A Hopeful ["surprisingly upbeat"] Reminder: You’re Going to Die. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Fifty years on, Ernest Becker's "The Denial of Death" remains an essential, surprisingly upbeat guide to our final act on Earth.

...Only by confronting our own mortality, Becker argued, could we live more fully. To hold that terror is to see more clearly what matters and what does not — and how important it is to grasp the difference. Contemplating death is like a cold plunge for the soul, a prick to the amygdala. You emerge renewed, your vision clarified. "To talk about hope is to give the right focus to the problem," Becker wrote... nyt

Resolute meliorists

NYTimes: This Year, Make a Resolution About Something Bigger Than Yourself

…In "Leaves of Grass," Walt Whitman writes: "This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy." He continues, "Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem.''

So there. If you're looking for a worthwhile resolution, Whitman is not a bad place to start.

The task of improving the world may seem impossible, but it isn't...

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/opinion/new-years-resolutions.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
This Year, Make a Resolution About Something Bigger Than Yourself

Can I Level With My Kids About Santa Claus?

… You want your children to believe in you, and your determination to earn their trust is admirable. But growing up is about learning that you shouldn't always trust what adults say, even when they're sincere: They may be mistaken about the facts and the judgments they accept. If your kids become parents one day, they'll make their own decisions about whether to play the reindeer games.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/magazine/santa-christmas-truth-ethics.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Can I Level With My Kids About Santa Claus?

When Philosophers Become Therapists

Coincidentally, I've been invited to deliver an Honors lecture on mental health in the spring. Maybe I'll hang out a shingle one of these days.

"…Amir is one of a small but growing number of philosophers who provide some form of individual counselling. In the United States, two professional associations for philosophical counsellors, the National Philosophical Counseling Association (N.P.C.A.) and the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (A.P.P.A.), list dozens of philosophers who can help you with your problems. Italy has multiple professional organizations for different forms of philosophical counselling, and similar organizations exist in Germany, India, Spain, Norway, and several other countries. In Austria, Italy, and Romania, universities offer master's degrees in the field. Everyone should study philosophy, Amir told me; since few people do, she argues that philosophical counselling fills an important need. "If he changed, it's because he got educated," she said of David's transformation. "And he got educated because he wanted a philosophical education. If something good happened to him, it happened because of philosophy, not me. I just enabled the encounter."

…

--Nick Romeo, NYer

Grades

 To whom it may concern: I don't post grades on D2L, as I indicated at the beginning. But you already knew about 85+% of how you did in the course via exams + presentations (you got all the points for those, unless I've indicated otherwise).

"How do you determine a student's grade?"

     --"Well, I add up the grades for the essays, quizzes, the midterm and final. I average them out. Then I consult my stomach."

That's what the late Fred Stocking, Williams College Shakespeare scholar, told his student (later NPR reporter) Barbara Bradley Hagerty.

My stock answer is a bit simpler: I add up the points, consult my stomach and scorecards, and add more if they tell me to.

Happy holidays!

Yes, but...

UPDATE. Final report posting is now closed. Grades will be reported to the registrar by next Monday (18th). Happy holidays. Don't stop asking questions.

==

It's important to do things just because you enjoy doing them. But it's also important to set goals, no matter how much time you have left.

Analysis and Commentary of Fantasyland chapters 37-38

  Liam Cole - Section 13

Analysis and Commentary of Fantasyland chapters 37-38

    During the 1980's and 90's, mass hysteria was abundant. It didn't help that authority figures and members of the media were continually telling a false narrative that hundreds of thousands of children were being abducted each year. In fact, when we tell kids about "stranger danger," it came directly from this time. 

  

    The Denver Post wrote a Pulitzer-prize winning article that debunked this theory, they wrote, “The FBI reports that it had 67 cases of children kidnaped by strangers in 1984. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says that it has firm records on 142 cases,”

   

    Of course though, this was only just a tiny fraction of the hysteria that was prevalent in eighties America. This doesn't even scratch the surface. 

