DOCSLIB.ORG

Interpretation: a Journal of Political Philosophy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Interpretation: a Journal of Political Philosophy Interpretation A JOURNAL 10F POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY Winter 2001-2 Volume 29 Number 2 Harry Adams Aristotle on "the Vulgar": An Ethical and Social Examination Nasser Behnegar The Political and Theological Psychology of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure Zdravko Planinc ". this scattered kingdom": A Study of King Lear Henry T. Edmondson III Modernity versus Mystery in Flannery O'Connor's Short Story Woods" "A View of the Review Essay Richard Freis A Triple Inquiry into the Human Center Book Review Will Morrisey The Bow and the Lyre: A Platonic Reading of the Odyssey, by Seth Benardete Interpretation Editor-in-Chief Hilail Gildin, Dept. of Philosophy, Queens College Executive Editor Leonard Grey General Editors Seth G. Benardete (d. 2001) Charles E. Butterworth Hilail Gildin Robert Horwitz (d. 1987) Howard B. White (d. 1974) Consulting Editors Christopher Bruell Joseph Cropsey Ernest L. Fortin John Hallowell (d. 1992) Harry V. Jaffa David Lowenthal Muhsin Mahdi Harvey C. Mansfield Arnaldo Momigliano (d. 1987) Michael Oakeshott (d. 1990) Ellis Sandoz Leo Strauss (d. 1973) Kenneth W. Thompson International Editors Terence E. Marshall Heinrich Meier Editors Wayne Ambler Maurice Auerbach Fred Baumann Amy Bonnette Patrick Coby Elizabeth C de Baca Eastman Thomas S. Engeman Edward J. Erler Maureen Feder-Marcus Pamela K. Jensen Ken Masugi Will Morrisey Susan Orr Charles T. Rubin Leslie G. Rubin Susan Meld Shell Bradford P. Wilson Martin D. Yaffe Michael P. Zuckert Catherine H. Zuckert Manuscript Editor Lucia B. Prochnow Subscriptions Subscription rates per volume (3 issues): individuals $29 libraries and all other institutions $48 students (four-year limit) $ 1 8 Single copies available. Postage outside U.S.: Canada $4.50 extra; elsewhere $5.40 extra by surface mail (8 weeks or longer) or $11.00 by air. Payments: in U.S. dollars and payable by a financial institution located within the U.S.A. (or the U.S. Postal Service). The Journal Welcomes Manuscripts in Political Philosophy as Well as Those in Theology, Literature, and Jurisprudence. contributors should follow The Chicago Manual of Style, 13th or later editions "reference-list" or manuals based on them. Instead of endnotes, the journal uses the (or "author-date") system of notation, described in these manuals, illustrated in cur rent numbers of the journal, and discussed in a sheet available from the Assistant to the Editor (see below). Words from languages not rooted in Latin should be trans literated to English. To ensure impartial judgment, contributors should omit mention of their other publications and put, on the title page only, their name, any affiliation desired, address with postal zip code in full, E-mail address, and telephone number. Please send four clear copies, which will not be returned, and double space the entire text and reference list. Composition by Bytheway Publishing Services Printed by the Sheridan Press Binghamton, NY 13901 U.S.A. Hanover, PA 17331 U.S.A. Inquiries: (Ms.) Joan Walsh, Assistant to the Editor interpretation, Queens College, Flushing, N.Y. 11367-1597, U.S.A. (718)997-5542 Fax (718) 997-5565 E Mail: interpretation [email protected] Interpretation A JOURNAL 10F POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY Winter 2001-2 Volume 29 Number 2 Harry Adams Aristotle on "the Vulgar": An Ethical and 133 Social Examination Nasser Behnegar The Political and Theological Psychology 153 of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure Zdravko Planinc ". this scattered kingdom": A Study of 171 King Lear Henry T. Edmondson III Modernity versus Mystery in Flannery 187 O'Connor's Short Story "A View Woods" of the Review Essay Richard Freis A Triple Inquiry into the Human Center 205 Book Review Will Morrisey The Bow and the Lyre: A Platonic Reading 233 of the Odyssey, by Seth Benardete Copyright 2002 interpretation, All rights reserved. ISSN 0020-9635 Interpretation Editor-in-Chief Hilail Gildin, Dept. of Philosophy, Queens College Executive Editor Leonard Grey General Editors Seth G. Benardete (d. 2001) Charles E. Butterworth Hilail Gildin Robert Horwitz (d. 1987) Howard B. White (d. 1974) Consulting Editors Christopher Bruell Joseph Cropsey Ernest L. Fortin John Hallowed (d. 1992) Harry V. Jaffa - David Lowenthal Muhsin Mahdi Harvey C. Mansfield Amaldo Momigliano (d. 1987) Michael Oakeshott (d. 1990) Ellis