Notes for Introduction to Philosophy: God and the Good Life (PHIL 10111) at the University of Notre Dame

1. 7100 ) OSO ) U
GODETHEGOODHFE

2. How do you decide what to believe ?
•
epistemology
-
theory of
knowledge
-
what is the nature of
knowledge ? When is a
belief justified ?
What do 1
owe to others ?
•
ethics
•
Do 1
owe anything to others ?
-
egoism = no
-
yes
→
positive Lto help ) or
negative ( not to harm ) ?
•
Who do I have Obligations toward ?
-
strangers ,
animals ,
unborn ?
Are there objective moral truths ?
•
what would it take for there to be objective moral
truths ?
•
Could there be objective morality wlo God ?
What does the good life look like ?
•
happiness
-
positive emotions L Epicurus )
-
exercise of virtue ( Aristotle )
Should I practice a
religion ?
•
Does God exist ?
-
metaphysics
.
Can God 's existence be demonstrated through
rational argument ?
-
If not ,
can it Still make sense to believe in God ?

3. What would it take for My life to be meaningful ?
•
must I achieve some divinely ordained purpose ?
•
Could life have meaning WIO God ?

4. Learning How to Live
What is the Chief good For human beings ?
.
material wealth ? no
-
nobody wants material wealth for its own sake
-
want it for the things it can
get Us
.
pleasure ? no
-
pleasure is not always a
good thing
-
E. g. adult ury or taking pleasure
in vice
-
capacity for animal 's to experience pleasure ; not Unique
to humans
-
criteria :
-
must be desired for its Own sake
-
never pursued as a means
-
things like honor E pleasure satisfy the first sometimes
but not the second
.
happiness
-
something is good insofar as it achieves its telos
( purpose ,
function )
-
to figure out something 's telos ,
we must know the
definitive characteristics of that thing
-
humans defined apart from animals by their rationality
-
happiness consists in doing a
good job acting rationally
- "
activity of the soul in accordance wl virtue
"
-
whether someone has achieved happiness can
only be
determined in the context of a complete life
Aristotle vs . Epicurus
.
Happiness as pleasure ( Epicurus )
-
subjective
-
emotion -
based
-
temporary
.
Eudaimonia ( Aristotle )
-
partly objective ( can sometimes be
Wrong about how happy we
are )
-
character based
-
long
-
lasting

5. Virtue
.
virtue : a stable character trait that
reliably disposes
one to act well
.
Vice : a stable character trait that
reliably disposes one
to act badly
.
virtue is a mean between 2 extremes
deficient' >
ekessvice virtue vice
insensibility temperance overindulgence
How do we acquire virtue ?
.
good Upbringing
.
good laws
-
laws should be aimed at
making people virtuous
'
good friends
.
Aristotle rejects Stoic individualism ( we have full control
Over our character )
.
Aristotle rejects nativism ( our characters / personalities
are innate )
.
building habits by repeated good action
.
importance of moral exemplars

6. Arguments
.
an
argument is a collection of statements intended to
establish the truth of some Claim
.
Conclusion : what the argument aims to establish
.
premise
:
Supports the conclusion
Validity
.
Conclusion is true in
every possible scenario in which
the premises are true
Soundness
'
valid { have all true premises
Counterexample to validity :
possible scenario in which
premises are true but conclusion is false
Enthymemes
:
Informative mess :
.
Not informative if it begs the question
-
circular
-
assumes the conclusion as true in premises
Non -
deductive Arguments :
'
some deductively invalid arguments have legitimate
force in reasoning
-
Lend support to the conclusion ,
even though they don't
guarantee it

7. Preparing your debate argument
.
A Case consists of :
-
Zt arguments for debate proposition
-
2 +
arguments against debate proposition
.
you cannot give an argument 1
objection unless your
opponentsare in a possession to debate it
-
Can use facts from assigned readings
-
Can appeal to common scientific facts
How to argue well
.
make the key premises / assumptions of the arguments
explicit
.
clarify / define Key words
.
give supporting considerations
.
( If you choose ,
G if there's time ) anticipate 1 respond to
Objections
Preparing Rebuttals
.
Chart your opponents
'
arguments while they 're being given
.
should be
targeted
Final Appeals
.
summarize , emphasize Key claims
you take the debate to
hinge on

