Chapter 2Chapter 2

The Condition & the The Condition & the OdysseyOdyssey

The PredicamentThe Predicament

•All philosophizing is rooted in All philosophizing is rooted in one simple fact of our existence: one simple fact of our existence: each of us is trapped in an each of us is trapped in an egocentric predicament that sets egocentric predicament that sets limits on the way we perceive the limits on the way we perceive the world and relate to others.world and relate to others.

•Can we overcome such a deep-Can we overcome such a deep-rooted and troubling condition?rooted and troubling condition?

The Coherent WorldviewThe Coherent Worldview

• A worldview is a more or less coherent, all-A worldview is a more or less coherent, all-inclusive frame of reference through which inclusive frame of reference through which one sees the world; it is a subjective one sees the world; it is a subjective attempt to provide unity and consistency to attempt to provide unity and consistency to the totality of one’s experiencethe totality of one’s experience

• It is one purpose of philosophy to help the It is one purpose of philosophy to help the individual build a worldview that is individual build a worldview that is functionalfunctional

• The ideal worldview will be internally The ideal worldview will be internally consistent, pragmatically realistic, and consistent, pragmatically realistic, and personally fulfillingpersonally fulfilling

The Egocentric The Egocentric PredicamentPredicament•1910, Ralph Barton Perry1910, Ralph Barton Perry

•To know what any real object/event To know what any real object/event is, we have to perceive it. is, we have to perceive it.

•How then can we know whether our How then can we know whether our perception of an object/event perception of an object/event changes it?changes it?

•I am the center of MY universe, I am the center of MY universe, but not THE universebut not THE universe

Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal

•““It is pitiful to see so many Turks, It is pitiful to see so many Turks, heretics, and infidels following in heretics, and infidels following in their fathers’ track, for the sole their fathers’ track, for the sole reason that each has been conditioned reason that each has been conditioned to believe that this track is best. to believe that this track is best. This accident of birth is also what This accident of birth is also what decides everyone’s condition in life, decides everyone’s condition in life, making one man a locksmith, another making one man a locksmith, another man a soldier, et cetera.”man a soldier, et cetera.”

Aristocentric ClaimsAristocentric Claims

•Whenever any creature fails to Whenever any creature fails to correct for his egocentric illusion correct for his egocentric illusion and begins to feel that he really is and begins to feel that he really is the center of the universe, and the center of the universe, and further, if he feels that he should further, if he feels that he should be treated by others as though he be treated by others as though he were the center, then he has taken a were the center, then he has taken a giant step beyond the illusion giant step beyond the illusion itself.itself.

•He is making an aristocentric claim.He is making an aristocentric claim.

Egocentric Illusions in Egocentric Illusions in Time & SpaceTime & Space

•TimeTime – our lifetimes are short in – our lifetimes are short in the perspective of geological time the perspective of geological time or human history, yet we tend to or human history, yet we tend to think of all existence in terms of think of all existence in terms of our allotted spanour allotted span

•Space – our life-space becomes the Space – our life-space becomes the center of all things good, and more center of all things good, and more distant regions somehow lack the distant regions somehow lack the reality of our vicinityreality of our vicinity

We Live in Two WorldsWe Live in Two Worlds

•““From birth till death each of From birth till death each of us is locked into a physical us is locked into a physical organism from which there is no organism from which there is no escape.” This condition is escape.” This condition is known as “encapsulation”.known as “encapsulation”.

•We confuse the “world in here” We confuse the “world in here” and the “world out there”and the “world out there”

•ReificationReification

Albert CamusAlbert CamusMan & the AbsurdMan & the Absurd

•The problem lies in the The problem lies in the individual’s relationship to individual’s relationship to the world. Man is not absurd, the world. Man is not absurd, and the world is not absurd. and the world is not absurd. It’s at the interface between It’s at the interface between man and the world that the man and the world that the Absurd is encountered.Absurd is encountered.

Reflections…Reflections…

•The story of “the Three Christs The story of “the Three Christs of Ypsilanti” is more than a of Ypsilanti” is more than a case study. It is a metaphor. case study. It is a metaphor. As a metaphor, what does the As a metaphor, what does the account say to you about the account say to you about the claims and rationalizations claims and rationalizations that universally characterize that universally characterize the human species?the human species?