Sandoz Leo Strauss (d. 1973) Kenneth W. Thompson International Editors Terence E. Marshall Heinrich Meier Editors Wayne Ambler Maurice Auerbach Fred Baumann Amy Bonnette Patrick Coby Elizabeth C de Baca Eastman Thomas S. Engeman Edward J. Erler Maureen Feder-Marcus Pamela K. Jensen Ken Masugi Will Morrisey Susan Orr Charles T. Rubin Leslie G. Rubin Susan Meld Shell Bradford P. Wilson Martin D. Yaffe Michael P. Zuckert Catherine H. Zuckert Manuscript Editor Lucia B. Prochnow Subscriptions Subscription rates per volume (3 issues): individuals $29 libraries and all other institutions $48 students (four-year limit) $ 1 8 Single copies available. Postage outside U.S.: Canada $4.50 extra; elsewhere $5.40 extra by surface mail (8 weeks or longer) or $ 1 1 .00 by air. Payments: in U.S. dollars and payable by a financial institution located within the U.S.A. (or the U.S. Postal Service). The Journal Welcomes Manuscripts in Political Philosophy as Well as Those in Theology, Literature, and Jurisprudence. contributors should follow The Chicago Manual of Style, 13th or later editions "reference-list" or manuals based on them. Instead of endnotes, the journal uses the (or "author-date") system of notation, described in these manuals, illustrated in cur rent numbers of the journal, and discussed in a sheet available from the Assistant to the Editor (see below). Words from languages not rooted in Latin should be trans literated to English. To ensure impartial judgment, contributors should omit mention of their other publications and put, on the title page only, their name, any affiliation desired, address with postal zip code in full, E-mail address, and telephone number. Please send four clear copies, which will not be returned, and double space the entire text and reference list. Composition by Bytheway Publishing Services Printed by the Sheridan Press Binghamton, NY 13901 U.S.A. Hanover, PA 17331 U.S.A. Inquiries: (Ms.) Joan Walsh, Assistant to the Editor interpretation, Queens College, Flushing, N.Y. 11367-1597, U.S.A. (718)997-5542 Fax (718) 997-5565 E Mail: interpretation [email protected] Aristotle on "the Vulgar": An Ethical and Social Examination Harry Adams Rice University The utter vulgarity of the herd of men comes out in their preference for the sort of existence a cow leads. (Aristotle 1961, 10956b20) Aristotle's practical philosophy is known, with some notoriety, to be colored by a certain aristocratic or elitist tone. An integral part of this tone derives from vulgar," his many scattered and pejorative comments on "the "the vulgar class men," craftsmen," of "vulgar and so on. In this paper, I trace the salient features (which center on the ways vulgarity is "inimical to virtue and happiness") of Aristotle's account of vulgarity. Although concentrating on his account of the vulgar working class, or craftsmen (banausoi), I also consider his comments on rich." "the vulgar In addition, I critically evaluate his account as being marked by the following strengths and weaknesses. To its credit, his account contains many incisive and valuable social insights concerning the characteristics, causes, and influences of such vulgarity. As part of the value of these insights lies in their relevance to the moral landscape of contemporary capitalism, I suggest that, to whatever degree capitalist society suffers from such vulgar influences, it can improve itself only by squarely facing the vacuum of virtue left in its midst by these influences. To its detriment, Aristotle's account suffers from masses." a morally specious and priggish condescension towards the "vulgar Correspondingly, as I argue, Aristotle is to be faulted for implicitly endorsing virtuous," an enjoyment of the fruits of vulgar labor by "the without an adequate vulgars' appreciation of these necessary and substantial contribution to the good life of the polis. THE VULGAR 'vulgar' We may commence by examining what Aristotle means by this term (banousos). In our contemporary usage of the term, we often associate vulgarity with coarseness, repulsiveness, or profaneness of a vaguely sexual nature. But these associations are as misleading as enlightening. For Aristotle, the term 'common' connoted a threefold type of "commonness': in the sense of fre 'common' quently found and commonplace, in the sense of socially crude and 'common' unrefined, and also in the sense of morally base and ignoble. In interpretation, Winter 2001-2, Vol. 29, No. 2 134 Interpretation Aristotle's usage of this term, each of these three senses informs and overlaps his meaning, with now one, now