History of Philosophy and 16 Questions: How Should People Live?

Jul 4, 2024

History of Philosophy and 16 Questions: How Should People Live?

Introduction

  • Lecture focus: History of philosophy framed through 16 fundamental questions.
  • Tonight's question: How should people live?
  • Aim is to explore the question, not to provide definitive answers.

Historical Context

  • Past Constraints: Ancient peasants had limited choices due to lack of resources, literacy, and mobility.
  • Modern Freedom: We have unprecedented material, legal, and intellectual freedom to make life choices.

Life in Ancient Times

  • Many lived just to survive (e.g., Middle Ages: frequent famines, early death).
  • Historical opportunities to ask how to live were rare (e.g., Athens, about 10% of the population could ask this question).

Philosophical Approaches

Socrates

  • Main Idea: Pursuit of wisdom and right action.
  • Beliefs: No one knowingly does harm; evil comes from ignorance.

Aristotle

  • Main Idea: Moral virtue as a balance between extremes (Golden Mean).
  • Beliefs: Happiness means thriving or being vital, not just pleasure.

Stoics

  • Main Idea: Pursuit of reason and civic virtue.
  • Beliefs: Detachment from external world; rationality separates us from animals.

Epicureans

  • Main Idea: Pursuit of happiness and pleasure, defined as absence of pain.
  • Beliefs: Avoid politics; simple pleasures are best.
  • Inclusivity: Allowed women into their school.

Plato

  • Main Idea: Duty and virtue, often at the expense of individual freedom.
  • Beliefs: Chaos is the enemy; subsuming to the group ensures order.

Cynics

  • Main Idea: Extreme skepticism; avoid judgment.
  • Beliefs: Reluctant to make definitive statements.

Hedonists (Cyrenaics)

  • Main Idea: Pursuit of immediate, short-term pleasures.
  • Beliefs: Bodily pleasures are simplest to acquire; enjoy life's immediate offerings.

Calla Cleese

  • Main Idea: Expression of one's capabilities and power.
  • Beliefs: Striving for power and resources to live fully.

Achilles

  • Main Idea: Live for excellence and fame, primarily through combat prowess.
  • Beliefs: Fame and excellence, especially in wartime.

Alcibiades

  • Main Idea: Pursuit of fame through wealth and notoriety.
  • Beliefs: Wealth equals freedom to live lavishly and powerfully.

Questions Without Clear Answers

  • Various philosophers provide differing and sometimes contradictory answers to how one should live.
  • Answers span from wisdom (Socrates) to pleasure (Epicureans) to power (Calla Cleese).

Ethical Systems

  • Emergence of faith-based ethical systems as structured responses to these philosophical questions

Islam

  • Five Pillars: Faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage.

Ten Commandments (Judaism/Christianity)

  • Key Points: Worship God, honor the Sabbath, moral prohibitions (murder, adultery, etc.).

Implications on Modern Life

  • We face an overwhelming number of choices today (religion, ethics, lifestyle).
  • Shopping for ideologies is now common (e.g., changing religions frequently).

Final Thoughts

  • Embracing Choice: Accept the burden of endless choices as an intrinsic part of human life.
  • Living with Change: Acknowledge that our goals and needs evolve over time.
  • Pitfalls of Fixed Answers: Avoid rigid systems that offer no room for growth or change.
  • Human Freedom: Value the freedom to ask questions and explore life's possibilities.

Conclusion: If How should I live? is the question, there is no settling answer. Rather, it is a lifelong exploration emphasizing flexibility, growth, and freedom.