WILLIAM JAMES: The Moral Equivalent of War | Supplementary Blog Post

Written by Matteo D'Urso (Section 13) for Dr. Phil Oliver

Please Note: This blog post is designed to be supplementary to my previously delivered speech, as such, it will not be repeating information that has been previously stated. Thank you.

This is more or less a collection of various different "bits and bobs" that I came across during my original research of the "Moral Equivalent of War" article. These didn't fit into my script for the speech, however, they are good in their own right. Please check them out below.

Full Article Audiobook:

Below, you will find a video of a reading of the full original article by William James. I highly recommend that you check it out, if you haven't already, as hearing the article read aloud provides a whole new dynamic to it.

Jimmy Carter's Speech:

In this now infamous speech, former president Jimmy Carter compared the 1970s energy crisis with the "moral equivalent of war." He never gave credit to William James, but he did use his ideas in the speech to help the American public understand what he was talking about. In the speech, Carter preposes a program to help solve the energy crisis. According to CATO: "The programme would have significantly altered American life, at a heavy cost to the public." Congress never approved the program, and the energy crisis was solved without it. The full speech can be viewed below. More info here and here.

New Yorker Cartoon:

Original source here.

Is there a "moral equivalent of money"? What do you think? Personally, I can't think of one.

Modern Conspiracy Culture

Mark Morkos

Professor Oliver 

PHIL1030-10

December 10, 2023

Fantasyland chapter 39 – Mad as Hell, the New Voice of the People

In recent years there has been an explosion of conspiracy theories and misinformation on the internet and social media. While the internet holds more information than you can even imagine, news outlets and social media platforms prioritize engagement and user retention. Algorithms on platforms like Facebook are trained to show you things based on what you previously liked and interacted with, even if it’s misinformation. The problem is these filters can put people into echo chambers that reinforce their existing beliefs and shield them from diverse perspectives. This has caused the spread of conspiracy theories and the broader normalization of radicalized and paranoid thinking in today’s society.

One controversial figure at the center of this phenomenon is Alex Jones, a popular conservative media personality and prominent figure in modern conspiracy culture. Alex Jones, founder of Infowars, has promoted conspiracy theories ranging from the 9/11 attacks being an inside job to bizarre claims like the existence of gay chemical bombs that encourage homosexuality. Other outlandish beliefs Jones subscribes to include but aren't limited to Michelle Obama is secretly a man, existence of weather weapons, the Sandy Hook shooting is a hoax, Robert Mueller is a demon and also a pedophile, pizzagate, and COVID-19 vaccines will give you a beef allergy.

Some of these are so outlandish that you may question if someone could really believe that. Is Alex Jones really just this deluded?  Is it just a persona? These questions first began to arise in 2017 when in a child custody case Jones’s lawyer argued in court that he is just a performance artist. He compared him to an actor playing a character, like Jack Nicholson playing the Joker in Batman. However, in other instances jones has maintained that he genuinely believes in his statements. Recently during his Sandy Hook lawsuit, Jones lied under oath multiple times and stated to the judge explicitly that he believes what he says is true. On Fantasyland page 396 it’s implied that Jones radicalization is deep rooted, as he grew up getting dinner visits from the John Birch Society and has been officially broadcasting his fever dreams since 1996. I personally believe he has been at this too long for him to be just a persona, he might adopt certain ideas for entertainment or to make money off his audience, but there must be a part of him that fundamentally believes in what he says. Either way It wouldn’t absolve him of the responsibility for the misinformation he spreads.

 I think it’s more critical to examine if his audience really believes him and the role he plays in the spread of misinformation. Jones’s influence is no longer confined to a fringe audience. In fact, he has a significant following, just one of his 18 Info Wars channels had a billion views. If Alex Jones were to come out and admit to his viewers that he is in fact just a con man, they wouldn’t believe him. They would just chalk it up with a new conspiracy.

 Alex Jones is a cause, but he is also just a symptom. Even now when Jones has effectively been banned social media, loony tunes conspiracy theories that blur the lines between fiction and reality still persist. His prominence has been indicative of a broader trend in the normalization of radicalization and conspiracy culture.

