Spinoza

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Reading Response #1
TREATISE ON THE EMENDATION OF THE INTELLECT
Baruch Spinoza
pp.8-11
Do you agree with what Spinoza views to be the seemingly three highest goods that men pursue? Explain.
What is your response to his assessment of how those goods impact the lives of people? Explain.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Your response:

1) Is to be no less than one full page

2) Is to be typewritten and double-spaced and no more than one and one-half pages

3) Must include clearly explained reasons for your perspective

Format:

Introduction To Philosophy – Dr. Kent A. Young, Instructor

READING RESPONSE # ___                                                          _______(Name)______

Spinoza is of the view that human beings pursue three highest pleasures i.e. money, honor, and sensual pleasure. Humans are occupied with these pleasures. These pleasures tend to provide temporary happiness. They do not lead to fulfillment and satisfaction. Spinoza himself experienced vicious thoughts regarding highest goods. These thoughts were blank and futile for him. This made him think about the true concept of happiness and highest goods. Human beings primarily considered highest goods as a means to happiness. But, vicious thoughts regarding highest goods made them depressing. These thoughts have occupied humanity to the extent that humans have forgotten the true meaning of their existence.

Everything in the nature acts according to certain laws. The law of nature is definite. But human beings have forgotten their law of nature. They tend to compete with others for achievement of highest goods. Highest goods, like money or esteem provide a short lived happiness. Human mind has recurrent thoughts regarding riches, esteem and sensual pleasure and this makes them unable to focus on other goods. Spinoza gives a concept of actual knowledge. The actual knowledge helps human beings find actual good. The actual knowledge provides truth of human life and information regarding laws of nature. Actual good is supreme, it is eternal. Actual good is based on rationality.

A person who always thinks about highest goods is never satisfied; he has a quest for more and more. He might feel hatred, or enmity towards those who posses more than him/her. But, one with actual knowledge and actual good knows that the concept of happiness is broad enough. Life does not mean acquisition of money, esteem or pleasures. The actual knowledge provides an internal confidence. This confidence does not make sure that a man can have all highest goods. But, the internal confidence helps process thoughts more rationally; express one’s self in a stable pattern

Humans have a tendency to react in an impulsive way. This is because we do not have actual knowledge. When we have actual knowledge this leads to actual blessedness. Without actual blessedness, we do not have love for God and nature. The concept of happiness is not clear in human mind. We get happiness from objects by the value we give to them. So, it’s basically a mind game. We need to shape our thoughts. We think that highest pleasures like sensual pleasure are an ultimate happiness, but this is not the case. We can see that many humans die early because of their excessive dependence on temporary pleasures. The agitations we see in our society are because of the highest goals we pursue. The fact is, once we get pleasure from the highest goods, we tend to increase this pleasure by gaining more of them. This thirst for pleasure is insatiable.

Spinoza aimed to find out a constant source of happiness, and he reached a conclusion that happiness is attained when we find the true knowledge. I agree with Spinoza’s thoughts regarding highest goods. We have countless examples in our society how people pursue highest goals and forget about ethics, morality in attainment of goals. The society is depressed more, because we are relying on highest goods like money or esteem. Humans do not follow values in attainment of highest goods.

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Assignment

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1.      What does Shermer identify as the “key to skepticism”?

Shermer identifies that the key to skepticism is the ability of an individual to test the validity of things or concepts on the basis of scientific method. The skeptic individual draws conclusions on the basis of evidence and logic. He/she does not believe in everything he/she hears or knows inherently.

2.      What does Shermer mean by skeptic?

By skepticism, Sherman means that the individual should test the validity of concepts and should ask about things if he/she has doubts. The skeptic person is one who has a “show me” attitude when it comes to truth and evidence of facts.

3.      How does Shermer define science?

For Shermer, science is based on rationalism and avoids dogmatism. There is a logic and evidence for everything.  Science is defined as a concept which depends on the scientific methods like observations, experimentations, conclusions, deductions, and so on. the science tests validity of concepts and derive results.

4.      According to Shermer, what is the difference between a “theory” and a “construct”?

A theory is a testable concept, while construct cannot be verified with the help of scientific methods or technology.

5.      After reading this article are you ready to add your name to this manifesto? Explain.

No, I am not ready to accept this notion of being skeptic. I think a person should question validity of things to a certain point, but to focus on the reality of things and finding facts is a difficult job. One can rely on the observations of authority figures. I firmly believe that individuals cannot find truth of each and everything. At the end of the day, we have to rely on existing knowledge. We are occupied with our daily activities so much, that we don’t have time to validate facts.

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Determinism

Q# 1 

What does Taylor state to be the metaphysical thesis of determinism?

It is stated in the metaphysical thesis of determinism that everything is determined by nature. Reasons for anything cannot be determined by man rather they are already decided and finalized. The color, nature, and design of every flower are determined. The time of crops is also determined. The people showing their different feelings on different matters is not their own option rather it is also the decision made by nature and explains the principles of determinism.

Q# 2

 What concern(s) does Taylor raise in terms of accepting determinism as an explanation for human behavior?

Human behavior is justified to be governed by the rules of determinism as explained by Taylor. It is said that human behaves in all the matters according to his thoughts and feelings. Thoughts are developed due to different previous events that occur in their life. It means they show the presence of the laws of determinism. There might be some physical or mental reason behind the reactions of a man over any matter but they are actually determined by nature.

Q# 3

According to Taylor where does ultimate responsibility lie for anything that exists?

The actual and main reason behind anything happening is the principles of determinism. Every event, incident or anything is determined by nature. People behave in ways that are built-in in nature. They can deny the fact that their little behaviors and actions are rules by nature. The people will fail to find the materialistic or real reason for anything and will end at accepting the reality of determinism.

Q# 4

Is everything determined? Is free will really just an illusion? What do you think? Explain

The laws or principles of determinism are not illusion rather they are the facts explained by Taylor. These principles need to be explained by man in each and every case. Whether one accepts them or not, accepts them earlier or later, but they are present in reality. People will accept the determinism of everything if they ponder over the reasons for the events around them. Existence of the determinism cannot be avoided or neglected.