SelfSelf

•Not a few philosophers have Not a few philosophers have argued that the development of an argued that the development of an authentic self is the central authentic self is the central lifelong project for each of uslifelong project for each of us

•What does it mean to be a “self”?What does it mean to be a “self”?

•Is the “self” something we can Is the “self” something we can know and understand?know and understand?

From the Movie From the Movie CleopatraCleopatra

•Mark Antony to Cleopatra, as he Mark Antony to Cleopatra, as he lay dying speaks of his lay dying speaks of his impending death as “the impending death as “the ultimate separation of my self ultimate separation of my self from myself”from myself”

•What does he mean?What does he mean?

News ItemNews Item

•A man is indicted for A man is indicted for embezzlement, but he is never embezzlement, but he is never caught, and lives under an assumed caught, and lives under an assumed name in another state for twenty-name in another state for twenty-six years. Then, in a freak move, six years. Then, in a freak move, a relative turns him in. “Yes,” he a relative turns him in. “Yes,” he confesses, “I did it.”confesses, “I did it.”

•But did he?But did he?

From From The Sixth SenseThe Sixth Sense (ABC-TV)(ABC-TV)• Where are you?Where are you?

• I am sitting on a rock by the lakeI am sitting on a rock by the lake

• What do you see?What do you see?

• I am not really at the lake. I am in the I am not really at the lake. I am in the large mansion looking at the man I am large mansion looking at the man I am about to killabout to kill

• But you were not in the mansion were you?But you were not in the mansion were you?

• No, I was sitting at the lakeNo, I was sitting at the lake

• Yes, I know, because I was sitting beside Yes, I know, because I was sitting beside youyou

A Sense of SelfA Sense of Self

•What each of us can become during What each of us can become during our lifetime is determined by two our lifetime is determined by two fundamental conditions: (1) the fundamental conditions: (1) the degree to which we experience a degree to which we experience a more or less consistent sense of more or less consistent sense of self or identity, and (2) whether self or identity, and (2) whether the feelings we have developed the feelings we have developed about that self are predominantly about that self are predominantly goodgood

A Sense of WorthA Sense of Worth

•How we feel about our selves How we feel about our selves strongly reflects how others strongly reflects how others felt about us during our felt about us during our earliest yearsearliest years

•If we are loved = then we feel If we are loved = then we feel lovable = we can love ourselveslovable = we can love ourselves

•Most of us never move beyond Most of us never move beyond self-consciousnessself-consciousness

The Autonomous SelfThe Autonomous Self

•Autonomy – refers to one’s Autonomy – refers to one’s ability to function independently ability to function independently in terms of an authentic selfin terms of an authentic self

•The ability to make autonomous The ability to make autonomous decisions: 1) courage to be; 2) decisions: 1) courage to be; 2) courage of self-affirmation; 3) courage of self-affirmation; 3) understanding of culture-patternsunderstanding of culture-patterns

Ayn RandAyn RandThe Productive LifeThe Productive Life

• Who is John Galt?Who is John Galt?• Ayn Rand was for: rationality, Ayn Rand was for: rationality, individuality, living life as an end in individuality, living life as an end in itself, courage, happiness, success, life, itself, courage, happiness, success, life, pleasure, joy, freedom, Aristotle, pleasure, joy, freedom, Aristotle, Aquinas, atheism, love, friendship…Aquinas, atheism, love, friendship…

• Ayn Rand was against: the irrational, Ayn Rand was against: the irrational, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, belief, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, belief, anything that erodes self-esteem, sheep, anything that erodes self-esteem, sheep, suffering, failure, death, pain, hedonism, suffering, failure, death, pain, hedonism, Kant…Kant…

• Three cardinal virtues: reason, purpose, Three cardinal virtues: reason, purpose, self-esteemself-esteem

Reflections…Reflections…

•Have you ever made a list of Have you ever made a list of the things you are for and the the things you are for and the things you are against? How things you are against? How much of Ayn Rand’s “fors” and much of Ayn Rand’s “fors” and “againsts” can you agree with? “againsts” can you agree with? Now clarify (to yourself) why Now clarify (to yourself) why you are for or against these you are for or against these thingsthings

GrowthGrowth

•What happens when we remove our What happens when we remove our masks – if we can? masks – if we can?