 Conspiracies are no longer just the harmless ramblings of internet loonies, they can shape public discourse and sometimes have real world consequences. One stark illustration of this danger unfolded during the January 6 attack on the capital in Washington D.C. The primary conspiracy theory that fueled the attack was the 2020 presidential election. Although there was no evidence of voter fraud, theories emerged that the election was stolen from President Trump. The conspiracy was then amplified by social media and right-wing news outlets and resonated with thousands of people who were angry with the election results. The march quickly became a riot as the crowd confronted the law enforcement and breached the capital building. It’s easy to laugh and dismiss this stuff when you see it on the internet but we need to recognize that there can be real world consequences.

 Especially when you consider that the attack was incited and promoted by some of our elected officials such as Rep. Mo Brooks, Rep Paul Gosar, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Ted Cruz, and of course the former president himself. Currently “Qanon shaman” Jacob Chansley, who wore face paint and horns to storm the capital is running for a seat in Arizona’s 8^th congressional district. Anthony Kern, an Arizona state senator who used his campaign funds to attend Washington DC on January 6 is also running. The other runners include Blake Masters who also leaned into the election fraud conspiracy and former U.S. representative Trent Franks, who was forced to resign in 2017 because he offered millions of dollars to female congressional staffers to serve as surrogate mothers for him and his wife.

 Conspiracies of all kinds are now so widespread that they obscure genuine conspiracy theories and undermine real discourse. For example, Alex Jones’s tantrum about the chemicals in the water making “the friggin’ frogs gay” has some truth to it. A widely cited 2010 research paper found that when male frogs are exposed to atrazine, the second most widely used weed killer in the United States, it can change their sex and they can lay fertile eggs. However, there’s no evidence that these chemicals have the capacity to do the same in humans. Despite that Alex Jones and right-wing media took it and tried to use it to push the rhetoric of white genocide and male extinction. Conspiracies like this undermine the real issues at hand and hinder rational discourse because chemicals really are destroying our biological diversity, which does affect us.

Sick Souls Healthy Minds

    Kyle Pulley

    12/10/2023

    Section #11

In Sick souls healthy minds Chapter 4 John Kaag discusses William James book: The principles of psychology,  why James was so interested in the quest to find the transcendent thought and the human consciousness. When James lost both his father and son within close proximity of each other he was determined to fine that "eureka" transcendent moment. After losing both of these people he wasn't able to just will himself out of the situation and feelings. He had to linger with his thoughts and how he was grieving. James would go through his father's writing and books he had in his home, and those writings would have a huge impact on James philosophy. Later in life while James was writing the principles of psychology he realized that the full description of the consciousness was unfathomable, and that there was something much more than just the simplethought of human experience. He would go against the idea of empirical psychologist of that time, since compared to them he doesn't solely look at the brain itself. He goes above and beyond and thinks about thehuman conscious which isn't something you just cut open to find the answer too. 

Coolin Mc Ginn wrote a paper after James research stating we cant really solve the mind body problem because the human conscious is very complex and something we might never be able to really understand and figure out. James arrived at the conclusion years earlier in the snares of psychology. He basically stated that the mind is objective and you cant really go into someone’s mind they have their own thoughts that you cant dissect out. He would come up with the stream of concussions which was people always have thoughts going on its one after another and they are unique to each and every person. These thoughts were very radical but it started a trend within psychology that the mind is more than just the brain itself and that peoples thoughts are always at their disposal's waiting for them to be used.

 One quote Kaags grandmother would recall, "You can't step in the same river twice." (From Heraclitus) Would tie in with the idea “no state once gone can recur and be identical with what was before.” Which bascialy means you can never live the same moment twice there is always something changing even if you might not notice, it's forever gone. 

Throughout his life while trying to find more about transcendent moments he would follow Benjamin Blood writings. Where he would inhale small amounts of nitrous gas to break out of normality. He would write a book called The anesthetic revelation and the gist of philosophy  after 14 years of testing and breaking the norm of human consciousness. While James went on many trips there were many times he had ingested nearly fatal amounts of nitrous gas. Which I think is so crazy, to be so dedicated (or addicted) to philosophy to put yourself in harms way for an answer. I appreciate the dedication but I feel like there might have been safer or humane ways to try and find conclusions similar to these. But James did experience many "Transcendent" moments but a major thought he concluded his trip was that you are in the moment. A moment you cant get back thats why you have to live in it that yes you can get away to somewhere else, but that place won't last forever (unless you inhale too much gas and die). 

