Robert C. Solomon, PhD. (b. 1942 – d. 2007) Univ of TX at Austin
Lecture 1: What is Existentialism
Existentialism is best thought of as a movement, a “sensibility” that can be traced throughout the history of Western philosophy. Its central themes are the significance of the individual, the importance of passion, the irrational aspects of life, and the importance of human freedom.
Why “No Excuses?”
Answer: Take responsibility without excuses.
We do have control.
Notorious atheists have been existentialists. Jean-Paul Sartre.
Soren Kierkegard was not an atheist but a devout Christian.
Socrates took responsibility.
Who am I, what am I to do? We make ourselves.
Five Figures in Existentialism to be covered:
Albert Camus
Soren Kierkegaard
Friedrich Nietzsche
Martin Heidegger
Jean-Paul Sartre 1905-1980
Existentialism is not a school. It is very individualistic.
pick up at 9:45
Existentialism, Astrology, Christianity
Who am I?
What am I to do?
How do I make myself?
The professor said he is going to cover some Christianity because the existentialists have been atheists and Christians.
Existentialists vs Astrologers vs Psychics vs Christians vs Romans
Astrologers hold that there is life after life ends.
Psychics hold that there is life after life ends.
Christians hold that there is life after life ends.
Romans hold that there is life after life ends.
Existentialists hold – TBD
Existentialism is a tradition of philosophical enquiry which takes as its starting point the experience of the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual. It is associated mainly with certain 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief in that beginning of philosophical thinking.
Existentialists with their focus on experience may limit their scope to life before life ends.
An existentialist may or may not hold that there is life after life ends. Yes?/No?
The existentialist position IS the course so that position may take a while to form.
PREVIEW
Three Themes of Existentialism
1. Emphasis on the individual
2. The importance of the passions
3. The concept of freedom
Jean-Paul Sartre
We are always making choices as individuals.
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The passions are the whipping horse. For example, passions have been demonized.
Soren Kierkegaard
You are not alive without passions. Live passionately.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Use more exclamation points than other existentialists.
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Political Freedom
Metaphysical Freedom (free will); No – that is an illusion
Personal Freedom
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Without passion, there is no motivation.
So, no, passions are not all demonic/sinful.
Passion gives meaning to life.
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Getting by vs Living life to the fullest
Passionate commitment
To truly exist, take hold of your life, falling in love with yourself, manifesting your virtues and talents, become the person you really are
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Life is happenstance. If I were born in the Middle Ages, would I be different?
If I were born five minutes earlier, would I be different? [An astrologer would say, yes.]
Thrown-ness – we don’t choose anything, we are thrown into life. We find ourselves in absurd situations.
Franz Kafka author of Metamorphosis
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Descartes: I think therefore I am.
I am as a thinking thing. But the existentialist looks at what you’ve done and what others think of you.
Existentialists: It’s up to you.
Pick up at Lecture 2: Albert Camus: The Stranger, Part I.
An Astrological Guide, Report Writer, and Speaker (Me) Asking an Astrological Organization about Renaming Scorpio
Re: the YouTube video “Addressing Arguments Against Astrology – OPA, I have two questions.
#1 Can I call Scorpio from now on Scorpio & Ophiuchus since Ophiuchus can be an additional layer of Scorpio and since there can be a fusion of Ophiuchus with Scorpio? See the video 59 minutes 13 seconds to 1 hour, 3 minutes, 29 seconds.
#2 When were the signs aligned with the constellations? Was it 1st century Common Era or 300 Before Common Era or even earlier, during the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt?
Thank you.
Steefin
Astrological guide, report writer, and speaker
From time and place of birth in this Solar System (ecliptic natal chart and Astro* Carto*Graphy map),
to the Galaxy (Visual Astrology’s map of the Stars beyond the Sun)
to answer existential questions
Do you know what the Heavens know of yourself and your potential?
What renders astrology meaningless and absurd is the fact it privileges a single perspective. It assumes our position in the universe is special. All you would have to do is move in any direction a very few light years and the entire system becomes incoherent. The value of science is not least it’s ability to disconfirm our natural intuitions. And what it has taught us is the non-existence of privileged positions.
Stephen
Astrology privileges a single perspective. It is location-specific. Move a few light years away and the entire system becomes incoherent.
Steefen
#1 What astrology do you speak of? There are different types of astrology. There is Lunar Astrology where humans on earth have life experiences relative to the Moon. There is Tropical Astrology where humans on earth have life experiences relative to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. There is Visual Astrology where humans on earth have themes of life experiences relative to Stars.
#2 There are many sciences that are specific to location or a number of anchors. The sciences related to land are not specific to the sciences of the marine. The sciences related to a planet without land mass is not specific to a gas giant planet. The science of nutrition is different among different blood types. The sciences related to human survival are different from below sea level and high altitudes, on Earth vs. on Mars and even between Earth and Mars as one travels in space. So, yes, there is an astrology specific to inhabitants of Earth with respect to Earth’s Moon.
#3 Astrology is science (Astronomy), social science (psychology, anthropology and mythical themes, human development), mathematical science (statistics–probabilities–of the application of the angles between actual and derived solar system objects–planet, Sun, asteroid but north node also–(Mercury trine Venus, Ascendant conjunct North Node), sociology (mundane astrology’s effects on society and ages/spirit of the times), philosophy (Existentialism), etc.
#4 If something is not only science, a test of science without a test of social science, a test of mathematical science (statistics), a test of philosophy, and any other tests is insufficient to validate it or disparage it.
1) You left out Hindu astrology and Chinese astrology which have their own completely different systems. Just as the existence of many religions belie the possibility of a single true religion, so it is with astrology.