  

    In this time too, there was a wake-up call that childhood rape by figures of authority was more prevalent than ever realised. Now, this too, was taken a stretch over the top. Indeed, a handful of psychologists claimed that they could recover the the recovered repressed memories of childhood abuse victims. This too, however, was just another incarnation of the hysteria that surrounded the child abduction panic. Anyone who suffers could be a victim of childhood sexual abuse, and therefore, if they felt they were victims, in short, then they must be one, was the thought process of these so-called clinicians. 

  

    If someone had thought that someone else had abused them, without any evidence, they would be believed because this idea of recovered memories gave fuel to the hysteria that surrounded this time period.

  

    And the last prevalent theory that fuelled mass-hysteria, I will mention, is the idea that Satanic cults were running rampant in every corner of the nation, abusing children, and doing all sorts of horrific crimes that you can think of. The Satanic Panic as it's called.

  

    Rock and Roll was seen as a Satanic plot to corrupt the minds of the youth, and so, in 1983, the band Styx parodied these fears in their album Kilroy Was Here, which tells the story of a Dr. Everett Righteous who is part of the Majority for Music Morality who has entirely banned rock music and thrown all rock performers in prison. Here's the film that accompanied their album if you'd like to get an idea of what it's about:

    So, with the idea of recovered memories combined with Satanic fears, a psycologist in Seattle had convinced a woman by the name of Michelle Proby recount memories of her mother being part of a Satanic cult that would torture her for months on end, cage her with snakes, and kill kittens in front of her. Of course, none of it was real, but if sold. It played on the mass hysteria that people had in this time.

    After Michelle's story went public, other Americans started claiming the same things had happened to them. But ultimately after enough case studies, clinicians determined that these episodes were caused by a mental disorder that they named Multiple Personality Disorder.

    Moving on from the mass hysteria of the eighties, in Chapter 38, it is mentioned that after the release of films such as Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, many Americans had claimed to have been visited, probed, and temporarily taken away by extra-terrestrial, alien forces. And the claims gained substantial following after a Harvard professor known as John Mack had attended a small conference of alternative physicians, where he learned of a method to recount supernatural consciousness. He claimed to have remembered a past life in Russia and when he was abducted by aliens in a UFO.

   

    Mack, as a psychiatrist, visited patients who had claimed to have been abducted. He called them experiencers instead of patients, and were actively encouraged and believed. He used hypnosis to make his patients recount their abduction memories, many claiming to have had sexual relations with the aliens. According to Mack, humanity had messed the world up so much, and superbeings, either inter-planetary or inter-dimensional angels have come to fix us. More about his work and life here.

    So overall, a lot of the hysteria and widespread conspiracy theories we see in American society aren't a relatively new phenomena. Indeed, they have been prevalent since the Salem Witch Trials, and were made widespread, and almost, mainstream during the eighties and early nineties. So the next time you think to yourself about how American society may be on a decline, remember that they are just a sympton of a more underlying problem. Maybe it could be the education system, perhaps the culture. But most importantly, it is always best to educate those who may be misinformed. Allow those who have been swallowed up by hysteria and conspiracy theories a chance to think about what they truly and really think is rational.

Navigating the Stream of Consciousness

by Reuben Cruz, #10

Hey, are you reading this?

Take a moment to reread the question. Did you actually do it? Have you fully taken in what I am writing to you now?

Chapter 4 of John Kaag's Sick Souls, Healthy Minds deals with the ideas of consciousness and transcendence. To be conscious is something that William James considered imperative for anyone looking to lead a fulfilling life. He states as most of us go through life, "Compared to what we ought to be, we are only half awake." We don't take full advantage of what we are fully mentally capable of, and in this way, we are not fully conscious. The quickest way for us to fully come into consciousness, according to James, is to have an experience that forces us to become conscious in the moment.

Traumatic experiences can anchor one in the moment, bringing consciousness to the forefront and letting one truly experience existence. For example, one might lose a loved one, as happened to Kaag. However, trauma isn't the only way for one to transcend. Psychoactive substances, like laughing gas or psychedelic mushrooms, are also one possible path to opening one's third eye- or more accurately, their own two eyes, to what reality has to offer. I even entertained the idea that James was in support of and "Ego Death."