Here is a video of Willams James conclusion and writings with Nitrous oxide gas its a fun listen: 

 Many might say that teaching the stream of consciousness is hard but Kaag states that he will struggle until he gets his point across because so many will not even attempt to. Which is much better then just giving up, going through tough times together makes people grow stronger together. 

Discussion Questions: 

Do you think large life moments can cloud someone’s views on life?
Has the loss of someone important made you change? 
Have you ever ingested some sort of drug to get to a Transcendence moment, and if so how did it change your out look on life.
Do you think some Transcendence moments can change your life for the worst?

Why Grow Up? Chapter 4

 Sidney Martin 

Section 11

Intro to Philosophy 

December 10th, 2023 

                                                                    Why Grow Up?

Chapter 4 of "Why Grow Up" is all about answering the overall question of why people should grow up. Neiman uses views from philosophers like Rousseau and Kant to demonstrate why people should be more inclined to grow up and to answer the question of why people in this time do not want to grow up in the first place. Neiman starts the chapter off with the answer to why people should grow up which is stated as, "...because it's harder than you think, so hard that it can amount to resistance." Neiman starting off with the answer to her own question shows that she already knows how to grow up and is experienced enough to be speaking about it, creating more trust in what she has to say throughout the chapter.

Neiman explains many reasons why people may not want to grow up now in days. One of the reasons that she lists is that there has always been a negative viewpoint around getting older which includes that life becomes worse after childhood, this alone can turn people away from growing up in the search for "freedom." This can add on to the fact of people are normally scared of adulthood because they do not know what will happen, Neiman compares growing up to plateaus, where you may think you are at the top, yet you end up at a halt and this could repeat many times. Neiman also uses the quote "...thinking for yourself is less comfortable than letting someone do it for you." from Kant. This quote proves that many people do not want to grow up simply because they are uncomfortable with thinking for themselves, and this can be seen as immature. These factors combined are Neiman's reasons as to why people are scared of growing up. Neiman also explains that people cannot be forced to grow up and that it must be a choice made by oneself. She says, "...nobody recommends it, for it's just as likely to produce people who are bitter and fearful as the self-determined courageous adults we need." This quote shows that even when people are forced to mature early and be "proper" adults they may not be who we want them to be because of how and why they had to grow up.

Although Neiman gives many reasons as to why people would not want to grow up, she uses philosophers views on growing up to show that it is not a bad thing after all. Neiman uses Plato to show that growing up is not about your life somehow being better or worse, it is about learning that no time is anyone's "best" and to always "savor" what every joy you can get. Neiman saying this encourages the readers to have a brighter look on growing up as a whole. Another way Neiman demonstrated that growing up was not a negative thing was at the end of chapter 4, or the end of the book. She stated that growing up is a "process of permanent revolution" and that people should want to be involved in this. The reason that people would want to partake in this revolution is because it makes people less immature, more courageous, and less distracted.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you feel like people should be forced to grow up?

2. Was the idea of growing up a negative or a positive in your head?

Sick Souls Healthy Minds Prologue

Josiah Anderson

Dr. Phil Oliver

PHIL-1030-10

10 December, 2023

Sick Souls, Healthy Minds Prologue, by John Kaag

 "I am a low-lived wretch. I've been prey to such disgust for life during the past three months as to make letter writing almost an impossibility." 

The Sick Souls Healthy Minds Prologue starts with this quote from William James back from his early life when he was traveling to Berlin to seek health and sanity. He was desperate for something to solve his condition, sick and on the brink of collapse.

William James earned a medical degree, but it didn't fill him with joy, because of his many skills. He said often that he felt pulled in too many directions, felt in pieces and had difficulty moving forward from his depressions. He was stuck on a philosophical idea, the possibility that humanity is predestined from the start and it will all end in meaninglessness and tragedy. So he began his philosophy toward saving his life-- not eternal life, but preserving his life before inevitable death takes its toll. In This link the beginning parts of the article it discusses how James came to a conclusion that he truly does have a free will and he does have some sort of purpose that he can chose to interact with. 

Healthy Mindedness. This is William James' philosophy that focused on being thoughtful and living vibrantly. He says, "be not afraid of life, believe that life is worth living, and your belief will create that fact." This philosophy is described as a "home remedy" for how to survive as a human and preserve and pass on what is most important about being a human before we pass away. This philosophy is said to not work for everyone and even sometimes does not work for the author of SSHM, but he mentions that having this as a goal to strive for is important and is a daily battle. 

