Philosophy

Philosophy Study Guide

dimensions in our private and public lives. Humans use their intellectual abilities to create concepts and theories to help them understand and give meaning to their lived experience. We should endorse those theories that provide the most rationale, clearest, complete, and persuasive understanding of our lived experience. James cast the debate that there are two ways to view the universe; a universe of actualities and a universe of possibilities. ● The universe of actualities: No other options exists other than those that occur. If the events of the universe were a story, there is only one way and one way only that this story could be told (this is the determinist view). ● The Universe of Possibilities believes that individuals are at liberty to make authentically free choices by exerting their freedom and independence supporting the belief that there are numerous opportunities for the future as we are active participants in our choices making us accountable for molding and determining reality. James believes that you cannot tell the difference between the two universes; only after the event has taken place. James analyzes judgments of regret which is simply the desire that events might have occurred differently or might have had other more desirable outcomes. The determinists believe the universe will never be better than it is and that all that happens occurs because it must occur in exactly the way it does. This can lead the reflective person to feelings of pessimism and regret. James concludes that determinism fails in explaining the beliefs and convictions of our lived experiences and believes that indeterminism is the only point of view of freedom. 5.8 Sartre: We Create Ourselves through Our Choices Sartre was considered to be the chief advocates of modern existentialism. Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the challenge and responsibility of all people to create a meaningful existence through the free choices that they make. Sartre believed that we cannot look outward to a supernatural creator; instead, we must look inward to our resources and possibilities as we struggle to create meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and absurd. In Sartre’s work, Existentialism is a Humanism, he writes about his beliefs regarding the role of personal freedom in our lives. Sartre assumes that human freedom is a reality and he goes on to develop and entire worldview based on this conviction. His view of freedom is extreme, stating, “We are condemned” to be totally free, which is a radical view of freedom that makes us entirely responsible for who we are. Humans use a metaphysical framework as a model for understanding human development, even though this “essence precedes existence” model is appropriate only for inanimate objects. This means our soul or spirit is a reality before our physical existence on earth and our thoughts, ideas, choices, and actions are a direct reflection of our preexisting sprit or soul. Sartre believes that existence precedes essence and it is our focus on the future the way our minds leap ahead imaginatively that distinguishes our essential natures. It is through imagining a future that we then weigh alternatives and select options to make this imagined future a reality. It is the ongoing

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