I found this video on the topic of ego death very insightful, as it sort of led me in the direction that I think James and Kaag intended me to, and even included a quote from James himself. With this video in hand, I achieved what I feel is a deeper understanding of what Kaag intended me to take from this chapter of the book.

Race Irwin Section 13 Final Report Blogpost: Loneliness

     In the intricate exploration of loneliness, the profound impact it has on an individual's sense of self-worth, and potential remedies for overcoming it, a rich tapestry of human experiences and philosophical reflections emerges. Loneliness, characterized as the stark absence of friends, is portrayed as more than a mere state of solitude; it becomes a profound existential condition wherein one's value remains unrealized, leading to a feeling of shrinking and disappearing from the human world. The narrative goes beyond the personal, weaving in the experiences of others, including the story of Five Mualimm-ak, who developed schizophrenia and bipolar disorder after he endured over two thousand days in solitary confinement, highlighting the crucial role of human contact in sustaining life and identity. According to Pace University; “Five was placed in solitary confinement not as a punishment for the crime he committed or any violent behavior, but instead for minor disciplinary violations he allegedly committed while incarcerated”.

As the narrative unfolds, the passage transitions into an examination of the formidable challenge of addressing loneliness, acknowledging the self-perpetuating nature of isolation. Here, the text introduces Haruki Murakami's novel "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage," offering a literary lens through which to explore the impact of rejection and subsequent loneliness. The title itself pays homage to the content within the work. Accordingly, The New York Times Post article; “Deep Chords: Haruki Murakami’s ‘Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage” describes it as such; “Tsukuru Tazaki’s unfathomable anguish seems to contain every color of the rainbow, even the colorless color of death.” This story, in very shorthand form, details a protagonist being rejected suddenly and unexpectedly by his friends. After being encouraged to find out why, he tracks them down and asks them just that, then finding out that he had been accused of sexual assault by a mentally ill woman in the friend group. She did not entirely fabricate the story, as she had been sexually assaulted by someone other than him, but the friend group went along with it in hopes she would be able to get the help she needed mentally. They discerned that it is better to cut a friend off than to kill another. This narrative pivot adds a layer of complexity, allowing readers to engage with the emotional intricacies of Tsukuru Tazaki's journey as he confronts his past, uncovers the truth about friends' betrayal, and ultimately finds solace in love. The The Tampa Bay Times analyzes this in the reflection of the work and concludes that ; “Full of melancholy and loss, it is nonetheless beautiful, rich with moving images and lush yet exquisitely controlled language, reverberating, like that piano music Tsukuru cannot forget, with elusive emotion.” To grapple with loneliness effectively, the author advocates for reaching out to others, drawing insights from both social science and philosophy. The author brings in the perspective of philosopher John Cacioppo, suggesting that loneliness can be alleviated by shifting the focus from one's pain to the needs of others. This shift in perspective encourages individuals to step outside their own situation, acknowledging the importance of small social signals in initiating connections and affirming the reality of other human beings. The interconnectedness of individuals and the reciprocal nature of social bonds are subtly emphasized, laying the groundwork for a philosophical exploration of the human experience. The passage extends its examination to loneliness reduction programs, highlighting their scarcity and the need for increased funding. While emphasizing the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone and engaging with others, practical examples, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or participating in group activities, are provided as tangible ways to combat loneliness. This practical dimension adds a layer of concreteness to the philosophical reflections, suggesting that actions rooted in compassion and communal engagement can be powerful tools in addressing the complexities of loneliness.The call to step outside one's comfort zone and engage with others is not just an individual prescription but a societal imperative. It challenges us to rethink the value we place on communal well-being and the importance of fostering connections in our shared human experience.