Kaag then focuses on the idea that our souls are sick and need to be helped in some way and James can help us with that. This immediately made think that if our souls are sick then this raises many questions such as "what do you mean by soul?" and "If our souls are sick, then where does our idea of a healthy soul come from?" as well as many other possible questions. The one that stuck out to me the most however is:

Does it make sense to conclude our souls are sick?

As I thought about this question, I agreed that our souls are sick. I believe everyone has a sick soul in some fashion and some have been able to make their souls healthy, but if this is true then there must be a real solution to achieve a healthy soul. As I thought about these things I came across this video below that really explains evidence for a soul and how it relates to our own self. It was really insightful for me to discover more about the soul and what this means for us.

James also said that the task is not to follow our sick souls to death, but to find a reason to live thoughtfully. He says, "the task is to find a way to live, truly live, in the interim." It is easy to become caught into the patterns of our daily life and stop thinking about things that really matter. It is often until it is too late that we stop to do the things and see the people we care about. The death of someone close to us is a great example of what it takes to force us to slow down and think. It is sad that it comes to this but it is all the more important to think about the condition of our souls before it is too late and we have wasted our own lives. 

This thought process left me with a challenge for my self and to those reading this blog post:

How can you live in a more vibrant and thoughtful way, so as to give life meaning?

For me it is seeking truth, which in a way was also a drive for James. I am going to continue looking at evidence and seeking to keep my soul healthy and sharing it with others while I still have time to. 

If you're not yet an AUTHOR, didn't PRESENT, didn't post an early DRAFT, or want FEEDBACK...

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William James bird theory final post

    Arsal Siddiqui 

    Section 10 

    12-10-2023

 William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, introduced the concept of the bird theory in his work on psychology, particularly in his exploration of human consciousness and the nature of thought. According to James, understanding the mind requires an examination of its dynamic processes rather than focusing solely on static elements. In his analogy, he compared the mind to a bird that alternates between flights and perchings. This metaphor encapsulates the idea that the mind is not constantly engaged in a single mode of activity. Instead, it oscillates between periods of active exploration and moments of rest or contemplation. 

    The flights in James's bird theory represent the active and expansive phases of mental engagement, where the mind is involved in dynamic thought processes, problem-solving, and creative endeavors. During these flights, the mind explores new ideas, makes connections, and engages in complex cognitive activities. These periods of heightened mental activity are essential for learning, adaptation, and the generation of innovative thoughts. 

    On the other hand, the perchings symbolize the reflective and contemplative phases of mental life. These are the moments when the mind takes a break from active engagement and rests, allowing for the assimilation of experiences, the consolidation of knowledge, and the processing of information. The importance of perchings lies in their role in promoting mental balance and preventing cognitive exhaustion. James's bird theory highlights the dynamic nature of human consciousness, emphasizing the necessity of both active exploration and moments of reflection for a well-rounded and healthy mental life. 

Why Grow up? travel -Matthew Sprouse Section 10

In the book "Why Grow Up," Susan Neiman speaks about education and how it is one of if not the most important parts of life. Education comes in many forms, and people learn in a multitude of different ways. Whether it be by putting your nose down in a book or going outside and learning to build a birdhouse, everyone learns somehow. Susan Neiman wrote about how education does not just stop there but lies in traveling as well.

Augustine introduced a metaphor in the fourth century, "the world is a book, and those who do not travel know only one page." Susan mentions that Augustine was not a hypocrite to his word. She mentions that Augustine was a man born in Algeria who moved from Carthage to Rome, ending up in Milan before finally returning to his homeland. She talks about how even Kant himself said that travel was a suitable means of broadening one's knowledge.

Another great quote, this time from Rousseau is, "I hold it to be an incontestable maxim that whoever has seen only one people does not know men: he knows only the people with whom he has lived." This idea is still pertinent in a society where we can watch videos from all over the world. Seeing something on a screen rather than being in the moment experiencing the world around someone will never compare Susan brings up. I do not know about you, but in my experience, this sentiment holds up in almost every case.

It is easy to fall into the trap of assumption. Susan talks about the trap of education and the ignorance that can come along with it. She talks about how she has met and talked with educated people from all around the world, such as educated Germans who did not think Americans understood irony or Britons who thought Nazis were not also normal people. The truth of these assumptions is that they stem from a lack of travel while also being educated, which gives a feeling of knowing more than one actually does.