8. Socrates
.
5th
century B. C .
Athenian philosopher
.
teacher of Plato
-
executed On charges of
impiety h corrupting youth
Pre -
Socratics
.
focused mainly On
metaphysics
-
questions about the fundamental nature of reality
Socrates
.
Shifted the focus of philosophy onto ethics
.
philosopher should seek
Knowledge of virtue
Socrates :
Gadfly Of Athens
.
rouse people of Athens back into action
-
would cross examine people who were powerful E
reputable , exposing their false pretensions of Wisdom
.
enemy of sophists
-
professional teachers
'
Claimed not to have
knowledge , except that he knew
nothing
'
exhorted people to
' '
care Of the soul
' '
.
How Can we care for the soul ?
-
seek virtue
.
to be happy is to have a virtuous soul
-
agreed with Aristotle
Knowing the Good
.
whoever knows what is good Will do what is good
.
all evil Stems from ignorance of the good

9. Committing vs .
Suffering Injustice
-
It is better to suffer injustice than commit injustice
-
when I Suffer injustice , my body , property ,
Or
reputation is harmed
-
When I commit an injustice ,
1 harm my Soul

10. Rene Descartes ( 1596 -
1650 )
.
mathematician ,
scientist , philosopher
.
dualism ,
rationalism ,
theism
Descartes
'
Meditations
.
method of systematic doubt
.
most beliefs are based on the senses
-
senses are unreliable
.
the dream argument
1
.
Any Sense perception 1
can have when awake 1 Could
also have in a dream
2 .
I Can't be certain I 'm not dreaming
3 .
I Can't be certain of any belief that comes from
sense perception
-
Descartes
'
evil demon :
perhaps all my experiences are
produced by an evil demon intent on
deceiving me
.
I think
,
therefore I am
Descartes
-
How do I decide what I believe ?
-
believe Only what can be known beyond all doubt
-
begin with indubitable Self -
evident starting points
-
build from there
Using self -
evidently valid steps of
reasoning
-
geometric method
Descartes
'
Epistemology
.
individualistic :
only believes what his own reason can
establish
.
infallibilist : don't settle for anything short of proof
'
against Cognitive biases :
concerned with
uprooting
his own biases

11. Moral Relativism G Absolutism
.
Moral relativism : moral truths are attitude -
dependent E
culturally relative
.
Moral absolutism : ( at least some ) moral truths are altitude
independent E apply universally.
attitude dependent :
depends on what 's believed , approved
Of
, preferred ,
within a culture
-
culturally relative :
varies from Culture to culture
Moral beliefs vs . Moral truths
.
different cultures have different moral codes
-
need to distinguish beliefs from facts
.
truths about a given domain are independent of any
-
One 's beliefs about that domain
.
Absolutists : moral truths are discovered ,
not created
.
But in some domains ,
the truths depends On people 's
attitudes / beliefs
-
what's funny ,
what 's delicious ,
what 's polite ,
which
pieces of paper have economic value
.
Moral relativists : Moral truths are created ,
not discovered
Arguments for moral relativism
-
Cultural imperialism argument
-
moral absolutism is dogmatic , arrogant .
{ lor imperialistic ;
SO We Should reject it in favor of moral relativism
-
Mackie 's argument from relativity
-
different Cultures have different moral codes
-
participation in different forms of life rather than
rational perception of independent moral truths
-
If moral absolutism is Correct ,
moral beliefs Come
from rational perception of moral truth

