Midterm

Midterm
1.) Nietzsche had quite a few ethical views. He was against morality. He would call himself and immoralist. He would criticize morals schemes which include Christianity, Kantianism and Utilitarianism. By doing this he didn’t want to destroy morality he wanted to re-evaluate the values of the Judeo-Christian world. He wanted to bring about a new more natural source of values in the vital impulse of life itself. He wanted to return the values of Homeric Greece.
Nietzsche next ethical view was “God is Dead” he believed that if god is dead this would eventually lead to the loss of universal perspective on things, along with it any coherent sense of objective truth. He believed in stead we would retain only our own multiple, diverse, and fluid perspectives; this view is know as perspectivism. Nietzsche says that even though god is dead before becoming dead in man’s hearts and mind, this had provided the foundation of a "Christian-moral.”
Nietzsche also believed in will power and or the will to live. He believed that the whole world and everything in it is driven by a primordial will to live, resulting in all creatures' desire to avoid death and to procreate. He believes in truth, free spirit, I think this has something to do with why he loves god so much because of the truth, will power to live and free spirit. He loved Jesus he believed that in sin, which basically is anything that puts distance between God and man is abolished. He believes in a new way of life, not a new faith, which comes from the Christian religion.
He didn’t like Paul because Paul question god, he believed “if Christ did not rise from the dead, then all our faith is in vain. Nietzsche was a strong believer in god and heaven. Even though he says god is dead he still believed in him even though he knows god died because of us to let us live and gave us the free will and told us the truth and believes everyone should do the same.

2.) Epictetus is a well know philosopher but for some strange reason he never wrote anything. It was those people who surrounded him who wrote his philosophy down. There is a handbook of all of Epictetus thoughts that Keith Seddon wrote. Epictetus would encourage his students to learn “the truth of nature,” this was broken up into two categories that were labeled exclusive and executive power. Exclusive power was judgment, impulse, desire aversion; executive power was health, material wealth, fame. He introduced two concepts to his students which where Prohairesis and Dihairesis and related them to everyday life. Epictetus believed understanding that we should not be affected by the external objects because they are not up to us. He believed in happiness and fulfillment.
Spinoza is best known for his ethics, in which most of his philosophy reflects his ethics. Most would say his philosophy is best described as pantheistic. This is because pantheism views that immanent abstract God and or that the universe, nature and God are equivalent. Which helps to show how Spinoza is a strong believer in god and nature it self which I feel has a strong impact in both his philosophy and ethics. He is a strong believer in free will.
They are very similar in that they both believe in stoicism; stoicism is health, happiness, possession. They believed that everything is really good and or bad in a man’s life is up to themselves to determine which one they are. They believe no matter who you are you choose to be that person and you still have nature and happiness to live day to day with. This is how I feel that Spinoza and Epictetus relate in that they both believe in stoicism; that every human is free and believe in using their freedom to be happy and fulfill their lives.

3.) Epictetus is a well know philosopher but for some strange reason he never wrote anything. It was those people who surrounded him who wrote his philosophy down. There is a handbook of all of Epictetus thoughts that Keith Seddon wrote. Epictetus would encourage his students to learn “the truth of nature,” this was broken up into two categories that were labeled exclusive and executive power. Exclusive power was judgment, impulse, desire aversion; executive power was health, material wealth, fame. He introduced two concepts to his students which where Prohairesis and Dihairesis and related them to everyday life. Epictetus believed understanding that we should not be affected by the external objects because they are not up to us. He believed in happiness and fulfillment.
Spinoza is best known for his ethics, in which most of his philosophy reflects his ethics. Most would say his philosophy is best described as pantheistic. This is because pantheism views that immanent abstract God and or that the universe, nature and God are equivalent. Which helps to show how Spinoza is a strong believer in god and nature it self which I feel has a strong impact in both his philosophy and ethics. He is a strong believer in free will.
They are very similar in that they both believe in stoicism; stoicism is health, happiness, possession. They believed that everything is really good and or bad in a man’s life is up to themselves to determine which one they are. They believe no matter who you are you choose to be that person and you still have nature and happiness to live day to day with. This is how I feel that Spinoza and Epictetus relate in that they both believe in stoicism; that every human is free and believe in using their freedom to be happy and fulfill their lives.