Susan makes her point that in order to get the most out of not only one's education but life as well, it is a requirement to be well-traveled. Traveling allows you to gather knowledge of the different peoples and inhabitants of the earth that we all share. To miss out on an entire world of possibilities would be a tragedy. I agree with Susan when she said that if someone is given the opportunity to travel, do not miss out on it. Traveling is one of the most amazing opportunities anyone can be given. It is a way of not only educating someone but also putting the world into perspective. A tip Susan gives about traveling is not just to tour but to live where you travel. As in staying for a little while, what would be best is to live amongst the people there as I am working a job for a few shifts. Good luck, and stay safe on your travels. The world is your lemon! 

A Little History of Philosophy - Chapter 5

 Nick Bagwell   

12/10/2023

Section 10

In chapter 5 of the text, A Little History of Philosophy, the author starts by presenting two different but similar questions. The first of the two asks if we as humans should be upset by things such as rain. Other than grabbing a raincoat and an umbrella, should we be upset about the rain? This question leads to the next "philosophical" question. Should we as humans be upset at certain things in our lives that we cannot change? The chapter of this text is all about the idea of not caring, and how to learn not to care with this certain mindset. When reading this chapter, one thing that I had asked myself is this. Is there a time in all of our lives in which we should learn to value this mindset? Should we stop caring about things that are not in our control? The chapter presents 3 different Stoics, Epictetus, Cicero, and Seneca. The reason why these 3 stoics are included in this chapter is because they all show examples of certain unchangeable things in their lives, that they have learned not to stress over. For Epictetus, he was presented with a harsh early life, a limp, and beatings, but still learned to see the good in his experiences. For Cicero and Seneca, the main focus was aging, and how they found to not get upset by its inevitability. Another question I would present comes from this part of the chapter. Why does everyone have a certain aspect of their life that they have to learn not to care about, and why is it important? To conclude my presentation, I wanted to include this video discussing the matter further.

Rough Advice for the "Real World"

Sick Souls Healthy Minds - Chapter 3

Hailey Patel
12/10/2023
Section 11

Chapter 3 of Sick Souls Healthy Minds discussed how William James wrote the Principles of Psychology to answer a question in Philosophy, "How does life give rise to human consciousness? Deeper into the chapter, James talks a lot about habits. There was a lot of emphasis on the many different habits we take on and/or create ourselves. It covers much of our lives even if we may not realize it ourselves. James refers to habit as an enormous flywheel of society since it keeps things the same for as long as possible. Referring to that as well, it is difficult to break one's habit since it may feel like a routine to us. James also said, "Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state." What I took from this is that since the young are still growing and learning they tend to learn from watching others, such as our parents, teachers, and those who surround us, and in doing so, can pick up someone else’s habit. It is during the “plastic” and “priming” stage which is the most important stages of habit since it is when young bodies are more flexible and are open to habit formation. With that, they become a walking bundle of habits whether they may be good or bad ones. In the early 1880s, James had begun to shift his analysis and he talked about how understanding is to be free. He talked about how the point in life is for us to recognize the power of habit and then overcome it. I agree with this analysis since there are bad habits in one's life that may take over their day-to-day routine and it is important that we try to get over it.

This YouTube video gives a more in-depth teaching on William James's habit formation:

James had studied physiology and learned about biofeedback. Biofeedback is the way our emotions are expressed and it’s subjective feeling. From this James concluded how certain actions and responses gave rise to “the courser emotions”. A phrase was given in the book, “We don’t laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh.” Laughing, the action itself, is “enough to bring a particular effective state.” This was all the core of the James Lang Theory of Emotion. His theory suggests that emotions are the result of physical changes in the body. Your emotional reaction depends on your interpretation of the physical response. Towards the end of the chapter, James thought that everybody should do at least two things that they hate to do just for practice. I personally think that this is important because this can help and be beneficial in breaking a habit.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have certain habits that may interfere with your day-to-day life?

2. Do you think there are scenarios where you may react differently compared to everyone else?

WGU -p.193-234 Blogpost (Final)

Ellison Salvig (Section 10)

Is Life Worth Living? William James

William James says that "life is what we make of it." 

Throughout the book, "Is Life Worth Living?," James says a lot of things about life and how to make it worth living, but I want to focus on this statement he made:

"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."

James goes back and forth throughout focusing on this idea, that your belief can create a life worth living. He begins with presenting Christianity's reason to live life. "Ordinary Christians," he says, "would say that God alone is master of life and death, and it is a blasphemous act to anticipate his absolving hand."