another, being emphasized (E.g. A/1095b20, 1107M9, P1260a40Politics, hereafter cited as P. For elucidation of Aristot 'vulgarity' le's conception of against the backdrop of its usage in ordinary Greek of the time, see Liddell & Scott). Expanding beyond a mere definition of the word, how may we say that Aristotle understands and employs the concept of vulgarity? At its core, vulgarity may be understood as a common set of ethical shortcomings, centered on pettiness and ignobility, and an inversion of base for lofty values, that arise from an improper relation to the material resources in one's life. There are six ancillary features that compose and inform his interpre tation of this concept.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Sociological Study of Nihilism: a Case Study
    International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science ISSN: 2307-924X www.ijlass.org A Sociological Study of Nihilism: A Case Study Jahangir Jahangiri, PhD Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Social Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Shiraz University, Eram Place, Shiraz, Fars, Iran Code Postal: 7194685115 Email: [email protected] Rayehe Ghareh M.A in Sociology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Email: [email protected] Abstract The present research aims at studying nihilistic thoughts among students of Shiraz University. The framework of the research is Crosby’s theory about nihilism. The study is based on a quantitative approach and employs a survey method so as to collect the required data. Statistical population of the study is the whole Students of Shiraz University that according to the formal statistics consists of 20000 students. 400 students are selected by multistage sampling method. The results show that there is a significant relationship between the independent variables of gender, adherences to religious practices, fatalism, fear of failure, need for achievement and the dependent variable nihilism. Stepwise regression method used to predict the dependent variable. Ordinarily, five variables of fatalism, fear of failure, Adherences to religious practices, gender and need for achievement could predict 33% of dependent variable (R2=0.338) Key Words: Nihilism, Sociology, University Students, Shiraz University, Iran Introduction Undoubtedly, the most fundamental question that every human being faces with, is about the purpose of life. Not only modern human, but also pre-modern human beings have been encountered with this question. The intolerable journey from birth to death, and relentless onslaughts of hopelessness and despair, persuade every human to answer the question, as possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Master's Degree Project in Cognitive Neuroscience University of Skövde Advance Level
    1 THE ANTECEDENTS OF FREE WILL – THE IMPORTANCE OF CONCEPT HETEROGENEITY IN RESEARCH INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION Master’s Degree Project in Cognitive Neuroscience University of Skövde Advance level - 30 ECTS Spring term 2018 Magnus J.C. Jensen Supervisor: Antti Revonsuo Examiner: Petri Kajonius 2 Abstract Scientific research on free will was started by Libet et al. (1982). They detected that the readiness potential (RP) proceeded urges with up to 350ms. One interpretation of the RP was that it represented motor planning. The research progress of antecedent brain activity in relation to conscious urges is investigated by looking at contemporary studies. How different assumptions and definitions of the free will concept influences interpretation of these studies is also discussed. The evidence is in favor that the RP is not representing motor planning. Antecedent activity has been detected with numerous technologies, most notably fMRI- classifiers which have been used to predict decisions in advance. Scrutiny of these results reveals that the experimental setups are dependent on time-locking trials which may construe the results. It is shown that predictions based on probabilistic antecedents can be interpreted in numerous ways. The review shows that free will positions differ from each other on several factors, such as whether free will is either-or or exists on a spectrum. Some notable positions are not dependent on antecedent activity at all. The notion of control is one of the pivotal factors deciding if a subject experience free will, not if they are the causer per se. Future discussion will be improved by systematizing the differences between the free will positions and communicating them clearly.
