blessed men of all according to Solon when he is talking to Croesus

These two men were exceptional athletes, and took their mother by wagon to the temple, where they later died.

Argives made statues of them that were dedicated a Delphi.

Question 23

No one of them that are living are blessed

Answer 23

Herodotus - “The History”

Part of Solon’s answer to Croesus about who was the most blessed man of all

No one can be absolutely, entirely blessed, because we are always lacking something. No one is absolutely perfect; we are all imperfect and blessed in some ways but lacking in others.

Question 24

Doing what you see fit

Answer 24

Plato - “Gorgias”

Socrates says that tyrants and orators do what they see fit, not what they desire to do, so they have the least power of all, much to Pilas’s surprise.

No power associated with doing what you see fit if intelligence is not there

If doing what you see fit is also beneficial at the same time, then you have power.

Question 25

Doing what you want (Desire)

Answer 25

Plato - “Gorgias”

All desires stem from some innate good that we want to obtain

We may end up doing bad things in order to obtain what is seemingly good because we become confused about what good and bad is and thus lack that intelligence

Question 26

Power

Answer 26

Plato - “Gorgias”

If one does what he sees fit and is beneficial, then he has power

Power cannot be held without intelligence

Tyrants and orators do not have power, according to Socrates, because they are only doing what they see fit, not what they desire to do. What they desire is good, yet what they see fit is not, so they are without power.

Question 27

All desire is for the good

Answer 27

Plato - “Gorgias”

When we act, we are backed by a desire that stems from good; we want good in our lives because that leads to happiness.

This idea entails the fact that there is such a thing as an objective value of good/bad, regardless of how general it may be.

We may become confused and do what is bad in search for the good

Question 28

Intermediate ends

Answer 28

Plato - “Gorgias”

The things someone does to reach a particular desire, such as taking medication in order to become healthy

These things are done for the sake of the good that one wishes to obtain

Question 29

Doing injustice is worse than suffering it

Answer 29

Plato - “Gorgias”

Socrates says that one who does injustice should be pitied since it is the worst thing there is that is done

Doing injustice is an intermediate end to reach a desire; it may be bad in nature but leads the doer to the desire; they do bad to find good

Question 30

Archelaus

Answer 30

Plato - “Gorgias”

the son of Perdiccas

Someone who is unjust and wicked, according to Polus. Socrates says that if he is unjust, he must be miserable.

Has committed heinous crimes, such as drowning a young boy of 7 who was a heir of the throne

Question 31

Justice as the craft of medicine for the soul

Answer 31

Doing justice brings happiness; Socrates believes that if a man has done injustice but has justice served to him, then he will be less miserable than if it is not.

Injustice is done as an intermediate end to reach a desire; it is not done willingly, but is done because one sees fit to do so.

If one is committing injustice to do what he sees fit, then he is being controlled by circumstance and is miserable for what he does

Question 32

Tony Montana

Answer 32

A political refugee from Cuba who becomes a drug overlord

Initially romanticizes wealth and power since it leads to being happy, which is his desire

Loses all the people closest to him because of going about bad intermediate ends to achieve wealth, power, and love

Does a lot of what he sees fit but not what he actually desires

Question 33

Manny

Answer 33

Tony Montana’s best friend throughout the movie

Alienated from Tony when he is blamed for all the trouble Tony gets into

Marries Gina and is killed by Tony because of it

Question 34

Sosa

Answer 34

DePalma - Scarface

a longtime business partner of Tony who feels Tony doesn’t have anything to hide and is truthful.

Ends up killing Tony when he fails to assassinate the journalist’s family and thus ends his business relationship with him

Question 35

Gina

Answer 35

DePalma - Scarface

Tony’s younger sister who falls into the trap of wealth in search of being free and happy

Overly protected by Tony because he wants to preserve her innocence; she hates being treated this way because it goes against the freedom she desires

Marries Manny, which is the reason why Manny is killed by Tony

Question 36

“The World And Everything In It”

Answer 36

DePalma - Scarface

This is what Tony tells Manny that he desires

It is his desire to be free and have the world at his disposal, even though he goes about this in the wrong way

Question 37

This country, first you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the women

Answer 37

DePalma - Scarface

Manny and Tony share this dialogue after Manny has been slapped from hitting on a woman

This is their desire because they see this as part of freedom; this is how they feel they have the world in their hands