In: Psychology
1. How did Kierkegaard think we lived authentically? How did he think we lived inauthentically? Do you agree?
2. Explain Kierkegaard’s three stages of life. Discuss what you think about each one.
3. What is pragmatism? How does James use pragmatism to defend free will? Does pragmatism have any problems? If so, what?
1. How did Kierkegaard think we lived authentically? How did he think we lived inauthentically? Do you agree?
In Kierkegaard’s view, we lived authentically by “becoming what we are” and evading despair and hollowness by introspection & having total faith in God.
In Kierkegaard’s view, we lived inauthentically by living in a society characterized by massification which leads us to widespread “despair” that causes spiritlessness, denial, and defiance. Moreover, we also regard human being as an object, as a substance with certain essential attributes which is also inauthentic.
2. Explain Kierkegaard’s three stages of life. Discuss what you think about each one.
(A)Aesthetic stage: The main motivation in this stage is pleasure. This stage is basically a from of psychological hedonism (i.e., if it feels good, it is good). In this stage, people are after pleasure, specifically the pleasure of experiencing beauty.
(B)Ethical stage: In the Ethical Stage, a person has risen above her aesthetically focused mode of operation, and has begun to follow the rules and laws of her society. Inclinations give way to obligations. We feel responsibilities toward others — both particular others and others in general. We have kids, pets, jobs and coworkers, neighbors, mature friends.
(C)Religious stage: For Kierkegaard, the highest stage of life that humans can hope to be is what he calls the “Religious” Stage. The “religious” stage does not essentially involve any particular deity or belief system. Rather, it’s about progressing past the previous two stages in life — and onto something profound and pulsating.