12. Moral absolutism :
-
only a moral absolutist can morally condemn practices
of other cultures
-
seems obvious that some practices of other cultures
Should be Condemned
-
ex :
child sacrifice in ancient cultures
-
only a moral absolutist can believe in the possibility
of moral progress
-
objection :
we learn about
morality from own Society
-
can't be learning Society
-
transcendent moral
truths
-
objection :
premise is invalid
-
objection : non sequitur
-
we learn math from
Society but math is universal
-
believe moral truths come from God or human nature
-
God has written moral law
' '
on our hearts
"
-
Theism { morality
-
some appeal to moral absolutism to argue for theism
1. There are Objective moral truths .
2 .
If there are objective moral truths ,
then God must
exist
-
some atheists go in the other direction
-
moral absolutists have also claimed that moral truths
are based on human nature
-
humans have built in purpose ( telos )
-
right actions are those that promote teks

13. Kantian Ethics
Immanuel Kant
What is
good without qualification ?
-
the good will
-
Unlike Aristotle ,
Kant thinks that happiness isn't
unconditionally good.
Unlike Aristotle ,
Kant doesn't think virtues like courage
are
unconditionally good
The Good Will
i.what matters is the
quality of
your intentions ( the
Maxim
"
behind
your action ) ,
not the results of your
action
.
Kant
disagrees W / utilitarianism
.
Duty vs . inclination
-
action from duty =
doing something bk it's right
-
inclination =
doing something bk it's what I want
-
the
goodwill acts from duty
The Categorical Imperative
.
never act except on the Maxim that you Could will to
be a Universal law
.
Universal law =
something that
everyone follows
.
Maxim :
a principle of action that combines a command
L
"
do X
"
)
together With a reason for
acting
(
"
in Order
to Y
"
)
Where does moral law Come from ?
.
not God ,
not human nature
.
reason
.
the moral law is built into the structure of reason d
applies to all rational creatures

14. .
reason
by nature is Universal . thus ,
reason
-
based
morality
tells Us to act in accordance with Universal izable law
Applying the Categorical Imperatives
.
false promises
-
"
Make a false promise to extricate
myself from difficulty
"
.
suicide
-
"
From self -
love I adopt it as a principle to shorten
my
life when its
longer duration is more
likely to bring more
evil than satisfaction
"
i
Charitable giving
-
"
I will
give nothing to those in need
"
Dignity E. Human Rights
.
central to Kant 's philosophy is the idea that humans have
dignity
-
humans are
"
ends in themselves
"
never to be used
merely as means
.
this sets Kant 's
philosophy in opposition to Utilitarianism

15. utilitarianism
Questions to ask about moral
theory
.
moral status
.
guiding principles
.
ex :
Kant 's moral
theory
-
moral status =
rationality
-
guiding principle
=
categorical imperative
.
ex :
Mill 's
theory
-
moral status = sentience
-
guiding
principles-
greatest happiness principle ( principle of utility ) :
right
action is one that produces greatest amount of utility
-
happiness =
pleasure 4 absence of pain
-
equality of consideration :
all sentient
beings are given
equal moral weight
Utilitarianism
.
aristotelian objection :
Utilitarianism is a
philosophy fit for
swine
-
Mill 's response
:
human happiness differs from pig happiness
because humans are Capable of higher kinds of pleasure
-
intellectual ,
asethetic ,
etc.
-
equality of consideration implications
-
anti -
egoism
-
anti -
species ism
-
Cosmopolitanism :
Can't
give preferential treatment to
fellow citizens
-
distance -
irrelevance

16. Utilitarianism vs. Kantianism
.
ex :
paternalistic laws
-
Kant :
against paternalistic laws bk humans should
have autonomy
-
utilitarian :
support paternalistic laws
.
ex :
lying
-
Kant :
never lie bk not Universal law
-
Utilitarian :
lying is permissible if for greater good
.
For the utilitarian ,
everyone has moral status ,
but ( unlike
in Kant 's moral theory ) no one has inviolable rights
-
slaves in gladiator fights

17. 3 ethical theories
.
utilitarianism
-
John Stuart Mills
.
Deontology
-
Kant
.
Virtue ethics
-
Aristotle
Utilitarianism
.
focused on results
.
What results should I aim to bring about ?
-
most amount of happiness
Deontology
.
focused on rules
.
What rules must 1
follow ?
Virtue Ethics
.
focused on character / personal growth
.
What kind of person should I be ?
-
a virtuous person
-
virtue : a stable character trait that reliably
disposes One to act well
.
What are the principles of right action ?
-
utilitarianism : the greatest hapiness principle
-
deontology :
categorical imperative
-
virtue ethics : the right action is the one that displays
the appropriate virtue
-
Phrohesis :