In a poignant personal anecdote, the author shares the experience of hosting a podcast during the pandemic as a means to combat loneliness. Engaging with a diverse range of individuals, asking personal questions, and actively listening are presented as powerful tools to mitigate social anxiety and build meaningful connections. The podcast becomes a microcosm of shared humanity, a space where individuals from various backgrounds come together to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs. This narrative thread seamlessly weaves the personal into the philosophical, illustrating how intentional and empathetic communication can serve as a remedy for the ache of loneliness. The author then acknowledges that while strategies like these may address certain aspects of loneliness, there are forms of loneliness, particularly those arising from irreparable loss, that these approaches cannot fully remedy. This acknowledgment opens the door to a broader philosophical inquiry into the nature of loneliness itself. What is the essence of this existential ache, and how does it resonate with broader philosophical questions about the human condition?

Haruki Murakami's novel adds a nuanced layer to this exploration. Through the character of Tsukuru Tazaki, we witness the impact of rejection and betrayal, themes that echo existentially. Tsukuru's journey becomes a metaphor for the human struggle against isolation, a struggle that finds solace in the transformative power of love. This narrative arc aligns with philosophical insights that emphasize the interdependence of self-awareness and the presence of others, challenging the notion of absolute solitude. Philosopher John Cacioppo's perspective on loneliness as a condition that can be alleviated by focusing on others provides a practical bridge between the personal and the philosophical.​​ The article “Loneliness Matters:A Theoretical and Empirical Review of Consequences and Mechanisms”, from the National Library of Medicine, evaluates Cacioppo’s evaluations and how they downplay the reality of individuals battling loneliness. The article states; “Loneliness is synonymous with perceived social isolation, not with objective social isolation.” Essentially, the difference in perception vs. perspective correlates to the shift in perspective that loneliness is perceived as a result of social isolation from an outside perspective compared to it being a self-perception. The shift in perspective, from self-centered pain to attending to the needs of others, echoes fundamental philosophical notions of interconnectedness and mutual recognition. The small social signals and everyday interactions highlighted in Cacioppo's insights underscore the significance of acknowledging the reality of other human beings in combating loneliness. Upon the reflection of these narratives and philosophical insights, a central question emerges: What does the ache of loneliness teach us about the human experience and our interconnectedness? The American Journal of Psychiatry 

states; “Loneliness is a personal interpretation of a psychological state, and individuals from different cultures and historical eras will have alternative explanations for the same feeling.”

Loneliness, in its existential depth, becomes a mirror reflecting the fundamental need for connection, recognition, and shared experiences. It prompts us to reconsider the value we place on individualism and encourages a shift toward communal well-being. The acknowledgment that certain forms of loneliness, particularly those arising from irreparable loss, may not find complete remedy in these strategies opens a philosophical inquiry into the nature of human suffering. Can loneliness, in its most profound form, be a testament to the irreplaceable worth of individuals and the enduring impact of human connections? Is the ache of loneliness, then, an invitation to explore the depths of our humanity and the intricate tapestry of relationships that define our existence? 

Conclusively, the exploration of loneliness, rooted in personal experiences, literature, and philosophical reflections, reveals a complex interplay between individual and societal dimensions. Loneliness becomes more than an emotional state; it becomes an existential condition that prompts us to ponder the essence of human existence. As we navigate the ache of loneliness, we find philosophical threads that connect us to broader questions about interconnectedness, mutual recognition, and the enduring impact of shared humanity. According to; researchgate.net; “Loneliness demonstrates the irrationality of our culture's intense focus on competition and individualism at the expense of family and community.” In contemplating it, we are invited to embark on a philosophical journey that transcends individual narratives and speaks to the collective fabric of the human experience. So, for one who grapples with loneliness, embrace intentional and empathetic communication. Recognize the transformative power of love and the shared humanity that binds us. Advocate for increased support for reduction of loneliness and challenge the norms that perpetuate isolation. 

The journey to transcend individuality and delve into the realm of shared human experience must be done collectively. It is only by addressing loneliness that humanity can not only dilute suffering, but also contribute to the creation of a more compassionate and connected world.

