send your final report blogpost directly to me, phil.oliver@mtsu.edu.
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jpo
In an age where reason often feels under siege, with misinformation and attacks on rights proliferating, the need for a grounded philosophy that addresses the deepest existential questions of human life is more pressing than ever. One such question remains at the heart of philosophical inquiry: Do we need God? This question is not only central to the philosophical tradition but also to the individual search for meaning, purpose, and morality. In Question Everything, a collection of essays compiled by Peter Catapano and Simon Critchley, the idea of God’s necessity, or lack thereof, is explored in various ways. The collection provides an intellectually rigorous engagement with the arguments for and against belief in God, reflecting on how this belief shapes our lives, decisions, and the way we understand morality.
In this blog post, we will delve into some of the central themes surrounding the existence of God and the necessity of belief. Drawing from key chapters in Question Everything, including “Do We Need God?”, we will explore the arguments surrounding Pascal’s Wager, the relationship between religion and science, and the role of mortality in freedom as proposed by Martin Hägglund. We will also examine how belief in God influences human meaning and morality, suggesting that whether we believe in God or not, it remains central to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Question Everything is a rich compilation of 133 essays from The Stone Reader, a column in The New York Times that has contributed to the public discourse on philosophy in a time when reason, faith, and morality seem increasingly threatened. The collection is divided into thirteen thematic sections, each addressing a central question, such as “What does it mean to be human?”, “What is the meaning of life?”, and “Are we approaching the end of the world?” The essays are written by philosophers, scholars, and creative thinkers who bring fresh perspectives on timeless questions.
One of the most compelling sections of the book is the exploration of whether belief in God is necessary for meaning, morality, and a purposeful life. The chapter "Do We Need God?" delves into the various philosophical arguments that have arisen over centuries regarding the role of a divine being in providing answers to life's deepest questions. Some argue that God is necessary for grounding morality and meaning; others suggest that human reason, experience, and relationships can provide sufficient answers to these existential dilemmas.
The tension between these perspectives, whether belief in God is necessary or whether meaning and morality can exist without a divine presence, forms the core of the philosophical debate on religion, faith, and human purpose.
Going into this assignment I did not know what to expect from my section on Question Everything. I read Section 14, Now What? These six chapters discuss climate change, the future use of AI, and the importance of isolation. It is good to have an open mind when reading philosophical books. They can really get you to think deeply and reconsider your current opinions or beliefs.
Climate Change
It begins talking about climate change and economic issues. Right-wing denialists say that climate change is not happening or that humans did not cause it. This chapter discusses nihilism, if all is already lost, nothing matters anyways. Essentially we are doomed but we should still try to change our ways to make the world better (How can we create a healthier planet?). We can still find meaning and purpose in the world even if it seems that it is doomed regardless. There is value in that, “as long as that life is woven into a bigger story that makes it meaningful”. We can focus on the present and engage in what we personally find meaningful, this amplifies the hope in the world.
(Examples of climate change: wildfires, floods, droughts, global warming, etc.)
On the other hand, moral ambiguity is also discussed. It is unclear if activities such as traveling, buying cheap clothing, or dining out are morally right and good for the Earth. This chapter tells a story about a buddhist who wants to alleviate world suffering. In order to do so, she travels to another country to learn the criteria to do so. Even though she has good intentions, there are some negative outcomes that result from her travel. Fossil fuels were burned, underpaid workers made the food she ate, and the clothes she made were made in factories that violate several labor laws (unfair wages, long hours, poor work conditions, etc.). Climate change is not reversible, but there are ways that we can slow it down. We should try implementing better practices and learn from the past, to make the present and future better. Small steps can still lead to goodness in this world. We are a part of nature. Once we realize that we are not separate from nature, we can save it, save ourselves, and everything around it.
(A sweatshop where clothes from Shein, Nike, H&M, Zara, Disney, and Victoria's Secret are made. There are more brands but these are some popular ones.)
Being Alone or in Isolation Can Be Beneficial
The next big topic discussed is the importance of isolation and being alone. Loneliness and isolation can be seen as negative, feared, or wrong. Embracing solitude and being comfortable by yourself is important too. Being alone allows you to self-reflect and grow. Focusing on yourself can help you regain your individuality and to create a stronger self-identity.