18. -
Unlike Kant G Mill ,
Aristotle is a particularist
.
particularism :
morality can 't be reduced to
mechanical rules
Particularism
.
Are there exception less moral principles ?
.
Are there exceptions to the Greatest Happiness Principle ?
-
trolley G S vs .
fat man
.
Are there exceptions to the categorical imperative ?
-
"
I will Occasionally buy clothes ,
but I Will not sell clothes
'
'
Importance of Community G relationships
.
How do we become virtuous
.
the role of the family :
need good Upbringing
.
role of community :
need laws to encourage virtue
.
role of friends : need friends that will Model Virtues
kinds of Friendships
.
utility
.
pleasure
.
virtue

19. Three kinds of
good
.
instrument goods
.
Intrinsic goods
.
Instrumental +
Intrinsic good
Instrumental Good
-
things we value only because
they help Us achieve other
goods
.
money
.
ability to tie shoes
.
grades
.
a tedious job
Intrinsic Good
.
( some ) pleasure
.
( some ) entertainment
.
eudaimohia (
according to Aristotle )
.
eating a donut
Instrumental +
Intrinsic Good
.
reading
.
health
.
knowledge.
friendship
.
good reputation
To what category does justice (
"
being a
good person
"
)
belong ?
.
Glaucoh :
instrumentally valuable
.
Socrates :
instrumentally +
intrinsically valuable

20. The Social Contract
Others act just Others act unjust
I act just 2nd
Best
Worst
I act unjust Best 3rd Best
The Ring of
Gyges.
No One
, including a
"
good
"
person ,
would remain
uncorrupted when given a chance to act without
punishment
.
injustice with impunity
:
you habitually lie ,
cheat ,
L
Steal ,
but you always get away with it
.
justice without
recognition :
you are a
good ,
honest ,
E Upright person ,
but everyone thinks you're a horrible
person
-
Glaucoh Says everyone would prefer the first
The Intrinsic Value of Justice
.
Plato says We should prefer justice wlo
recognition
-
committing injustice harms the soul
-
health of the soul is more important than reputation
Plato 's Conception of Justice
.
a just city is a Well -
ordered city
.
a just soul is a well
-
ordered soul
Tripartite Soul
.
rational
.
spirited
.
appetitive

21. How demanding is
morality ?
.
Mill ? ( utilitarianism )
-
need to
radically re -
order life →
very demanding
.
Kant ?
-
demanding bk have to do things out of
duty.
Plato ? ( Care of soul )
-
demanding bk put soul over material goods
Moral Saints
.
someone whose every action is as morally good as
possible
The Loving Saint
.
motivated to live a moral life out of love for
humanity-
ideal utilitarian agent
The Rational Saint
.
motivated to live a moral life from a Sense of
duty
-
ideal Kantian agent
Wolf 's Argument
1. life of a moral Saint will be lacking in non moral virtues
G achievements
-
moral virtues :
honesty , generosity , fairness
-
non moral virtues :
humor , Creativity ,
artistic skill
-
moral achievements :
curing cancer ,
overturning
unjust laws
-
non moral achievements :
climbing a mountain ,
winning
a
gold medal
-
a commitment to
morality crowds out non -
moral goods
-
many non -
moral goods run against the moral grain
-
cynical / sarcastic wit
-
luxuries ( World travel ,
fashion )

22. 2. A life WIO these non moral goods is not a desirable life
-
if loving Saint easily gives up non moral
goods to help
another person , they do not appreciate the non moral
goods
-
for rational Saint ,
must have obsession w1 moral
damnation
Back to Aristotle ?
.
Aristotle :
not all virtues are moral virtues
.
the most important virtues are intellectual
.
his "
moral
"
virtues go beyond what we call moral
Supererogation
.
Wolf thinks that an adequate moral theory must
include a supererogatory notion
.
supererogatory action =
action that
goes beyond
What is
morally required
What do I Owe to others ?
The Moral Maximizer :
obligated to help others as
much as I can
'
The Moral Satisfier :
obligated not to harm others ,
but not to
always help others