Why Grow Up - Education

 Alivia Wilkinson

12-10-2023

Professor Oliver

Section - 11

Education - Why Grow Up

    In the "eduction" section of the book Why Grow Up by Susan Neiman, the school system and enlightenment are the main topics. Why are our suicide rates so high? What does it really mean to be mature? These question all fall back to the same general answer, education. Suicide rates are high, because people are not educated on how to cope and reshape their lives for happiness. The questions of maturity can only be answered by those who are educated enough to understand, and their response would be, education. Education is more than just literature and physics. Education is your entire knowledge of yourself and the world around you, and Neiman does an amazing job on explaining why.

    Growing up is a process if shifting through your parents choices about everything. As we grow up ideas are embedded in us by our parents. It's not until we experience life outside of home that we start to create our own values. A quote from Neiman on page 126 states, "that's what i'd chose had I been able to choose myself." You are not grown up until you reject at least one ideal from your parent. This blog states that realizing your parents are people is the last step in growing up. Idealization is the main reason for staying oblivious or staying in the "child" role for an extended period of your life. Once you can recognize that parents are humans who are still understanding the world, you can finally grow up.

    School is that place that most people spend their childhood. In traditional school houses physical/corporal punishment was legal, resulting in resentment towards schools for young children. Now, in the 21st century, it is very illegal to hit a child as punishment in the public school system. Even though this is true kids still resent the structure of the education system. Not everyone visions school as all evil, although it is corrupt it is a great place for enlightenment. On page 28 Neiman states, " Traditional schooling may be better than none at all, just as rice and beans are cherished by a child who is starving." Below is a video of how the world would be without schools.

   Educators and parents over generations fought to change the standard of education; some even by homeschooling, most by following Immanuel Kant's three principles. The first was that in early childhood, a child must be free, except in the face of danger. The second was that a child must be able to achieve their own goals, and let others achieve theirs. The third one was that a child will not depend on the care of others. There must be an understanding that education is forever changing, as a we are learning new things everyday.

    In the united states test scores are low, but in the area where they are high there is a positive correlation to suicide rates. Ivan Illich proposed the idea to shut schools down completely; however that will cause the extinction of our species. We mislead our children by refusing to admit that the problems were facing are as hard as they really are. Children need to experience their parents failure in order to gauge and develop their own strengths. School is what introduces a child to those conflicts.

    Passion, honesty, and knowledge is what it means to be grown up, it's also what you need in order to raise a grown up. Pushing yourself and questioning the world are grown up activities. Let us be mindful to the souls around us  and the environment we all belong to, that is how we grow up.

                                                                Fantasyland ch. 39

                                                            Ciara Rush- Section 13                                                        

                                                      

Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire is a novel by Kurt Andersen that explores how humans have believed in make-believe, or "fantasyland" fantasies since the beginning of time and explains different examples of this in history, and present day. 

    In chapter 39 of Fantasyland, Andersen explains someone named Alex Jones, who is a media radio-host who has been known to be at the center of many conspiracy theories. He is described in the chapter as a conservative because he rants about gun regulation, government subsidized healthcare, and taxes. He is out of the more "out there" individuals regarding these conspiracies. With a quote about him stating "He is the very epitome of cutting-edge political discourse, where outright fiction is presented and consumed as non-fiction." The chapter touches on how Jones provides these ideas on his radio-show and tries to back them up. His idea of backing up these theories involve not strictly fact and opinion, but at times zero fact and a lot of opinion that is completely insensitive and borderline insane. An example of this is when he states "the Democratic Party has got black people in their web murdering your people and they love it." And another example being how Jones claimed that the Sandy Hook school shooting, was a hoax with crisis actors. These are terrible things to say when you have an audience and platform consuming your content and forming opinions based on yours. So, obviously Alex Jones doesn't care how his platform positively or negatively affects his viewers or targets, and that is a problem. Andersen speaks on how Alex Jones basically will say anything in order to make himself seem right. Even though this greatly compromises his credibility, he still has many followers that believe every word he says. 