•What do we then become?What do we then become?

•““We are what we pretend to be, We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” --Kurt what we pretend to be.” --Kurt Vonnegut, Mother NightVonnegut, Mother Night

When Things Go WrongWhen Things Go Wrong

•Harlows and the young monkeysHarlows and the young monkeys•Human psychological Human psychological development: 1) development: 1) reassurance/security/trust; 2) reassurance/security/trust; 2) courage/aggression/exploration; courage/aggression/exploration; 3) self/autonomy/maturity3) self/autonomy/maturity

•We know that something has gone We know that something has gone wrong (when things go wrong)…wrong (when things go wrong)…and we wonder whyand we wonder why

The Masks We WearThe Masks We Wear

• When things go wrong, the feeling that one When things go wrong, the feeling that one does not know “who he is” may be intuited does not know “who he is” may be intuited by ourselves and inferred by others, but by ourselves and inferred by others, but it is perhaps the last thing we will it is perhaps the last thing we will confess. The pain of unmasking is too confess. The pain of unmasking is too great. We can’t risk being open. We are great. We can’t risk being open. We are ever fearful that someone might see ever fearful that someone might see beneath our masks and discover…nothing.beneath our masks and discover…nothing.

• ““It is easy to become lost in the other It is easy to become lost in the other when we have no real sense of self.” --when we have no real sense of self.” --Richard MossRichard Moss

I Will Not Stop Till I I Will Not Stop Till I KnowKnow

•To be innocent is to not knowTo be innocent is to not know

•Therefore, to be innocent is to Therefore, to be innocent is to be dependentbe dependent

•Dependence requires trust and Dependence requires trust and faithfaith

•Dependence requires obedienceDependence requires obedience

•Innocence is an instrument of Innocence is an instrument of controlcontrol

Growth & InsecurityGrowth & Insecurity

• NeophobiaNeophobia – we are afraid of new objects, – we are afraid of new objects, unfamiliar behavioral patterns in others, unfamiliar behavioral patterns in others, strange feelings in ourselves, or any strange feelings in ourselves, or any other new and threatening elements of other new and threatening elements of life that we do not understandlife that we do not understand

• NeophiliaNeophilia – if we have enough security – if we have enough security when we need it, then we can explore more when we need it, then we can explore more and more of the unknowns, assimilate and more of the unknowns, assimilate them, explore some more, widen our them, explore some more, widen our horizons, and growhorizons, and grow

The Answer-GiversThe Answer-Givers

•The actual fact is that answer-The actual fact is that answer-givers have a need to persuade. One givers have a need to persuade. One of their goals is to contain us of their goals is to contain us within a state of innocence and within a state of innocence and thereby establish control over us. thereby establish control over us.

•Their true motivation is disguised Their true motivation is disguised by perhaps the commonest of human by perhaps the commonest of human rationalizations: that they are rationalizations: that they are really helping usreally helping us

Crisis of AuthorityCrisis of Authority

One of the major One of the major roadblocks to autonomy roadblocks to autonomy is failure to achieve is failure to achieve separation from separation from authorityauthority

Developing Self-Developing Self-AwarenessAwareness

•When we are open to When we are open to experiencing our selves experiencing our selves precisely as they are – rather precisely as they are – rather than expending energy feeling than expending energy feeling anxious or guilty over what anxious or guilty over what they are not – a change in they are not – a change in feeling can take placefeeling can take place

The Law of The Law of Pathei Pathei MathosMathos

It is a painful insight to It is a painful insight to discover that one holds a discover that one holds a belief because one needs the belief because one needs the belief, and not because the belief, and not because the belief is true. This is the belief is true. This is the sort of insight one would like sort of insight one would like to make go away, like a bad to make go away, like a bad dream or clouds on a rainy daydream or clouds on a rainy day

Sigmund FreudSigmund FreudHumanity is Blocked by Our Humanity is Blocked by Our

PainPain•We are blocked from being human We are blocked from being human by our own repressed pain and by our own repressed pain and seeing the truth about ourselves seeing the truth about ourselves could release enormous stores of could release enormous stores of bound-up energy for rich and bound-up energy for rich and responsible livingresponsible living

•IdId•SuperegoSuperego•EgoEgo

Reflections…Reflections…

•Zero in on the problem of dealing Zero in on the problem of dealing with those who would “[provide] with those who would “[provide] us with the answers before we us with the answers before we have asked the questions”. Do you have asked the questions”. Do you agree with the problem as stated agree with the problem as stated in this chapter? How would you in this chapter? How would you suggest that we confront such suggest that we confront such answer-givers?answer-givers?