23. .
Revealed Theology : draws conclusions about God on the
basis of some ( putative ) source of divine revelation
.
Natural Theology : draws conclusions about God on the
basis or reason alone
Theistic Arguments
.
Cosmological arguments
.
teleogical arguments
.
ontological arguments
Cosmological Argument
-
begin w/ basic empirical facts
-
something exists
-
some things begin to exist
-
contigent things exist
-
there is motion
.
then Conclude that God is first cause
Teleological
Argument
.
appearance of design in nature
Ontological Argument
.
without the aid of sense perception
Cosmological Arguments
.
Kalam argument
-
whatever begins to exist has a cause
-
the universe began to exist
-
therefore ,
the universe has a cause
-
Cause must be distinct from universe
-
non -
physical
-
very powerful
-
has no
beginning

24. Teleological Argument
fundamental physical constants :
numerical values that
figure in the fundamental laws of nature ( e.g. the
numbers that specify the strength of
gravity ,
electro -
magnetism ,
or the strong nuclear force )
dozensof possible values for constant are within very small
life -
permitting range
-
the physical constants appear to be fine tuned
-
the best explanation for the apparent fine -
tuning is that
the universe has an
intelligent creator
-
therefore ,
the universe has an
intelligent creator
Ontological Argument
.
Anselm 's
-
God is greater than which cannot be conceived
-
existence in
understanding vs. existence in
reality
-
the atheist believes God exists only in the understanding
-
theist thinks God exists in both
-
it 's greater to exist in
reality than in
understanding

25. Does God exist ?
.
God =
omnipotent ,
Omniscient ,
Omni benevolent
-
omnipotent
:
all powerful
-
omniscient :
knows everything
-
Omni benevolent :
most moral
Problem of Evil
1 . There is evil in the World
-
all bad things
-
starvation
-
earthquake
-
terrorism
2 .
If God exists ,
there wouldn't be evil in the World
Conclusion : God doesn't exist
Responses :
.
self -
defeat :
problem of evil ,
taken as an
argument
against theism ,
is self -
defeating
-
some philosophers hold that existence of good 4 evil
requires the existence of God
-
doesn't say where argument goes wrong
.
God isn't subject to our standards Of
goodness
'
God is SO far above Us
,
he has no more obligation to Concern
himself with our well -
being
-
God doesn't love US ,
contrary to what many theists
believe
Theodicy
.
an attempt to explain why evil is Compatible with
God 's
goodness

26. Free Will Theodicy
.
evil enters the World
through the misuse of free
will
-
doesn't account for natural evil or animal
suffering
that occurred before existence of human beings
Soul Building Theodicy
.
God allows Us to
undergo suffering in order to
develop Our souls E
grow in virtue
-
certain virtues can only be exercised in a World
With evil
-
Mercy
-
compassion
-
courage-
Suffering / death Of infants
-
perhaps this helps build virtue of others
-
using infant as means
-
no Omni benevolent God would allow innocent
people to Suffer

27. Theoretical Rationality
:
Which beliefs are supported by
the evidence ?
Practical Rationality : what course of action will best satisfy
my goals ?
Should I believe in God ?
Pascal 's
Wager
God exists God doesn't exist
Believe in God
infinite reward wasted time +
emotional
Comfort
Don't Believe in God infinite penalty
more time + existential
despair
Responses :
.
Doxastk in voluntarism : we do not have
voluntary
control over what We believe
-
Pascal :
act as a believer would ; belief will Come
.
Many Gods Objection : the Christian God isn't the
only
possible God . Pascal hasn't considered other possibilities
-
Perverse
god gives punishment to those who believe in
The Christian god
.
the Evidential ist Objection
-
Clifford
-
Evidential ism :
One should Only hold a belief if there is
sufficient evidence in its favor
-
James 's response : beliefs can be guided by our passional
nature when the option is live ,
forced ,
G momentous