    [Show full text]
  • Finding Camus's Absurd in Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, the Sound and The
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2009 Finding Camus's absurd in Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, The oundS and the Fury, and Absalom, Absalom! Stuart Weston Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the English Language and Literature Commons, and the Rhetoric and Composition Commons Recommended Citation Weston, Stuart, "Finding Camus's absurd in Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, The oundS and the Fury, and Absalom, Absalom!" (2009). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 10628. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/10628 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Finding Camus’s absurd in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and Absalom, Absalom! by Stuart Michael Weston A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Major: English (Literature) Program of Study Committee: Diane Price-Herndl, Major Professor Susan Yager Jean Goodwin Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2009 ii Table of Contents Chapter One: A New Context for the Absurd…………………………………………. 1 Chapter Two: 'Something to Laugh at’: As I Lay Dying’s Absurdist Family Quest…. 10 Chapter Three: Absurd Americans: The Compsons’ Nihilistic Descent……………... 29 Chapter Four: Making Sense out of Absurdity………………………………………..55 Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………… 61 1 Chapter One: A New Context for the Absurd When literary critics speak of the absurd, they frequently do so in the context of those writers who developed and popularized the concept; the origins of the concept are European and are often traced back to Soren Kierkegaard’s The Sickness unto Death , published in 1849.
    [Show full text]
  • Nihilism” Entry for International Encyclopedia of Ethics (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013) Richard Joyce
    - 1 - “Nihilism” Entry for International Encyclopedia of Ethics (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013) Richard Joyce TITLE: nihilism WORD COUNT: 1912 “Nihilism” (from the Latin “nihil” meaning nothing) is not a well-defined term. One can be a nihilist about just about anything: A philosopher who does not believe in the existence of knowledge, for example, might be called an “epistemological nihilist”; an atheist might be called a “religious nihilist.” In the vicinity of ethics, one should take care to distinguish moral nihilism from political nihilism and from existential nihilism. These last two will be briefly discussed below, only with the aim of clarifying our topic: moral nihilism. Even restricting attention to “moral nihilism,” matters remain indeterminate. Its most prominent usage in the field of metaethics treats it as a synonym for “error theory,” therefore an entry that said only “Nihilism: see ERROR THEORY” would not be badly misleading. This would identify moral nihilism as the metaethical view that moral discourse consists of assertions that systematically fail to secure the truth. (See Mackie 1977; Joyce 2001.) A broader definition of “nihilism” would be “the view that there are no moral facts.” This is broader because it covers not only the error theory but also noncognitivism (see NONCOGNITIVISM). Both these theories deny that there are moral facts—the difference being that the error theorist thinks that in making moral judgments we try to state facts (but fail to do so, because there are no facts of the type in question), whereas the noncognitivist thinks that in making moral judgments we do not even try to state facts (because, for example, these judgments are really veiled commands or expressions of desire).
