Existentialism and Philosophy Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does existentialism prioritize above all else?

Free individual choice (correct)

The morality of choices

The essence of human existence

The influence of societal norms

What is the central concern of individuals facing 'the Encounter with Nothingness' according to existentialists?

The search for truth in religion

The consequences of their decisions

The ultimate purpose of existence (correct)

The nature of morality

Which historical events contributed to the rise of existentialist philosophy in the 20th century?

The Cold War

The First World War and the Holocaust (correct)

The Industrial Revolution

The Renaissance and Enlightenment

What aspect of the universe did Heraclitus primarily focus on?

The fundamental nature of change Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of cosmology as a branch of philosophy?

The origin and fate of the universe Signup and view all the answers

In the field of aesthetics, what does the study primarily focus on?

Sensory and emotional values of beauty Signup and view all the answers

Ontology investigates which of the following?

Types of existence and their relationships Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophical concern is associated with 'the anguish of Abraham'?

The burden of making moral choices Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of political philosophy?

The study of liberty, justice, and rights Signup and view all the answers

What does dualism suggest about the relationship between mind and body?

They are separate from each other. Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the founder of the school of Metaphysics or Ontology?

Parmenides of Elea Signup and view all the answers

What was René Descartes' significant contribution to the mind-body problem?

He identified the mind with consciousness and self-awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Parmenides argue against?

The reality of change and motion Signup and view all the answers

What is the central idea of monism?

The universe is fundamentally composed of one type of substance. Signup and view all the answers

What does political philosophy explore regarding government?

The reasons for a government’s legitimacy Signup and view all the answers

According to Descartes, why could he doubt the existence of his body?

He believed it was an illusion created by an evil demon. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Existentialism

Emphasizes the importance of individual choice, regardless of external influences or pressures.
Individuals create their own essence through choices and actions.
Existence precedes essence: we first exist, then define ourselves through our choices.
The encounter with nothingness: Existentialists believe that individuals who are alienated from God, nature, others, and even themselves confront the ultimate void of nothingness, questioning the purpose of existence.

Fear and Trembling

The optimism of the 18th and 19th centuries gave way to pessimism, fear, and anxiety in the 20th century due to the suffering of the First World War, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Holocaust.
The concept of "the anguish of Abraham" describes the anxiety and responsibility individuals face when making moral choices.

Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 535 - c. 475 BC)

Known as "The Obscure" or "The Weeping Philosopher" due to his paradoxical philosophies.
Believed that change is fundamental to the universe, with a constant interplay of opposites.
Proposed that the entire universe is composed of fire.

Cosmology

The study of the universe’s origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate.
Aims to understand the natural laws that govern the universe.

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty, art, taste, and the creation and appreciation of beauty.
Deals with the study of sensory or sensory-emotional values, often referred to as judgments of sentiment and taste.

Ontology

Investigates the types of things that exist in the world and their relationships to each other.
Explores questions about the existence of entities, their classification, and how they are grouped, related, and subdivided.

Political Philosophy

Studies concepts like liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority.
Examines the legitimacy of government, the rights and freedoms it should protect, and the duties citizens owe to it.

Philosophy of Mind: Dualism

Proposes that the mind and body are distinct and separate entities.
Mental phenomena are, in some aspects, non-physical.
René Descartes first formulated dualism in the 17th century, distinguishing the mind from the physical brain.
Descartes recognized that he could doubt the existence of his body but not his mind, leading him to believe they were distinct.

Parmenides of Elea (Late 6th century - mid 5th century BC)

Influenced Western philosophy with his work.
Founder of the school of either Metaphysics or Ontology.
Argued that motion is an illusion, and everything exists permanently, indestructibly, and unchangingly.

Monism

A metaphysical and theological view that everything is ultimately one, with no fundamental divisions.
Proposes that a unified set of laws govern all of nature.
At the deepest level of analysis, the universe is one thing or composed of one fundamental substance.

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Description

Explore key concepts of existentialism, including the significance of individual choice and the philosophical inquiries of thinkers like Heraclitus. This quiz also delves into the impact of historical events on human anxiety as presented in Kierkegaard's 'Fear and Trembling'. Test your understanding of these profound ideas that question existence and morality.