28. The Passions that Guide Belief
.
2 principles
-
believe truth :
love of truth
-
Shun error
:
fear of error
The Will to Believe
'
Clifford 's evidential ist principle may Close Us off to
every truth

29. Science G Religion
.
Newton
-
God helps keep planets in place
'
Pierre -
Simon Laplace
-
no need for God 's intervention
-
science is
making God obsolete
.
A theist might say
: science provides explanations for
things that happen within physical universe
-
But science can never explain why there is a
physical
universe at all
-
that's Where God Comes in
-
Atheist 's response :
Who made God ?
-
Lesson :
everyone regards something as basic 2 uncaused
Religions as failed Sciences
.
religion came into existence before science
-
wanted explanations
Genealogy of religion
.
genealogy
:
explanation of how an idea arose
.
genealogical critique
:
an idea based on a
genealogical
account of its origins
-
ex :
Freud -
idea of God is the product of Wish -
fulfillment
Nietzsche
.
What is the source of moral concepts E
religious ideas ?
.
Good E evil :
concepts that
belong to
"
slave morality
"
a moral system invented by the weak
.
slave morality condemns as evil things the weak are
unable to do G praises the opposite things as
goo

30. Nietzsche 's
Genealogy of Religion
I . We have a fundamental tendency to inflict harm .
2. The origin of Civilization made it hard to externalize this
power ,
so we internalized it -
inflicting harm on our
selves -
' '
bad conscience
"
3. we legitimized this by developing concepts like
guilt , shame ,
E god
.
bad Conscience lead Us to feel indebted to our
ancestors ,
who gradually became gods
Nietzsche vs .
James da Pascal
.
Pascal E James :
religious faith has a practical / emotional
value ,
So its reasonable to take a leap of faith
.
Nietzsche :
Christian faith is not valuable .
It is a
sickness of the soul .

31. What will it take for my life to be meaningful ?
.
What would it take for meaningful lives to be possible ?
.
What does it take to do so ?
Meaning { Morals
-
possible sources For objective moral facts
-
God
-
human nature ( Aristotle )
-
we give moral law to ourselves -
reason ( Kant )
.
possible sources of meaning
-
God
-
human nature
-
human nature provides life 's
purpose ( Aristotle )
-
ourselves -
we create meaning ( existentialists )
Meaning L God
.
Is a
meaningful life possible in a
godless World ?
.
Atheism
-
how Could lives have purpose WIO God ?
-
how could anything we do Ultimately matter
if there is no afterlife ?
Meaning 4 the Active Life
.
What would it take for my life to be meaningful ?
-
a life spent in pursuit of justice through political
activism
MLK 's Letter from a Birmingham Jail ( 1963 )
.
2 main stages of nonviolent activism
-
moral self purification
-
non violent public protest

32. Objections to Civil Disobedience
.
Objection
:
Isn't it wrong to break the law ?
.
A just law aligns w/ moral law or law Of God
.
Thomas Aquinas :
a
genuine law must be in
accordance wl reason , promulgated ,
a ordered
toward Common
good
.
Objection from ineffectiveness :
the chances that
your individual activist efforts will substantively
change policy are very low
.
Opportunity costs :
you can
probably do more good
by donating
.
Does it matter if my individual efforts probably
won't make a difference ?
-
Kant vs .
Mill
.
tensions blw vitaactiva 4 Vita contemplative
-
unintended Consequences
-
wlo careful 1 Unbiased research ,
activist policies
will lead to bad outcomes
-
prohibition
-
passions that drive activists do not lend themselves
to fair -
minded inquiry