This can be a solid piece of hope for those who are struggling with the will to live or the meaning of life, but William James asks the question, "can we find nothing richer than this?" He says, "For the more scientific minded, the religious demand cannot be satisfied. There is a contradiction between the facts of nature and our desire to believe there is something good behind those facts. So then, those who land here can either accept only the bare facts or adopt new beliefs to fill this hole.” 

James claims that religious supernaturalism is the view that the natural order is part of a larger reality. This gives significance to our mundane existence and explains life’s riddles. 

So, considering this, he poses this idea again: your belief can create a life worth living. 

The benefits of believing in an unseen spiritual world are practical and give meaning to life. Science can only say what is, not what is not. However, he also says that “the certainty that you may now step out of life whenever you please and that it is not blasphemous is an immense relief.” 

So, let's ask the question: Is life is worth living?

Looking at humanity as a whole, most of us oscillate between joy and sadness, and therefore for most of us, the question will occasionally arise. Suicide is evidence that not all individuals believe the fact to be true, that life is worth living. 

But what if your current belief leads you to believe that life is not worth living?

What does it take to change what you believe? Does it take evidence? A standard of truth? Logic? Or does it simply take you deciding that you are going to live a different way?

William James would say that it depends solely on the one living, whether life is worth living or not, but I ask, is there an objective reason to believe that life is worth living...

...whether you believe it or not? 

Sick Souls Heathy Minds: Prologue

David Sheinfeld

Dr. Phil Oliver

PHIL-1030-13

December 10, 2023

    The prologue to SSHM serves as an introduction to the concepts and ideas covered later in the book. It introduces the many struggles both the author John Kaag and William James would have to overcome. It describes how both Kaag and James, who at one point in their lives struggled with mental health issues, would look to philosophy to overcome their depression.

    The book begins with the introduction of William James and his struggles with meaninglessness. As a young man, he was very discontent with his life. Although he was a skilled polymath, he struggled to find meaning in life. He felt he was being "Pulled in too many directions, like a man on the rack" and that he was made of many "desperate pieces.". Also, James felt philosophically stuck. He felt that humans had no free will and that they were just "cogs in an unfortunately constructed machine". Deep in his existential dread, he came close to ending his life. However, instead of succumbing to his depression, James would develop a philosophical remedy to his problem of a "Sick Soul".

                                             Sketch made by William James   

    William James describes someone who has a "Sick Soul" as a person whose existence is "little more than a series of zig-zags" and "Their spirit wars with their flesh". James's solution to the sickly soul is his philosophy of "Healthy-Mindedness". Although it's effective in warding off existential dread, it is not a cure. This philosophy of "Healthy Mindedness" is utilized by the author John Kaag to overcome his own depression.

    John Kaag describes his own encounter with existential dread and depression. He talked about how he had been through a divorce and lost his estranged father. At this point in his life, he had been writing a book on William James's Pragmatism. WJ's pragmatism holds that "Truth should be judged on its practical consequences, on the way that it impacts life". One issue with WJ's pragmatism was the view that life was meaningless. If one doesn't care about their life why should they care about truth. WJ sought to solve this issue with his philosophy of Healthy-Mindedness. Kaag stresses that WJ's philosophy saved his life and taught him how to enjoy it.

    In 2014, Kaag had gone for a bike ride around the campus of Harvard. While riding, Kaag had noticed that the front of William James Hall had been blocked off by police tape. A man had unfortunately taken his own life by jumping off of the roof of the 15-story building. A reason for why the man had taken his life is described by William James in 1895. He says, "Maybe life is worth living, it depends on the liver. Maybe certain lives are so impossible or unbearable that they are better off cut short.". James would also argue that perhaps there is always a time or opportunity to find meaning in life. To cut one's life short would deny oneself the potential for a long, happy life filled with purpose. The meaning of life isn't always rigid and can change and morph over time to something completely different. Life is ever-changing and rife with possibilities and ending it prematurely may take many good and bad possibilities away. People are only given one life, it must be cherished because it is finite, short, and unique.

                                                                                                    William James Hall

The James and Lange Theory of Emotion

Aiden Ward

Intro to Philosophy

12/10/23

Section 13

     The James and Lange Theory of emotion is one of the most controversial philosophical topics in the philosophy world. The Theory stems from the two Philosophers William James and Carl Lange and their beliefs combined into one. James's belief was that multiple somatic and visceral responses can prompt emotional experience while Lange believed that emotion was simply a cardiovascular event. 