    We can compare this to the nature of humans to follow something which questions the way things are. Our nature to question the universe and question the unknown has evolved greatly with conspiracy theories, and I believe that is highlighted in this chapter. With Jones claiming that he is not playing a character, and then using the same defense that he is -in fact- playing a character when in court shows how he will stop at no lengths of delusion to make himself seem right. Andersen explores how the line between reasonable and deranged has become fuzzier throughout the years. "Somewhere between Jones and people who know that extraterrestrials secretly run the world is a fuzzy frontier- on one side, maybe a hundred million Americans with strongly conspiracist predispositions and ideas, and on the other, several million committed to beliefs that seem symptomatic of mental illness, way beyond the pale." Anderson states. This is likely influenced by the romantification of conspiracies in the 21st century. We know, conspiracy theorists and wonderers of the mind have existed since the beginning of time, where questioning authority would get you into a mental asylum or even executed. Now, deranged, delusional ideas can now be passed off as "entertainment" or "playing a character" and be consumed by many people worldwide, and that is highlighted in chapter 39 of Fantasyland. 

     

Above is a photo of Alex Jones in 2023, six years after Fantasyland was published. He is still getting into trouble.

In class, a discussion question I asked was "Why do you think that Alex Jones will say anything to make himself seem right, disregarding how it affects his character?"

Some responses I got included (with my own interpretation):

He is just a delusional man, and he has created a group of people who want to be just like him and believe the things that he says. 

He probably does it for the money, his exaggerated character is great at making headlines and probably views and montetation contribute to his need to keep his radio-show going. 

    You can purchase to read Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire here: https://www.amazon.com/Fantasyland-America-Haywire-500-Year-History/dp/1400067219

WGU - Travel

 Abigail Ellis

Section 11

12/10/23

Travel

Travel, as Kant wrote, is a good means of broadening one's knowledge of the world. This section of Why Grow Up talks about how your view of the world is subjective and you miss out on so much more than you realize if you don’t travel. In the book it says that “globalization gives us the illusion of knowing other cultures far better than we do.”  A metaphor from Augustine that goes hand in hand with that is, 'the world is a book, and those who do not travel know only one page.’ I’ve traveled and gone on cruises to other states and countries, and meeting different people has changed my perspective a lot. Getting to know people, their stories, and where they’re from is fascinating and forces you out of only your own perspective. I feel like a lot of people struggle with seeing things from anyone else’s point of view.

A quote from Why Grow Up is, “If you do not travel you are likely to suppose your own cultural assumptions to make up human reality - for you can only recognize what those assumptions are if you have lived in a place that runs on different ones. Travel is as important for learning about yourself and your own culture as it is for understanding others.” Rousseau believed that travel is a crucial part of coming of age, but that just going places isn’t enough, you need to know how to travel. Those who do not walk, sit sadly, like prisoners, in a small, closed-up cage.

This chapter also talks about how universities will send students abroad, but they never actually get the opportunity to learn the culture or really experience what they went there to experience, which can change their view on traveling. This chapter says that the best way to learn while traveling is to live and work there, learn another language, fully immerse yourself. a quote that goes with that is, “Working lets you learn what tourists cannot know.”

My favorite quote from this chapter is, “All it costs is a ticket to get there and the decision to reject the voices that tell you such journeys are impossible. Perhaps they do not want you to understand where you came from: for that's the greatest gift that travel will give you.” The thing about traveling that I think is so beautiful is that traveling is different for everyone, and people can get different experiences from the same trip.

