Camus: Absurdism

The absurd: Life if absurd because the human mind invariably seeks meaning, value, and order in the world yet the world itself doesn't contain any of them. The absurd is the relationship between these two facts. The entirety of human life consists in a striving for what one can never find, hence, it is absurd.

Kierkegaard:
1. (a) Interpret the following passage from Kierkegaard. How is it relevant to Camus concern?:

An old proverb fetched from the outward and visible world says: "Only the man that works gets the bread." Strangely enough this proverb does not aptly apply in the world to which it expressly belongs. For the outward world is subjected to the law of imperfection, and again and again the experience is repeated that he too who does not work gets the bread, and the he who sleeps gets it more abundantly than the man who works. In the outward world everything is made payable to the bearer, this world is in bondage to the law of indifference, and to him who has the ring, the spirit of the ring is obedient, whether he be Noureddin or Aladdin, and he who has the world's treasure, has it, however he got it. (Philistines, Knights of Infinite Resignation and Knights of Faith)

(b) Come up with at least two examples from your own life that illustrate the law of indifference.

2. Read 2nd & 3rd paragraph (the method) p. 18.

(a) What does it mean to "leap"?

(b) What does it mean to live without appeal? 

3. Explain: "That revolt is the certainty of a crushing fate, without the resignation that ought to accompany it." and "The contrary of suicide is the man condemned to death."

P. 19: 

(a) What is the relationship between consciousness, revolt, life? 

(b) Why isn't suicide a response to the absurd?

4. (a) Explain rejection of metaphysical freedom.

(b) READ p. 29 1st full paragraph (and last sentence of previous paragraph).

(c) Explain the analogy with the mystics. 

5. How do we live without appeal to a scale of values? 

(a) What is implied by substituting quantity for quality of life?

(b) What are the practical implications of living an ethics of quantity of experience? 

READ p. 21 last 2 paragraphs.

(c) Is is merely duration of life or something else that matters for quantity of life?

6. Facing the world: What do I do with my life?

Sartre Part 3: Answering the Objections

1. Why does existentialism horrify certain people?
(a) What does Sartre think of people who say things like: "So there remains within me, unused and quite viable, a host of propensities, inclinations, possibilities, that one wouldn't guess from the mere series of things I've done."
(b) How does Sartre think the existentialist attitude motivates people to act?
(c) What does Sartre mean when he says "there's no such thing as a cowardly constitution"?
(d) Why does he think people don't like this idea? Why does he think existentialism represents 'optimistic toughness'?
(e) What are your thoughts?

2. Intersubjectivity (Explain).

3. Objection: You're able to do anything, no matter what.
(a) What does Sartre say you cannot do?
(b) Try to explain the analogy between making a moral choice a painting a picture.
(c) How can moral decisions not be arbitrary even though there are no a priori values or rules?

4. How is it possible to pass judgment?
(a) Explain: "Every man who takes refuge behind the excuse of his passions, every man who sets up a determinism, is a dishonest man."
(b) Why can't people choose dishonesty?

5.  How can the existentialist pass moral judgment?
(a) What does Sartre mean "freedom is the basis of all values"?
(b) What do you think of this idea?
(c) How does our own freedom depend entirely on the freedom of others and the freedom of others depend on ours?
(d) When does Sartre morally judge someone to be a coward?
(e) What is the moral standard of action for existentialists?

6. How does Sartre respond to the charge that "values aren't serious, since you choose them"?
(a) What do you think about his response?

7. Sartre says at the end that "even if God did exist, it would change nothing."  What do you think he means?

Sartre Part 2: Abandonment and Despair

Review
1. What does "existence precedes essence" mean?

2. Why is "man anguish"?

3. What is bad faith/double dealing?

Abandonment and Despair
1. Sartre discusses Kierkegaard and the story of Abraham.
(a) How does this story relate to subjectivism?
(b) How does this story relate to "man is anguish"?

Interpretation:
http://khamakarpress.com/2016/07/01/rabbi-yisrael-all-palestinians-must-be-killed-men-women-infants-and-beasts/

Killing
Deuteronomy 20:10-15 – When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies. This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. 

Don't Ignore the Torah
Matthew 5:17-19 – "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 

“For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV)

Homosexuality

"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them." Chapter 20 verse 13

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet,”

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:27-32)

Second Coming

MAT 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

MAR 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

LUK 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Judging

1 Cor 2:15 "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:" (NIV)

1 Cor 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

Sins of the Father

ISA 14:21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.

DEU 24:16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Adultery
Leviticus 20:10 - 'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Rape
Deuteronomy 22:28-29 - "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."

Women
1 Timothy 2:11-12 – "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent."

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 – "If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity."

The Sabbath
Exodus 35:2 – " For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death."

Homosexuality
Leviticus 20:13 – "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

Prisoners of War
Isaiah 13:15-18 - "Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives ravished. See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold. Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants nor will they look with compassion on children."

Non-Believers
Deuteronomy 17:2-5 - "If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the LORD gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death."

Leviticus 24:13-16 - "Then the LORD said to Moses: "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. Say to the Israelites: 'If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death."

2. For Sartre, what does abandonment mean?
(a) How is Sartre's atheism different from the old atheism?
(b) Famously, Sartre says "man is condemned to be free." What does this mean?

3. (b) The existentialist doesn't believe in the power of passion." 
(a) What does this mean?
(b) Do you agree/disagree? Why?

4. "The existentialist does not think that man is going to help himself by finding in the world some omen by which to orient himself." (Think about the story of Abraham and of the Jesuit priest). 
(a) What does this mean? 
(b) How does the story of the Jesuit relate to this point? Think of at 3 three different ways the Jesuit could have interpreted his situation.
(c) How does the story of Abraham relate to this point? Suggest other ways Abraham could have interpreted the situation?
(d) Do you agree or disagree with Sartre's point? How does Sartre's point also relate to anguish? How are abandonment and anguish connected? 
(e) Think of some omens that you or other people have used in the past. What would Sartre say about this?

5. What is the point(s) of the story about the young man?
(a) How would you choose what to do? Why? What would Sartre say about your choice?
(b) Why doesn't Sartre think appealing to an ethical system will answer the young man's question? How does this relate to abandonment?

6. What is Sartre's reply to the suggestion that we go with our feelings to guide important decisions?
(a) What role do you think emotions should play in our decision-making?

7. What does Sartre say about turning to others for advice?
(a) What are your thoughts on this?

8. What does Sartre mean by "despair". 
(a) What do the Marxists say about this?
(b) How does he reply?
(c) What are the implications of despair to our life plans? 

The Benefits of Philosophy

"A study published in the International Journal of Business Administration found that what students read in college directly affects the level of writing they achieve. In fact, researchers found that reading content and frequency may exert more significant impacts on students’ writing ability than writing instruction and writing frequency. Students who read academic journals, literary fiction, or general nonfiction wrote with greater syntactic sophistication (more complex sentences) than those who read fiction (mysteries, fantasy, or science fiction) or exclusively web-based aggregators like Reddit, Tumblr, and BuzzFeed. The highest scores went to those who read academic journals; the lowest scores went to those who relied solely on web-based content."

Another study that shows something I've argued for a while now: it's quality, not quantity, that matters when it comes to reading. You can read a ton of books, but that doesn't matter if all the books are crap. Sure, read your schlocky novels and children's books for fun, but read something complex or thought-provoking too. Don't starve your brain. It's hungry. Feed it.

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