    

    Although the two had this difference they both still agreed on how emotion did not start with a conscious experience of emotion but how a body would respond to the events around it. This theory, it also led James to believe that there was a universal set of emotions such as anger and sadness, and that each emotion is tied to its own respective physical state. This Theory was definitely more of a constructionist theory for James, which means that there was not really any spirit behind it. 

    Now to explain how the theory works it is pretty simple, for example if a bear or another large animal is running at you, your heart rate might spike and your body might begin to tremble and those bodily actions are tied to the emotion of fear which you would be feeling in that moment. James once said, "A science of the relations of mind and brain must show how the elementary ingredients of the former correspond to the elementary functions of the latter." Behind all the complex wording was how James explained why emotion came from the body and not your consciousness.

Here is a quick YouTube Link to explain how the theory works in a little more detail. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHiMZs2Oe2A

The creation of this theory was mainly thanks to philosophical Psychology which is the systematic study of the interplay between philosophical concerns in the study of cognition. Philosophical Psychologists saw emotion as primary and unanalyzable. So the final theory came out to be that emotion occurs as a result of physical responses to events.

The James and Lange Theory of emotion sparked a new wave of empirical emotional research. One of the theories made was the Cannon-Bard Theory which summarized is a change in emotional state and changes in the automatic nervous system occur simultaneously but independently. This was a long and still ongoing debate that influenced even more theories such as the facial feedback hypothesis which means that someone's facial expression is directly tied to their emotional state. This led to the discovery of a flaw in the James and Lange Theory because if someone started crying due to forcing themselves that does not mean they are experiencing the corresponding emotions. 

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think it is possible to fake emotion based off of this theory?

2. Do you believe emotion is a physical or conciseness thing? 

Friendship, The Cure for Loneliness

Life is Hard by Kieran Setiya

Chapter Two: Loneliness

Blog authored by Kelson Casteel, Section  #10

    Loneliness is likely something we have all experienced in our lifetimes as it comes in many forms. Some of you may even be experiencing it now. But good news! There is already a cure. And that cure is true friendship. But be careful. Many people picture loneliness as the act of being alone, but it is possible to be lonely even amongst those you may call friends. If the latter is that case, then it may be possible that you may not have what Kieran Setiya calls true friendship. But before we get there, let's dig a little deeper into loneliness itself and the dangers it brings. 

    Humans are social creatures by creation and although the levels of socialization may differ, it is a key pillar of our individual survival. It is very normal for both introverted and extroverted behaviors to be displayed on a spectrum. This is where the distinction between being alone and being lonely comes into play. Even if an individual finds themselves alone or without company does not necessarily mean they are lonely. It is very normal for an introvert to require less social contact than an extrovert. However, all people are susceptible to being lonely. Being lonely is to lack deep connections. You may have friends, but if the object of your relationship is the relationship itself and not the individual, Setiya argues that you may be missing the point. A lack of deep connections means we are, as human beings, missing a vital source of our lives, both emotional and physical.

Other symptoms of loneliness outlined by the CDC: Health Risks of Social Isolation and Loneliness

    To be blunt, you should love your friends. You do not have to love them as you would a spouse or family member, but love them nonetheless. Love shows differently but at its core, it is the same concept for any meaningful relationship. Love is what brings meaning to relationships. A good friendship is not just one where you are helped by others, but one in which you help them in return. Setiya argues that is is the true cure for loneliness. 

"The way out of loneliness runs, ironically, through the needs of other people. It's about tending to them, not how they relate to you: concern for a potential friend, not a potential friendship."

-Kieran Setiya

  

    The image above depicts friends being helped but also helping each other. By affirming that others matter, you will deepen your connection with them and in return, their connection with you. And the wonder of this concept is that you can then become friends with anyone. Although it may be difficult to speak with strangers, by simply starting a conversation you can form a basic connection. By then investing in that person and recognizing them, you can form a meaningful friendship. Even though it takes time, you have to start somewhere. Every person you pass on the street is a whole new world and vision that you share with them if you only take the time to talk with them.