4.) Epicurus was a philosopher who was a strong believer in life free of pain. He thinks you should have peace of mind and ataraxia is the highest pleasure. He believed that we avoid pain and want pleasure which I feel is very true no one wants to be hurt we all want pleasure and happiness.
Aristotle was a strong believer in everything has its own virtue; everything has a purpose in this world. Aristotle is all about happiness he states that “happiness is what is good for men.” He believes that happiness is good for everyone in his writings he often talk about how it doesn’t hurt to have good health, good looks and money.
Epictetus believed in leading humans to better lives he was a strong believe is stoicism. He is a believer of nature and harmony. Epictetus say’s keeping ourselves happy with our everyday life requires two things watching our own actions and paying attention to the world and the actions that go on with in it.
All three of these philosophers believe in living life to its fullest; they all seem to want happiness in life as long as you are doing a good thing’s within your life. When you read their writings you can really see how they are pro happiness within nature. They all believe we all are determined to have our own lives because nature is full of things that can make us happy and that is what god intended us to do is be all we can be and stay happy and make as many right choices as you can.

5.) Sartre is best known for his French existentialist of the twenty century. He did not believe in Christianity this is because Sartre was a believer that there is no god and because there is not go there are no moral rules. Maybe he felt this way because he was a victim during world war two he was held by the Nazis. Sartre would say there are no values, he believes all events happen at random and that life is absurd. One of his ethics is bad faith he believes choose not to choose is bad faith.
Sartre was the developer of existentialism; he believed there are only one way to live and only one virtue to strive for. Existentialism is the thought that there is no human nature, that when we claim we have to be somebody or do something is just a poor excuse for not wanting to make choices. Existentialism is the building block to Sartre ethics. To me he seems like a crude guy; I guess you can say very honest. Even his writings are negative and to the point. But I really think his ethics are learning toward crude and honest because of his life experiences.
Sartre often talks about “if any choices could authentic so long as it is lived with a clear awareness of its contingency and responsibility.” I think he is saying that freedom is a choice you chose to be free if you become locked down that is nothing but for your choice. Something thing I can agree with but there is one thing I don’t and that is that there is no god. But I believe we do all have a choice and we should use them accordingly and not lean towards bad faith.

6.) First I would like to focus on Kant’s ethical theory focus on epistemology and metaphysic, epistemology. Kant likes to focus on morals of epistemology and the reasoning of metaphysics. Kant believes that “freedom is an ideal of reason; that without the function of freedom reason cannot act.” For example I think Kant is trying to say, because of freedom we learn from our actions and those actions and human life gives of knowledge to be able to reason.
Also, Kant’s criticism of utilitarianism is very famous; he believes that utilitarian theories actually devalue the individuals it is supposed to benefit. Kant also believed that utilitarian theories are leaning more towards inclination in humans for pleasure and happiness, not by the universal moral law by reason. In which I feel he philosophy is incorrect because, without human happiness and pleasure they would not be able to reason by moral law. Kant is also a strong believer of good will.
Kierkegaard believed in those three stages; which are the aesthetic stage, the ethical stage and the religious stage. The aesthetic stage focus on sensuous of joy Kierkegaard believes that children are the ones who have strong interest in this stage. The Ethical stage is where many people realize there are laws of convictions in which they believe there is always a way to become a good person. Last would be the religious stage which is where those things that make sense to you and you choose to trust god and love for the reason of your happiness. Both Kierkegaard and Kant are very religious they believe in god and are true believes of being happy and good human beings.

7.) Mills was a strong believer in utilitarianism Mills believed in that cultural, intellectual, and spiritual pleasures are valued more then physical pleasure he is very opinionated in that he believes that physical please are not as strong as cultural, intellectual and spiritual. I think this has a lot to do with his upbringing because he is well educated and very religious. But most importantly utilitarianism reflects on both his two ethical theory which are liberty and the harm principle.
Epicurus believed in hedonism which is, pleasure seeking which basically states the more look for pleasure the more it surpasses you. They believe the more pleasure the more pain is released. He believes everything we do we do for the sake that we will gain pleasure. He says that pleasure is good and pain is bad and we determine this the same way that fire is hot.
They both believe in pleasure but different aspects. Mills is more a believer that pleasure comes from cultural and spiritual aspects and explains how pleasure is valued. Where as Epicurus explains that pleasure as everyone has pleasure and pain, he goes into death on how we perceive pleasure but not as in depth as Mills does.