 

 

                                                 Discussion Questions

        1.    Do you think traveling is important?

        2.    Do you have any traveling experiences that changed you?

 

Unveiling the Impact: Kurt Andersen's Critique on the Dangerous Fantasy of Guns

 Mariam Boushra

Professor Oliver

Phil-1030-13

December 10, 2023

 In his thought-provoking book "Fantasyland," renowned author Kurt Andersen delves into the profound consequences of America's love affair with guns. Andersen explores how this once-innocent fascination has transformed into a perilous fetish, with far-reaching implications for our society.  Andersen, a prolific writer and cultural commentator, brings a unique perspective to the table. For a deeper understanding of his background and insights, check out his official website [Kurt Andersen's Website](https://www.kurtandersen.com/). His diverse body of work, spanning novels, essays, and journalistic pieces, reflects a keen awareness of the societal shifts that shape our collective consciousness.  In "Fantasyland," Andersen eloquently argues against the dangerous fantasy surrounding gun ownership in America. He posits that the cultural narratives we've embraced, fueled by iconic characters from movies and TV, contribute to the alarming proliferation of arsenals among gun owners.  To explore Andersen's compelling take on this issue, you can find "Fantasyland" (https://www.amazon.com/Fantasyland-America-Haywire-500-Year-History-ebook/dp/B004J4WNJE). It's an eye-opening read that prompts us to question the impact of our cultural fantasies on real-world consequences.  As we navigate the complex landscape of gun culture in America, Kurt Andersen's work serves as a catalyst for crucial conversations and introspection. Let's delve into the discourse, challenge our perspectives, and work towards a society where responsible gun ownership prevails over dangerous fantasies.

Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls"

Rimas Ikar

Dr. Phil Oliver

Phil-1030-10

10 December 2023

Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls, Healthy Minds" delves deeper into the exploration of the lives and philosophical contributions of four American thinkers: William James, Josiah Royce, John Dewey, and George Santayana. John Kaag, the author, examines how these philosophers learned with the challenges of their time, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The chapter begins with an examination of William James, focusing on his struggles with depression and

his attempts to find meaning and purpose in life. James's concept of the "sick soul" is explored, emphasizing people's existential and psychological challenges. Kaag goes into James's philosophy, highlighting the tension between religious faith and scientific inquiry.

Moving on to Josiah Royce, Kaag explores the concept of loyalty and the importance of community in Royce's philosophy. Royce's ideas about the communal nature of truth and the interconnectedness of individuals are examined in the context of his time.

The chapter also discusses John Dewey, who is portrayed as a pragmatist concerned with the practical application of philosophy to everyday life. Dewey's emphasis on experiential learning and his contributions to education are explored. Kaag highlights how Dewey sought to bridge the gap between theory and practice, focusing on the importance of democratic values in education. George Santayana is discussed in the context of his complex relationship with the other philosophers and his eventual departure from the pragmatist tradition. Santayana's exploration of aesthetics and his critique of the pragmatist movement are considered.

Throughout the chapter, Kaag weaves together these thinkers' personal struggles and philosophical

insights, highlighting the interconnectedness of their lives and ideas. The author encourages readers to reflect on the relevance of these historical philosophical perspectives to contemporary challenges, emphasizing the ongoing quest for meaning and purpose in life.

The chapter commences with an in-depth analysis of William James, a philosopher deeply entrenched in the philosophical and psychological debates of the late 19th century. Kaag highlights James's internal struggles, particularly his battles with depression and the profound impact these struggles had on his philosophical reflections. Central to James's philosophy is the concept of the "sick soul," a notion that captures the existential angst and spiritual malaise experienced by individuals in the face of a rapidly changing world.

As Kaag navigates the narrative, he examines James's attempt to reconcile religious faith with the burgeoning advancements in scientific thought. The tension between faith and reason is a recurring theme, and James's pragmatic approach to finding meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty is portrayed as a pivotal aspect of his philosophical legacy.

Access the book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/9780691200934/sick-souls-healthy-minds

Explanation of the book: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/books/review/sick-souls-healthy-minds-william-james-john-kaag.html

William James: The Dilemma of Determinism

     The “Dilemma of Determinism'' by William James is a philosophical work that illuminates the concepts of determinism through its effects upon free will, moral responsibility, and human nature. According to;.britannica.com;“Determinism entails that, in a situation in which a person makes a certain decision or performs a certain action, it is impossible that he or she could have made any other decision or performed any other action” James constructs the divide of determinism vs. free will through the lens of human actions being either predetermined by prior causes, unalterable in their course, or through the illusion of free will. Furthermore, the nature of mundane moral responsibility. As a result, he seemingly implies that free will might be illusory or limited in its scope. Thus, the dilemma. Simultaneously, James introduces the illusion of free will with the narrative of personal agency in moral decision-making, where individuals navigate the maze of choices with a heightened sense of accountability.

