The Philosophies of The Philosophies of Descartes, Nietzsche Descartes, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer and Schopenhauer

Lesson 7/9Lesson 7/9

October 2013October 2013

Before exploring the work of a few Before exploring the work of a few philosophers, let’s distinguish philosophers, let’s distinguish

between two words. between two words.

Atheism – “there is no God”Atheism – “there is no God”

Agnostic – There may be a Agnostic – There may be a God, will stay indifferentGod, will stay indifferent

Rene Descartes Rene Descartes (1596-1650)(1596-1650)

French French Philosopher, Philosopher, scientist and scientist and mathematician mathematician (think Cartesian (think Cartesian theory x-y axis!) theory x-y axis!)

Sometimes called Sometimes called the father of the father of modern philosophymodern philosophy

Descartes PhilosophyDescartes Philosophy

Attempted to apply the rational Attempted to apply the rational inductive methods of science, and inductive methods of science, and particularly mathematics, to particularly mathematics, to philosophy.philosophy.

Inductive reasoningInductive reasoning: the process of : the process of reasoning to probable explanations reasoning to probable explanations or judgementsor judgements

ScholasticismScholasticism

Before Descartes, Before Descartes, philosophy had been philosophy had been dominated by the dominated by the method of method of ScholasticismScholasticism

Scholasticism was Scholasticism was based on comparing based on comparing and contrasting the and contrasting the views of recognized views of recognized authoritiesauthorities

St. Thomas Aquinas

QuoteQuote

Descartes, determined to hold nothing Descartes, determined to hold nothing true until he had established grounds true until he had established grounds for believing it true (scientific approach)for believing it true (scientific approach)

Descartes finally concludes that he cannot Descartes finally concludes that he cannot be deceived into thinking that he does not be deceived into thinking that he does not exist when in fact he does, for unless exist when in fact he does, for unless something existed there would be nothing something existed there would be nothing to deceive.to deceive.

Cogito ergo sumCogito ergo sum

The single sure fact from which his The single sure fact from which his investigations began was expressed by investigations began was expressed by Descartes in the famous quote: Descartes in the famous quote: ‘I ‘I think, therefore I am.’think, therefore I am.’

From this beginning Descartes argued From this beginning Descartes argued the existence of Godthe existence of God

God according to Descartes’ philosophy, God according to Descartes’ philosophy, created two classes of substance that created two classes of substance that make up the whole of reality.make up the whole of reality.

Two SubstancesTwo Substances

1.1. One class was One class was thinkingthinking substances, substances, or mindsor minds

2.2. The other class was The other class was extendedextended substances, or bodiessubstances, or bodies

This ‘Two Substance’ approach lead This ‘Two Substance’ approach lead to the Cartesian theory known as:to the Cartesian theory known as: DualismDualism

Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)(1844-1900)

A German A German philosopher, poet, philosopher, poet, composer and composer and classical philologistclassical philologist

He became one of He became one of the most the most provocative and provocative and influential thinkers influential thinkers of the 19of the 19thth century. century.

Life and WorkLife and Work

Born in RBorn in Rööcken, Prussia to a Lutheran cken, Prussia to a Lutheran minister and his wife - his father died minister and his wife - his father died when he was 5when he was 5

Raised by his mother, grandmother, two Raised by his mother, grandmother, two aunts and a sisteraunts and a sister

Studied classical philology at the Studied classical philology at the universities of Bonn and Leipziguniversities of Bonn and Leipzig

Appointed professor of classical philology Appointed professor of classical philology at the University of Basel at the age of 24.at the University of Basel at the age of 24.

Health and DeathHealth and Death

Ill health – poor eyesight and Ill health – poor eyesight and migraine headaches – forced his migraine headaches – forced his retirement in 1879retirement in 1879

Ten years later he suffered a mental Ten years later he suffered a mental breakdown from which he never breakdown from which he never recoveredrecovered

He died in Weimar on August 25, He died in Weimar on August 25, 19001900

InfluencesInfluences

In addition to the influences of Greek In addition to the influences of Greek culture, particularly the philosophies culture, particularly the philosophies of Plato and Aristotleof Plato and Aristotle

He was also influenced by:He was also influenced by:– the German philosopher Arthur the German philosopher Arthur

SchopenhauerSchopenhauer– Darwin’s theory of evolutionDarwin’s theory of evolution– His friendship with composer Richard His friendship with composer Richard

WagnerWagner

Selected WritingsSelected Writings

The Birth of TragedyThe Birth of Tragedy Thus Spoke ZarathustraThus Spoke Zarathustra Beyond Good and EvilBeyond Good and Evil On the Genealogy of MoralsOn the Genealogy of Morals The AntichristThe Antichrist Ecce HomoEcce Homo The Will to PowerThe Will to Power

BeliefBelief

Nietzsche basic philosophical point was Nietzsche basic philosophical point was that traditional values – mostly that traditional values – mostly represented by Christianity – had lost their represented by Christianity – had lost their power in the lives of individualspower in the lives of individuals

Nietzsche proclaimed: Nietzsche proclaimed: God is deadGod is dead.. Traditional values represented a “slave Traditional values represented a “slave

morality”, created by weak and resentful morality”, created by weak and resentful individuals who encouraged gentleness individuals who encouraged gentleness and kindness because this behaviour and kindness because this behaviour served their interests.served their interests.