Life TimeLife Time

•Direction?Direction?

•Is life then goal-directed?Is life then goal-directed?

•Are we driven, deeply and Are we driven, deeply and perhaps unconsciously, toward perhaps unconsciously, toward something or away from something or away from something? Is life inherently something? Is life inherently meaningful, carrying us toward meaningful, carrying us toward a telos, or is it meaning-less?a telos, or is it meaning-less?

All the World’s a All the World’s a Stage…Stage…

All the world’s a stageAll the world’s a stage

And all the men and women merely And all the men and women merely players:players:

They have their exits and their They have their exits and their entrances;entrances;

And one man in his time plays And one man in his time plays many parts.many parts.

Mapping a LifetimeMapping a Lifetime

•The four The four ashramasashramas

•Japanese fivefold division of Japanese fivefold division of the human lifespanthe human lifespan

•Freud’s five distinct stages in Freud’s five distinct stages in the development of a young human the development of a young human being from age zero to about being from age zero to about eighteeneighteen

•Shakespeare’s “seven ages”Shakespeare’s “seven ages”

The Ground PlanThe Ground Plan

• Scientific studies have discovered Scientific studies have discovered that there exists within us a that there exists within us a psychophysiological timetable that psychophysiological timetable that provides a plot for each individual provides a plot for each individual human dramshuman drams

• The unfolding of this ground plan The unfolding of this ground plan gives our lives a predictable gives our lives a predictable structure and allows us to achieve a structure and allows us to achieve a general overview of a full human life general overview of a full human life from birth to deathfrom birth to death

Infancy to ChildhoodInfancy to Childhood

•InfancyInfancy

•Early ChildhoodEarly Childhood

•Middle ChildhoodMiddle Childhood

•Late ChildhoodLate Childhood

The Adolescent YearsThe Adolescent Years

•Early AdolescenceEarly Adolescence

•MidadolescenceMidadolescence

•Late AdolescenceLate Adolescence

The Maturing YearsThe Maturing Years

•Early AdulthoodEarly Adulthood

•Intermediate AdulthoodIntermediate Adulthood

•Middle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood

•Later AdulthoodLater Adulthood

The Final PhaseThe Final Phase

•It begins when we must face It begins when we must face that fact that our own death is that fact that our own death is imminentimminent

•Reliving our pastReliving our past

•An attempt to see the life/time An attempt to see the life/time drama in perspective, and to drama in perspective, and to write a good completionwrite a good completion

The Shriek of Ivan The Shriek of Ivan IlytchIlytch

•Tolstoy’s Tolstoy’s Death of Ivan IIytchDeath of Ivan IIytch

•As Ivan reflects upon the As Ivan reflects upon the meaningless of his death, what meaningless of his death, what hits him so forcefully is the hits him so forcefully is the meaninglessness of his lifemeaninglessness of his life

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

•Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

•The Importance of MythThe Importance of Myth

•““There is a single formula, a There is a single formula, a single plot, to the hero’s single plot, to the hero’s adventure”adventure”

VoltaireVoltaireThe Laughing PhilosopherThe Laughing Philosopher

• ““Crush the infamy!:Crush the infamy!:

• ““My baffled curiosity continues to My baffled curiosity continues to be insatiable.”be insatiable.”

• He had an abiding faith in the He had an abiding faith in the intelligence and rationality of manintelligence and rationality of man

• ““This century begins to see the This century begins to see the triumph of reason”triumph of reason”

• ““If God did not exist, it would be If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.”necessary to invent him.”

Reflections…Reflections…

•If you think of life If you think of life metaphorically as a “path” or metaphorically as a “path” or “road,” can you locate yourself “road,” can you locate yourself with some accuracy (somewhere) with some accuracy (somewhere) along that path? Did you along that path? Did you personally go through the personally go through the earlier challenges as described earlier challenges as described in this chapter?in this chapter?