     Essentially, the work in and of itself is a paradox in the context that it evaluates the nature of the human condition as ever changing but also remains stagnant in its condition that determinism is not a result of direct free will but a spider web of previous choices and causes that affect current and future judgment. Similarly, a research paper provided from the College of London states that; “James also asked the students to imagine his actions repeated in exactly the same circumstances, a condition which is regarded today as one of the great challenges to libertarian free will. While James acknowledges the perception of free will and the personal sense of making decisions and control over one's life, he similarly elaborates upon a deterministic view that suggests human choices are a product of these previous causes. 

    In the sense of how this applies in the real world compared to the mind of a philosophical thinker, it is evident that self acceptance of responsibility is viewed in two ways. The first is the self-accepting responsibility of one's actions controlling one's life through free will while the other is the acceptance that life is predetermined and there is a safety in the controversy of making decisions. Essentially, some individuals find solace in the idea of a predetermined destiny, while others advocate for the autonomy of human will. Accordingly, the Oxford University Press on global.oup.com, advocates for the idea that ;“According to James, indeterminism allows that the world has ambiguous possibilities”. Not only does the article delve into the complexity of ambiguous possibilities via indeterminism, the article advocates for the possible truths surrounding the function of determinism when contemplating certain virtues. According to a similar article; “Free Will and Determination” ,Such truths include the perception of viewing feelings of regret as absurd instead of as events and further “that sins of murder and treachery would cease to be  sins”. 

    Conclusively, James doesn’t outright deny or affirm whether determinism is solely caused by prior causes and choices. Nevertheless, James does make it a point to identify that the very contemplation of determinism is one of the primary aspects that influence philosophy. According to the Harvard Library; “The Sentiment of Rationality,” “Brute and Human Intellect,” and “The Dilemma of Determinism” show James considering questions of agency, interest, and motive—including, he said, “the motives which lead men to philosophize.” However, he highlights the complexities and tensions between these philosophical positions. A discussion, via youtube.com, examines the idea that “James concludes free will to be a philosophy of promise and improvement since we wouldn’t be at the determinist mercy of history.”  Thus, leaving room for interpretation and contemplation about the relationship between determinism and the perception of free will.

Fantasyland Chapter 45 and 46

 The last two chapters of "Fantasyland" by Kurt Andersen focus on how the populace of America is being manipulated by certain celebrities by the media. Donald Trump is his main spectacle he uses to illustrate how America has started to turn to the flashiest, loudest, and most captivating speaker regardless of what they are saying. Trump rose in the spotlight demanding the attention of the audience with his choice of words, mannerism, and preposterous accusations. This was not hard for him to do considering he had been a showman for most of his life. Being a businessman and owning multiple franchises, it was second nature for him to know how to get the most publicity. He had been using the same tactics all throughout his career as illustrated HERE on FT news which shows how he used his influence to get what he wanted and helped boost his publicity for the presidential polls. His exotic personality was and always has been just a way to get his words and ideas broadcasted more than his opponents. When people hear one person's opinion over and over without a contradictory viewpoint, it becomes natural to start to believe the one they hear more often explained on NBC news. As discussed in the book, there were over a million radio shows discussing Trump's opinion and future policies only, showing that many people believed him just because he stole the light and talked the most. This tactic is not leaving anytime soon either. He is constantly interviewed due to his wild conspiracy theories, one of the most recent being that the 2020 election was rigged. Spreading propaganda not only catches the ears of listeners, but also serves as a fuel to fire a retaliation for the next four years. People often believe what they want to so when a public figure head tells them exactly that, it's essentially giving the green light to fully commit to the belief. He has been making such preposterous claims for many years according to ABC News solely to be heard and further divide uncertain parties.