8.) While reading all the articles this first half of the semester I have came across a better understanding of ethics. Ethic is self is the study, questioning and justification of moral rules. There are many different types of ethics such as normative ethic which reflects the golden rule which treating others how we would want to be treated. There are applied ethics which is focused mostly on abortion and similar issues. Last but not least there is metaepthics which is the study of everything that exist in our universe.
I think my favorite theorist was John Stewart Mills, because of what he believes in. I also am a strong believer in the harm principle which states, that each individual has the right to act as he wants, as long as the actions do not harm others. I think almost all human go by this in their day to day life. Treat others how you want to be treated, we all live life and learn that is not the greatest feeling when you are put down by someone and or is not treated very fairly. If we all lived life by treating other how you would want to be treated we would all live in a better place and be a much happier person. I think this is what Mills is saying in his philosophy he believes in. I also like the fact that Mills utilitarianism I like how he believes in culture and spiritual pleasure. I think he was a great person and gave us a better understanding on how we as humans should live our lives.

Post 6 #476

Karl Marx was a well known philosopher he was a scholar and a political activist. He was labeled the “father of communism” He was a strong believer in communism but frowned upon capitalism. He thought of capitalism as immoral for a few reason. Marx argued with many issues because a lot of people say that communism is related to capitalism but Marx would disagree.

Marx argued that capitalism would have the same affects as previous socioeconomic systems had faced; he believe that capitalism will help to cause internal tensions and will lead to its destruction. Marx’s was not a big believer in social economic classes. From what I have read I feel Marx’s believes its not fair that the upper class have the most power and the middle class be stuck with less power when then work the hardest and to add to it he did not think it was fair that the lower class should be stuck working for less wages. He was not a believer let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Basically Marx believes capitalism was immoral because the labor work force was looked over, and he believed people where getting cheated out of life itself.

I think because of Marx’s philosophy focus on human nature and equality. In Marx writing “Communist Manifesto,” He wrote, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” In this statement he reflects what his society would be like. Marx wanted everyone to only have one wage. Therefore, I think Marx’s would envision a moral society as a non-class society he would want everyone to be equal and make the same wages. He would want to be fair to nature and humans as a whole and not judge by who is rich and or poor.

Post 4 # 343

I feel that Kant and Mills are two very different people.They believe in most of the same things but have different aspect towhat those things mean to them. There ethical theory are the same inthat they share a lot of the same values but because of who they areas individuals and their upbringing the view them differently. Onemajor one I will focus on is Unitarianism. In this essay I will focuson them as individuals then compare and contract at the conclusion ofmy paper.First I would like to focus on Kant's ethical theory focus onepistemology and metaphysic, epistemology. Kant likes to focus onmorals of epistemology and the reasoning of metaphysics. Kantbelieves that "freedom is an ideal of reason; that without thefunction of freedom reason cannot act." For example I think Kant istrying to say, because of freedom we learn from our actions and thoseactions and human life gives of knowledge to be able to reason.Also, Kant's criticism of utilitarianism is very famous; he believesthat utilitarian theories actually devalue the individuals it issupposed to benefit. Kant also believed that utilitarian theories areleaning more towards inclination in humans for pleasure andhappiness, not by the universal moral law by reason. In which I feelhe philosophy is incorrect because, without human happiness andpleasure they would not be able to reason by moral law.Kant is also a strong believer of good will he states that "good willis good not because of what it performs or affects, not by itsaptness for the attainment of some proposed end, but simply by virtueof the volition; that is, it is good in itself." In his writing hewrites "like a jewel it would shine by its own lights, as a thingwhich has its whole value in itself." I feel this quote from hiswriting reflects that we are the jewel and our good will within oneanother is our light that shines upon us.I would like to focus on John Stuart Mill and some of his theories.John Stuart Mill was educated by his father and grew up with a strongreligious up bringing. He was a philosopher who had focused on manyethical issues such as the harm principle, liberty and his opinion onutilitarianism. Mill's believed that "it is better to be a humansatisfied rather then a pig dissatisfied." He also believed that ifyou are educated and a college graduate you should be granted morevoting power then someone who is not because you have more experienceand understanding.Mills was a strong believer in the harm principle and liberty. Theharm principle states, that each individual has the right to act ashe wants, as long as the actions do not harm others. Liberty involvesdefense of free speech. Mill would argue that free discourse is anecessary for intellectual and social progress. We can never be surethat opinions do not contain some kind of truth. For example, Millswould state harms may include acts of some kind of omission and orcommission; failing to rescue and drowning person counts as a harmfulact.As for Utilitarianism Mills believed in that cultural,intellectual, and spiritual pleasures are valued more then physicalpleasure he is very opinionated in that he believes that physicalplease are not as strong as cultural, intellectual and spiritual. Ithink this has a lot to do with his upbringing because he is welleducated and very religious. But most importantly utilitarianismreflects on both his two ethical theory which are liberty and theharm principle.In what I have pointed on both Mills and Kant you can see howthey are both very opinionated people. They have they same view inwhich they both believe in freedom as long as not harming others and,good will in a human. They both believe in utilitarianism butdifferent aspect of it but I think that is do to their different inupbringings and how they both have very strong opinion.