33. What is happiness ?
.
not pleasure
.
not
' '
play
"
.
not a character trait
-
not virtue
.
consists in an activity
- "
an activity Of the soul in accordance With virtue
"
.
highest form of happiness does not consist in the exercise
of moral / practical virtues
-
active life does not have leisure
-
happiness should be self -
sufficient
The Contemplative Life
.
What is best in Us ? the intellect
.
contemplation for Aristotle
1
.
Completely self -
sufficient
2. realizes the best part of our nature
3. Is attended by a special kind of pleasure
-
pleasure in truth
for its own sake ( not for discovery Or usefulness )
4 .
"
Continuous
' '
-
unlike practical activities ,
does not need end
5. Leisurely -
no rush ,
no deadlines
.
life of a philosopher

34. Plato 's
Allegory of the Cave
How can we pursue the contemplative life today ?
.
philosophy
.
science
.
religious contemplation
Augustine ( 354 -
430 )
Is the contemplative life humanly possible ?
St. Thomas Aquinas
.
Summa Theologiae
Structure of the Summa
.
Question ( e.
g . Does God exist ? Does the active life remain after this
life ? )
.
It seems the answer is [
yes no ]
.
On the contrary . . .
[ Aquinas 's actual argument ]
.
Point by point response
Contemplation for Aquinas
1.
Only fully possible in the afterlife
2. Is what the heavenly afterlife is
3. requires moral virtue as precondition
4.Contemplation of God and God alone
5.
very pleasurable
6. eternal
7. no
longer involves exterior action or anything particularly social

35. Free Will in Heaven
.
Aquinas says
:
In one sense
yes
-
we are not coerced by external
forces ,
but in another sense no -
there is no possibility of falling
back into sin
.
Is this consistent with free will theodicy ?
-
Some tension :
Why isn't same type of free will in heaven good
enough for earth ?
-
DO we have bodies in the life to come ?
-
according to Christian theology
:
Yes
-
but what role could a body have in a
purely Contemplative
heaven ?

36. Is it rational to fear death ?
.
religions with belief in afterlife :
death =
good
.
Socrates on death :
no fear of death bk should only fear death if
you
know definitively death is bad
-
two possibilities
-
death is a dreamless sleep
-
death is a passage to another life
-
either way ,
it is
nothing to fear
.
Epicurus :
We should only fear death if it is something that hams US ,
but there is no time when both death and we exist simultaneously
The Deprivation Account
.
Death is bad because it deprives Us of the
good life
.
death deprives Us of all the goods Contained in life :
enjoyable
experiences , friendship ,
etc
.
Is life itself valuable ?
Three Views on the Value of Life
.
human life has no intrinsic value ; it is only valuable as a
precondition of other goods
.
human life is intrinsically valuable ,
but it does not have overriding
value
.
human life is
intrinsically value and has
overriding value
The Lucretia n
Symmetry Argument
.
symmetry before and after our existence
Natural vs . Unnatural Deprivations
.
St. Augustine 's privation account of evil :
evil is the absence of
a due good
.
being deprived of life beyond age 80 or so seems like a
natural deprivation ,
SO why would we think non -
premature death
is bad

37. Is there a persisting self ?
.
Descartes believes that he exists as a thinking thing → an
immaterial soul
.
fear of death Can be logical bk termination of soul
.
Hume :
find a fleeting bundle of perceptions and feelings that
don't exist for more than a moment
-
nothing to fear about death because
you don't exist for more
than a moment

38. Nihilism :
the belief that our lives are
meaningless
Albert Camus
.
life is fundamentally absurd
.
conflict blw
-
as reflective creatures ,
we ask what the meaning of our existence is
-
It is impossible to reach an adequate answer
Meaning
.
different from happiness
.
differentfrom morality
.
a life is meaningful depending on how it connects to things beyond itself
.
the active life :
contributing to something bigger than yourself
.
the contemplative life :
connection to facts beyond Oneself
-
secular
-
religious
.
Creative life :
Plato -
what love wants is
' '
to
give birth in beauty
"
.
Plausible claim :
an activity is meaningful to the extent that it contributes
to something of lasting value
'
permanence principle :
in order for something to be meaningful , it
must make a permanent contribution to human history
.
Is permanence principle true ?
-
who cares if our lives don't contribute to something of everlasting value ?