2) As far as we can tell the same physical processes described by science take place at both the top of Mt Everest as take place in the depths of the Marianas Trench. The same physical processes formed Mars as formed the Earth. Even the places where the physical laws seem to break down (like Black holes) are examples of the exceptions that prove the rule.
3) Astronomy is a science. Astrology is a pseudoscience. A pseudoscience assumes the veneer of a science without it’s internal rigor and self-critique.
4) If astrology makes predictions that cannot be disconfirmed or assertions that cannot be falsified then how is it a science?
The ancients believed that the planets and stars were divine beings. It may seem as if the results of science somehow diminish the wonder of the world but this betrays a profound lack of understanding. Holding on to a phony mystery blinds us to the real ones. The Copernican revolution made astrology obsolete.
Stephen
Astrology privileges a single perspective. It is location-specific. Move a few light years away and the entire system becomes incoherent.
Steefen
#1 What astrology do you speak of? There are different types of astrology. There is Lunar Astrology where humans on earth have life experiences relative to the Moon.
It is also the collective unconsciousness, like the i-Ching sage of many tens/hundreds of thousands of years of Australopithiciens and Homo Sapiens internalizing the sky.
Stephen
You left out Hindu astrology and Chinese astrology.
Steefen
You are proving yourself as someone with whom I do not want to have a polite discussion let alone someone with whom I want to think out loud or with whom I want to study Astrology because you failed to show yourself knowledgeable and have the gall (potentially irritable quality) to say I left out Chinese astrology.
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle, each year in that cycle related to an animal sign. These signs in order are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar.
When I said, “There is Lunar Astrology,” Chinese Astrology is included under that heading.
Besides, the point was not for me to make an exhaustive list of astrological approaches from which you were to choose. The question was and that went unanswered, showing your disrespect to participate in this discussion, What Astrology do you speak of?
Stephen
You left out Hindu astrology and Chinese astrology.
Steefen
You are proving yourself as someone with whom I do not want to have a polite discussion let alone someone with whom I want to think out loud or with whom I want to study Astrology because you failed to show yourself knowledgeable and have the gall (potentially irritable quality) to say I left out Chinese astrology.
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle, each year in that cycle related to an animal sign. These signs in order are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar.
When I said, “There is Lunar Astrology,” Chinese Astrology is included under that heading.
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You are in error and have been corrected.
Let those with eyes read the exchange in this post.
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Second, posting three links does not answer the question posed to you, what astrology do you speak of.
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So, it is obvious 1) you are ignoring my questions, 2) you do not know Astrology well enough to have known that Chinese Astrology falls under the heading of Lunar Astrology, 3) you do not admit your mistakes, 4) you are trolling this thread simply to say Astrology is a pseudo-science which is not the topic of the thread, 5) you are engaging in the fallacy of appealing to authority
Appeal to authority is a common type of fallacy, or an argument based on unsound logic. When writers or speakers use appeal to authority, they are claiming that something must be true because it is believed by someone who is said to be an “authority” on the subject.
Your behavior has begged me to IGNORE YOU.
Fine. So be it.
I did answer your question. It’s just that you don’t like the answer I gave.
All systems of astrology are based on the same fundamental misconception. That our perspective on the universe is to be privileged in some way. But I’m repeating myself.
You really should read that Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article.
Stephen said
I did answer your question. It’s just that you don’t like the answer I gave.All systems of astrology are based on the same fundamental misconception: our perspective on the universe is to be privileged in some way.
Stephen believe / have faith in what you want, even if it is an appeal to authority fallacy. Do not expect me to follow your fantasy and fallacy.
I have experimented with Astrology, I have practiced Astrology, others have experimented and practiced Astrology not only today but for thousands of years, and it works.
The perspective of the Observer is privileged in Quantum Physics experiments.
You have no credibility, again. I ignore you, again. I just cannot waste my time entertaining your nonsense.
I came here to learn but it seems my only function is to teach.
An appeal to authority is not a fallacy if the authority is an actual authority. If I say that the majority of NT historians believe Jesus was a historical figure that’s not a fallacious appeal to authority simply a statement of fact. But if I say that prof Ehrman is a NT scholar who believes in ghosts and therefore I do too, that’s a fallacious appeal to authority. See the distinction?
Astrology always works because it’s unfalsifiable. The human capacity for self-deception and wishful thinking is fathomless.
The concept of the “observer” in Quantum Physics doesn’t mean what you think it means.
Any system of thought that fails to incorporate a methodology for self-critique lacks credibility. In other words, how do you know when you’re wrong?
One criticism of Western/Tropical Astrology is that the zodiac signs on the ecliptic do not match the constellations on or near the ecliptic.
When I ask a person (as I did with Stephen) what type of Astrology are you trying to criticize (and did not get an answer), it is because that criticism does not apply to all branches of Astrology.
So, no Stephen, you are in error and should not presume incorrectly you are in a position to teach.
Astrology not done well is falsifiable.
Associations that offer astrological certifications, colleges that offer degrees in Astrology certainly do incorporate methodology assessments.
Go on, Stephen, hold your erroneous views and preach to your biased choir. You do not know what you are talking about and you do not even know the basics of Quantum Physics, let alone the connection between Observation and Consciousness.
When I ask a person (as I did with Stephen) what type of Astrology are you trying to criticize (and did not get an answer), it is because that criticism does not apply to all branches of Astrology.
ALL OF IT is based on an enormous fallacy, that our position in the universe is privileged. I thought I made that clear.
Astrology not done well is falsifiable.
How is astrology done well?
You do not know what you are talking about and you do not even know the basics of Quantum Physics, let alone the connection between Observation and Consciousness.
Then tell me the basics of QP and the connection between O & C.
Are there any major, accredited universities that offer degrees in astrology as part of their science curriculum?
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