Post 3 #268

Spinoza's was born in Amsterdam in 1632; he was the son of asuccessful Portuguese Jewish Merchant he was a well educated man.Spinoza is best known for his ethics, in which most of his philosophyreflects his ethics. Most would say his philosophy is best describedas pantheistic. This is because pantheism views that immanentabstract God and or that the universe, nature and God areequivalent. Which helps to show how Spinoza is a strong believer ingod and nature it self which I feel has a strong impact in both hisphilosophy and ethics, when you read his writings you can see rightaway you can identify that those are Spinoza writings. Spinozastates "God is no longer the transcendent creator of the universe whorules it via providence, but Nature itself."One philosophy I want to focus on that reflects some of his ethic,is that he is a big believer of free will one philosophy that I wantto focus on to really understand Spinoza ethics. In his Ethics ofconatus guidance of reason, Spinoza states "life lived by the 'free-man' – is one that is lived by the guidance of reason rather thanunder the sway of the passions." Also, "everyone love himself, seekhis own advantage, what is really useful to him, want what willreally lead a man to greater perfection, and absolutely, thateveryone should strive to preserve his own being as far as he can."These two statements from Spinoza's writing I feel reflect back tofree will as a human being.In conclusion, I feel in today society we use free will to ouradvantage as human being's; which is a big part in Spinoza'sphilosophy. Our country is all about freedom and Spinoza would morethen like is proud that his philosophy might have helped out countryto make these decisions in our constitution of the Untied State ofAmerica.

Post 5 #370

Post Five
Kierkegaard was born in the capital of Demark, he grew up with bothparents; was very religious and educated. His father was a strongbeliever that none of his children would live past the ages of JesusChrist which is 33. I found this funny because Kierkegaard fatherlived to be 82 and his mother passed at 66. When Kierkegaard's fatherpassed away he asks Kierkegaard to become a priest in whichKierkegaard when on to fulfill.Kierkegaard became a strong believer in existentialism, which is thefocus on the meaning of essence of your lives. Existentialismquestions existence of human. Another concept is existence proceedsessence which state that through you as individual its how you createyour life that so the essence of existence. Kierkegaard believes inthe concept of dread for example when experienced by children whenfaced the possibility of responsibility for his or her actions, isone of the main forces in a child's individuations. Bad faith is lookbad upon bad use of freedom and is frowned uponKierkegaard believes that making choice without allowing your valuesreflect with your other values. He believes that choosing not to makechoices and flipping the coin is considered to be a refusal of onesfreedom. Freedom is a concept in existentialism is states, "Since manis free, and since he already exists in this world, it is impliedthat his freedom is only in this world, and that it, too, isrestricted by it." Kierkegaard thinks this is very important and tomake the right decision on how you choose to use your freedom. Hebelieves that bad faith is look bad upon; this is because it is lookat as freedom that is frowned upon.I feel that existentialism reflect on Christianity because theChristian religion reflects on good faith and existence to live onthis earth. Christianity also reflects on the freedom; each human isworthily of and until you betray that freedom you are worthily ofthat freedom. But they a strong believers that essence of existentsof human, they are strong believers in living life helping others andmaking this world a amazing place to live with all the rightdecisions and if you choose to make bad ones you correct it. This ishow I think existentialism reflects on Christianity. Kierkegaard is avery strong believer of the Christianity life and existentialismtheories. .