Solution: SupermanSolution: Superman

Nietzsche claimed that Nietzsche claimed that new values could be new values could be created to replace created to replace traditional onestraditional ones

This led to his concept This led to his concept of the overman or of the overman or superman: superman: ÜbermenschÜbermensch

Qualities of the Qualities of the ÜbermenschÜbermensch This new man was independent, secure This new man was independent, secure

and highly individualisticand highly individualistic.. He feels deeply but his He feels deeply but his passions are passions are

rationallyrationally controlled controlled His focus is on the this world, the His focus is on the this world, the realreal

world, world, notnot the next world the next world He is a creator of values and a “He is a creator of values and a “master of master of

morality” morality” that reflects strength and that reflects strength and independence of one who is liberated from independence of one who is liberated from all values, except those that he deems all values, except those that he deems valid.valid.

Will to PowerWill to Power

Nietzsche maintained that all human Nietzsche maintained that all human behaviour is motivated by the behaviour is motivated by the will to will to powerpower..

This This isis not simply power over others, not simply power over others, but but the power over the power over oneselfoneself that is that is necessary for true or authentic necessary for true or authentic creativitycreativity

This is found in the individual’s This is found in the individual’s independence, creativity and originality.independence, creativity and originality.

Historic ExamplesHistoric Examples Although Nietzsche denied that any Although Nietzsche denied that any overmenovermen had had

yet arisen he does mentioned several individual yet arisen he does mentioned several individual who could serve as models.who could serve as models.

Anyone see anything wrong with this picture?Anyone see anything wrong with this picture?

Jesus

Shakespeare

SocratesNapoleon

Julius Ceasar

Arthur SchopenhauerArthur Schopenhauer(1788-1860)(1788-1860)

A German A German philosopher, who is philosopher, who is known for his known for his philosophy of philosophy of pessimismpessimism

Pessimism: A Pessimism: A tendency to stress tendency to stress the negative or the negative or unfavourable or to unfavourable or to take the gloomiest take the gloomiest possible viewpossible view

BackgroundBackground

Born in Danzig, he was educated at Born in Danzig, he was educated at several universities including Berlinseveral universities including Berlin

Settled in Frankfurt where led a solitary Settled in Frankfurt where led a solitary life life

InfluencesInfluences

Became deeply involved in Became deeply involved in the study of Hindu and the study of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist philosophy and mysticismmysticism

Also influenced by the Also influenced by the German mystic and German mystic and theologian Meister Eckharttheologian Meister Eckhart

As well as scholars of the As well as scholars of the Renaissance and the Renaissance and the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Major WorkMajor Work

His book His book The World as Will and IdeaThe World as Will and Idea (1819) proposed his dominant ethical (1819) proposed his dominant ethical and metaphysical ideas of and metaphysical ideas of atheistic atheistic and pessimistic philosophyand pessimistic philosophy

This was in sharp contrast to the This was in sharp contrast to the dominant German philosopher of the dominant German philosopher of the time G.W.F. Hegel who believed in time G.W.F. Hegel who believed in the spiritual nature of realitythe spiritual nature of reality

PhilosophyPhilosophy According to Schopenhauer the will is not According to Schopenhauer the will is not

limited to voluntary action; limited to voluntary action; all all experienced activity of the self is the will experienced activity of the self is the will – even the subconscious thoughts or – even the subconscious thoughts or actions actions

Tragedy results as the will constantly Tragedy results as the will constantly urges the individual toward goals none of urges the individual toward goals none of which can provide permanent or lasting which can provide permanent or lasting satisfactionsatisfaction

What is this similar too? (last assignment)What is this similar too? (last assignment)

Philosophy - 2Philosophy - 2 Thus, Thus, the will inevitably leads a person to the will inevitably leads a person to

pain, suffering and deathpain, suffering and death This cycle is repeated in rebirth This cycle is repeated in rebirth

(reincarnation)(reincarnation) It can only be brought under control It can only be brought under control

through an attitude of resignationthrough an attitude of resignation In which the reason governs the In which the reason governs the willwill to the to the

extent that all striving or desire ceases.extent that all striving or desire ceases. How pessimistic is that?How pessimistic is that?

UnderstandingUnderstanding

Schopenhauer’s Schopenhauer’s philosophy revealed philosophy revealed the strong influence the strong influence that Buddhism and that Buddhism and Christianity had on Christianity had on his ideashis ideas

His pessimism His pessimism indicates a gross indicates a gross misinterpretation of misinterpretation of both traditions both traditions

Philosophy of LovePhilosophy of Love

Schopenhauer was also renowned for Schopenhauer was also renowned for his hostility towards womenhis hostility towards women

He argued that human sexual He argued that human sexual activity are not the result of activity are not the result of sentimental love but by the irrational sentimental love but by the irrational impulses of the will impulses of the will

Who he influenced?Who he influenced?

Schopenhauer had little influence on Schopenhauer had little influence on philosophy of his own time but was very philosophy of his own time but was very influential on the writings of Friedrich influential on the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as the musical work of Nietzsche, as well as the musical work of Richard Wagner. Both of whom had a profound Richard Wagner. Both of whom had a profound effect on the actions and ideas of this man…effect on the actions and ideas of this man…

The ResultThe Result

ConsolidationConsolidation

With a partner, use you phone to With a partner, use you phone to find a quote from each philosopher. find a quote from each philosopher. On a piece of paper, write each On a piece of paper, write each quote and answer the following quote and answer the following question. question.

How does this quote represent the How does this quote represent the theories/beliefs of its author?theories/beliefs of its author?