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Fatalism in Adolescents
    EXPLORING FATALISM IN ADOLESCENTS by Marthinus Ryk Brink (BA BTh PGCE) Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Educational Support in the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University Supervisors: Dr Marietjie Oswald Ms Mariechen Perold April 2014 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT This qualitative study used an interpretive paradigm within a theoretical framework of social cognitive theory to explore fatalism within the context of the lived experiences of adolescents. A tentative assumption was made that fatalism among adolescents may be at the root of a variety of recognisable behavioural and educational problems that manifest in South African society. At the same time the study aimed to investigate how fatalism may manifest in and colour the lived experiences of adolescents, as well to investigate how fatalism possibly affects educational attainment. This study was informed by a literature review which addressed the different theoretical perspectives pertaining to the etiology of fatalism. The literature was approached from a very wide perspective, including contributions from the various disciplines in the field of social sciences including theology, philosophy, psychology and social theory. These insights were complemented by perspectives from educational psychology particularly with regard to adolescent development and learning theory. The sample of the study constituted of 164 grade 11 learners from five schools in the Western Cape. Data was collected by making use of creative strategies, focus groups and personal interviews. This study found the following: adolescent fatalism seems to emanate from the lived experiences of adolescents as a cognitive phenomenon, rooted in the deterministic beliefs of adolescents about their selves, others, as well as the physical and social environments, with behavioural, affective and psychological consequences.
    [Show full text]
  • Absurdism and Nihilism
    Absurdism and Nihilism Nikpreet Singh, Mu’az Abdul-aziz, Tiffany Ma, Colin Ludwig Table of Contents Absurdism 1) History of absurdism 2) Theory 3) Absurdism in The Stranger Nihilism 1) History of Nihilism 2) Theory 3) Nihilism in The Stranger Discussion Questions “ “The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.” - Albert Camus Absurdism noun. A philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe. Creative Aspect The History of Absurdism ⊡ Absurdism became popular in the 20th century alongside nihilism. ⊡ Two main authors: Søren Kierkegaard (free will and existentialism), and Albert Camus. ⊡ Kierkegaard took a spiritual approach and is thus out of line with modern absurdist philosophy. ⊡ Most absurdists are atheists or apatheists. The Theory ⊡ The universe is inherently random and meaningless, and therefore any attempt by humans to find meaning is considered absurd. □ In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus states “the absurd is born out of this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world.” ⊡ Thus, we are all free. Structures, rules, laws etc. are all simply attempts to impose order in an orderless world. ⊡ The three methods to resolve absurdity: □ Suicide: “There is but one serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide,” (Camus, An Absurd Reasoning). □ Embracing a meaning framework through spirituality or religion (Kierkegaard) □ Acceptance (Camus): “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself ー so like a brother, really ー I felt I had been happy,” (Camus 122).
    [Show full text]
  • Phil 2303 Intro to Worldviews Philosophy Department Dallas Baptist University Dr
    Phil 2303 Intro to Worldviews Philosophy Department Dallas Baptist University Dr. David Naugle James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog Zero Point: Nihilism Check out nihilism online: http://www.nodogs.org/nihilism.html http://www.geocities.com/liudegast/nihilism.html Introduction: Today, many students, as well as people in general—despite a middle class (or higher) background, education, friends, the prospect of a good job and fulfilling career, advances in medicine and technology, access to the riches of culture past and present, opportunities for travel and other leisure activities, a democratic society with its abundant liberties—still seemed to be possessed by a spirit of dark disquiet and extreme discouragement. They feel as if the end of the age is at hand and there is no future; they are cynical about the motives and competence of the leaders and decision makers of the day (politicians and business leaders, etc.); they feel impotent to make any real difference in today's overpowering society; they feel swept along by forces outside of their control; they see moral failure, lack of direction, or indifference when it comes to the fundamental issues of our times; they see economic, political, and environmental crises of gargantuan proportions; they see the wholesale bureaucratization and dehumanization of life, political corruption, famine, terrorism, natural disasters (earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes), violence and crime, the population glut, the specter of nuclear holocaust and disaster; they observe the loss of religious faith, pluralism, complexity, skepticism, fragmentation, irrationalism, MTV, drugs, alcoholism (and other substance abuse), disorientation, rootless, etc., etc. This is nihilism which is one of the most important trends in recent times; the nihilistic mood is part of the air we breathe.