 

    Homework: I want you to ask yourself this question: Do I love my friends? If you can't answer that question with a yes, then don't worry, there is always time. Personally, I have no problem telling my best friends that I love them to their face. What is there to be embarrassed about? This compassion is a basic human trait. Simply put, I want you to develop meaningful relationships. Even if you already have one or more, not everyone does. By affirming others, we not only enrich our own lives, but we may very well save a life. And if you need someone to talk to, I would love to listen to your story.

Here is a link to a MayoClinic article talking about why friendship is so important and how you can make friends if you feel you need it: MayoClinic

Bonus video: Marcus Aurelius' Advice if You’re Tired of Life

If you are feeling lonely or think you may be nearing your breaking point, watch this quick video found recently from Daily Stoic on YouTube. It may not be the ultimate answer, but the advice here from Marcus Aurelius is worth listening to.

For emergencies, call 988. The suicide and crisis lifeline.

Remember, never give up. Stick around and ask for help if you need it.

Sick Souls Healthy Minds- Chapter 5 Final Blogpost

 Chapter 5: Truth and consequences by John Kaag

By Nyagoa Tut

              The aim of the author (John Kaag) of the Sick Souls Healthy Minds is to answer the profound question that most of us have asked as we journey through life using William James pragmatic methods.  Is life worth living or is your life worth living for? Chapter 5 talks about finding or creating one's own truth that will be useful to he/she as they live life. I like how Kaag defined pragmatism when he said, "Pragmatism is not a means of escape. When I suggest that William James’s philosophy might save a life, I’m not suggesting that he will rescue you from it. In my experience, on good days, it can return one refreshed and undaunted. “Be not afraid of life,” James reminds us (Kaag 80)." Kang also said that William James sometimes called pragmatism a hallway that leads to a number of distinct doors: they are unlocked, but you get to pick which ones you wish to open. It is a method, not a destination—a way, not an end point (Kaag 80). I really like that definition because it gives us a glim of pragmatism method. 

SCHM stated that we can identify truth by the success of an idea. If an idea triumph through many tests, directed by many different people, over a long duration of time. Then the success of that idea is validated for the moment. James said in that regard, “We have to live today by the truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood.” Consistency is obvious in him through this text. So, James went on to say, “Truth happens to an idea. It becomes true, is made true by events. Its verity is in fact an event, a process: the process namely of its verifying itself, its verification. Its validity is the process of its validation. (Kaag 82, _OceanofPDF.com_Sick_Souls_Healthy_Minds_-_John_Kaag.pdf)” Basically, one has to verify an idea for it to be true. For instance, my friend Tame can't fall asleep unless he listens to an audiobook every night. This is an idea that he has verified countless time. Therefore, this idea is verified to be true for Tame, which is the point of pragmatism, what has worked for somebody may not work for the other.

A video from YouTube Titled "Pragmatist theory of Truth" explains the concept of an idea becoming true by verification as well. It says that James started to form the pragmatic theory of truth by giving out his definition of true ideas. He said, "True ideas are those that we can assimilate, validate, corroborate and verify. False ideas are those we cannot."   For example, if I believe that a certain bug is harmless but if it bites me and I become ill, then my belief isn't verified. It's rather falsified.  It also emphases that something/idea is not true before it's verified, rather it's verified first then it becomes true. This makes the pragmatic view of truth to be oppose by those that believe something is true before it's even verified and the fact that it can be verified only confirmed its truthfulness (https://youtu.be/JezRtDMg1sI?si=2zkd-izQm12MR1SA). Basically, whatever idea I hold down to in order to get me through life, I must test it to see its outcome and if it agrees with reality and is useful to me then it's true. 

Kaag also asserted that, "James was interested in “the truth” only to the extent that the modest certainties that we live by might lead to the improvement of our not-so-easy-to-endure condition (Kaag 88)." I like this text because it summarizes the pragmatic theory of truth when it says whatever works or useful. Another video title "Epistemology of Pragmatism: Truth is what Works; NO SPECTATOR! - Dewey and James (Part 1 of 2) says that we have to look to our experiences to determine which beliefs or ideas have helped us to endure through life (https://youtu.be/-9N6FPdlVQI?si=Z6LtQP2G1AQyHScu). I think this idea points back to the fact that William James was only interested in the truth that may aide us to get through hard times in life. so, I understood that once we have created some true ideas that might guide us through hard conditions then we should keep those ideas.

    Questions:  

would our ideas be always right because they're useful to us?

How could the pragmatic view of truth help us live?