    [Show full text]
  • Nothingness As Nihilism: Nishitani Keiji and Karatani Kojin
    Otto Lehto Nothingness as Nihilism: Nishitani Keiji and Karatani Kojin Martin Heidegger: "Being, Nothing, Same." (quoted in Blocker & Starling, p.129) Watsuji Tetsuro: "'absolute negativity' (read: 'emptiness') [...] is the authentic nature of selves and society." (quoted in ibid , p.138) Karatani Kojin: "in Japan, the will to architecture does not exist [...]. Unlike in the West, deconstructive forces are constantly at work in Japan." (Karatani 1995: p.xlv) Takeuchi Yoshimi: "Japan is nothing" (quoted in Blocker & Starling, p.192). Louis Althusser: "[P]hilosophy is that strange theoretical site where nothing really happens, nothing but the repetition of this nothing " (quoted in Karatani, p.104: my italics). R.D.Laing: "I have seen the Bird of Paradise, she has spread herself before me, and I shall never be the same again. There is nothing to be afraid of. Nothing." (Laing 1973: p.156) Table of contents 1. Introduction (p.2) 2. Japanese Philosophy (p.3) 3. The Western Self and the Phenomenology of Nihilism (p.7) 4. Karatani Kojin: Structure and Deconstruction (p.10) 5. Nishitani Keiji: Being and Nothingness (p.17) 6. Conclusion (p.36) 1 1. Introduction It is my claim that Japan's metaphysical stance is that of non-dualistic non-essentialism. In Takeuchi Yoshimi's words, "Japan is nothing" (cf. Blocker and Starling, henceforth B&S: 192). What could this outrageous claim mean? It seems almost too essentialistic, too racist and too naive. After all, the banality of everyday life is the same everywhere. But the experience of the Self, and the experiences of the transcendent, are constructed upon the prevalent assumptions of the culture that the individual finds herself in.
    [Show full text]
  • Postmodern Nihilism: Theory and Literature
    Postmodern Nihilism: Theory and Literature Will Slocombe What follows was originally presented to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth for the qualification of PhD in English in September 2003. A revised version has subsequently been published, with major changes primarily to the ―Literature‖ section, as Nihilism and the Sublime Postmodern: The (Hi) Story of a Difficult Relationship (Routledge, 2006). ii Table of Contents Table of Contents ii List of Tables and Diagrams iv Acknowledgements v Abstract vi ‘The Preface’ 1 Part I: Theory 1. Ex nihilo: Constructing Nihilism 5 Generating Nihilism 10 Humanist Nihilism (1799-1851) 16 Anti-Authoritarian Nihilism (1852-1871) 20 Anti-Humanist Nihilism (1872-1888) 26 Authoritarian Nihilism (1889-1945) 31 2. Stylising the Sublime 40 Sublime Texts and their Contexts 42 The Burkean Formulation of the Sublime 47 The Kantian Formulation of the Sublime 55 The Romantic Sublime 67 3. Nihilism and the Sublime Postmodern 75 A Postmodern Enlightenment? 77 The Sublime Postmodern I: Lyotard and the Unpresentable 84 Nihilism and the Lyotardian Sublime 94 The Sublime Postmodern II: Baudrillard and the Hyperreal 101 Nihilism and the Baudrillardian Sublime 109 4. Postmodern Nihilism 114 ‗Truth is untrue‘: N ihilism ,R elativism ,and Pluralism 116 ‗N othing w as w hat it is‘: N ihilism and Poststructuralism 122 ‗E verything looked and sounded unreal‘: N ihilism and Postm odernism 134 Postmodern Nihilism 147 Part II: Literature 5. ‘Welcome to the Fall’: Nihilism and Apocalypse 157 (Post)Modern Apocalypses 160 iii The Writing of the (Postmodern) Disaster 171 Nuclear Criticism and Nuclear Writing 180 The Apocalyptic Desert 186 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Nihilism and Metaphysics in Martin Heidegger's Thought
    THE GROWING DESERT: NIHILISM AND METAPHYSICS IN MARTIN HEIDEGGER’S THOUGHT A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY MUSA DUMAN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY MARCH 2009 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences Prof.Dr. Sencer Ayata Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Prof.Dr. Ahmet İnam Head of Philosophy Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Prof.Dr. Ahmet İnam Supervisor Examining Committee Members Prof. Dr. Ahmet İnam (METU, Philosophy) Prof. Dr. Kayhan Mutlu (METU, Sociology) Assist. Prof. Dr. Elif Çırakman (METU, Philosophy) Assist. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul R. Turan (AÜ, Philosophy) Assist. Prof. Dr. Barış Parkan (METU, Philosophy) I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Musa Duman Signature : iii ABSTRACT THE GROWING DESERT: NIHILISM AND METAPHYSICS IN HEIDEGGER’S THOUGHT Duman, Musa Ph. D., Department of Philosophy Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Ahmet İnam March 2009, 209 pages In this study, we explore Heidegger’s understanding of nihilism as the essential dimension of metaphysics, of metaphysical experience of Being, and in the following, we address his responses to it.
    [Show full text]
  • A Contemporary Perspective Between Nietzsche, Sartre, & Nancy
    The Meaning(s) of Life: A Contemporary Perspective Between Nietzsche, Sartre, & Nancy by Darryl Wardle Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister Artium (MA) (Philosophy) in the Department of Philosophy Faculty of Humanities University of Pretoria Supervisor: Professor Benda Hofmeyr September 2016 © University of Pretoria TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i ABSTRACT iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iv CHAPTER I: Introduction(s) to the Meaning(s) of Life 1 1.1. Meaning as a Philosophical Concept 2 1.1.1. Semantic, Semiotic, & Existential Meaning 2 1.1.2. Philosophical Approaches to the Meaning of Life 5 1.1.3. The Dimensions & Implications of Existential Meaning 6 1.2. The Meaning of Life in Context 8 1.2.1. The Meaning(s) of Ancient to Modern Life 9 1.2.2. The Meaning(s) of 19th Century Life 10 1.2.3. Contemplating the Contemporary Meaning(s) of Life 14 1.2.4. Contemporary Secular Thought on Existential Meaning 17 1.3. Outline & Objectives of the Study 20 CHAPTER II: Nietzsche & the Problem of Nihilism 23 2.1 Nietzsche in Context 24 2.2 Schopenhauer’s Pessimism 26 2.3 The Historical Development of Nihilism 32 2.4 Trans-valuation & the Will to Power 37 2.5 Nietzsche’s Philosophy of the Future 45 2.6 Critical Evaluation of a Nietzschean Means-to-Meaning(s) 51 2.7 Conclusion: Existential Meaning(s) Beyond Nihilism (?) 55 CHAPTER III: Sartre’s Individualism of Existential Meaning 57 3.1. Sartre in Context 58 3.1.1. Sartre in the Wake of the Death of God 59 3.1.2.
    [Show full text]
  • An Exploration of Mystical Experiences Through Life Histories
    AN EXPLORATION OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH LIFE HISTORIES by THOMAS JOHANNES BIELA B.A., University of British Columbia, 1990 A THESIS SUBMIIThD IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in The Faculty of Graduate Studies Counselling Psychology We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard TIlE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA DECEMBER, 1993 () Thomas Johannes Biela, 1993 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced Library shall make it degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the permission for extensive freely available for reference and study. I further agree that copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives, It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. (Signature) Department of / The University of British Columbia Vancouver,2/793Canada Date DE-6 (2/88) 11 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of mystical experiences within the context of life histories. Existing research has primarily employed traditional methods in its concern for codification, regularization, and generalization. Qualitative methodologies have received little attention. The aim of this study was to contribute to existing research by a holistic, contextual understanding of mystical phenomena and to inform counsellors in their efforts to help clients in the meaningful integration of these experiences. This thesis employed a multiple case study approach within narrative methodology. Three individuals, one woman and two men, all in their fifties and with appropriate mystical experiences were identified through a network of acquaintances and invited to participate.
    [Show full text]