This can be hard to do when working, on social media, where you’re constantly having interactions with others. Living and interacting in a world like ours can be an overload on the senses and has a lot of pressure. It is okay to isolate yourself to recoup if you need some time to yourself (benefits of alone time and how to be alone). William James talks about how hard it is to be present in another person’s life, and how everyone has an inner life that they keep private. We only know so much about a person. Yes, they might share a large portion of their life with us, but I think we can all agree that we have an inner self that belongs to only us.
The Future of AI and Humanity
I think this last topic is the most controversial and it gets us to truly think about the future. The chapters talk about the possibility of advanced technology controlling humans in the near future. The chapter is titled, “Are We the Cows of the Future”. The title is a metaphor for humans. Cows are domesticated animals that are raised for profit and have little freedom and control. This chapter questions humans' future role in society since we have more advanced technology, surveillance, corporate control, and ecological degradation. It is saying that we may become more controlled because we are more technology driven. This was a good conversation that we had in class. We discussed how AI has been shown as destructive and troubling to human society. In movies like I, Robot, the robots are highly intelligent and one of them may be involved in a murder of a scientist. Advanced AI is also represented in Marvel Movies with J.A.R.V.I.S and Ultron. These two are examples of how AI can turn out to be helpful or damaging to society (Benefits of AI and How AI is will affect humanity). Some of us think that AI will start to take over our jobs and our lives, others said that AI can be used as assistance in the medical field and school. Recently, I found that there is a hospital ran by AI in China. There are 18 doctors and nurses total. This contradicts what we discussed in class, but it is an interesting read. Would you let an AI be your doctor or nurse? AI is simply a chatbot that does not have human qualities so it can not take over completely. AI does not have morals and ethics like humans do in order to make careful decisions. AI is mainly used for advice or information on a subject. This TedTalk talks about the future of AI and how it affects our lives and jobs.
(Ways we are using AI in our everyday lives)
Conclusion
Now I am more informed on climate change and I agree with the author’s thoughts on isolation. Reading this section changed my point of view on AI. Before I started this, I did not think that AI will have a big impact on our futures. Mainly because I think of AI as an accessory. I use it for clarifications. Post research, it is advancing more and faster every day due to our coding and time put into making AI better. I hope you learned something new after reading this as well.
Discussion Questions:
Do you think in the near future we will be more controlled by technology?
Do you have trouble with being alone in a world that encourages social interaction?
Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls, Healthy Minds" by John Kaag
What does it mean to have a healthy mind? In a world where mental health challenges are on the rise, and our sense of purpose is constantly being tested, this question has become more relevant than ever. In Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls, Healthy Minds", John Kaag examines how William James, the pioneering American philosopher and psychologist, wrestled with this very issue. Kaag presents James not only as a thinker but as someone deeply invested in the art of living, especially in the face of despair, uncertainty, and existential dread.
James was not a stranger to psychological suffering. His personal battles
with depression and suicidal thoughts shaped much of his philosophical and
psychological work. Rather than turning away from this suffering, he faced it
head-on. Chapter 3 of Kaag’s book focuses on how James used psychology as a
tool — not to avoid life’s hardships, but to understand and navigate them.
Kaag introduces us to James’ division of people into “healthy-minded” and “sick souls". The “healthy-minded” tend to look on the bright side of life, often maintaining an optimistic attitude. In contrast, “sick souls” are more acutely aware of life’s suffering, injustice, and meaninglessness. James saw value in both temperaments, but he himself leaned toward the “sick soul” camp. He understood that to truly create a healthy mind, we have to take suffering seriously.
In this chapter, Kaag explains how James approached psychology not as an abstract science, but as a practical method for healing and self-understanding. He was one of the first thinkers to see psychology as a means of confronting life’s big questions: Why are we here? How should we live?
James believed that cultivating a healthy mind wasn't about avoiding
difficulty, it was about learning to live with it, and even through it. Mental
health, in his view, meant having the capacity to respond to life’s
uncertainties with flexibility, purpose, and resilience. His pragmatic approach
to philosophy, the idea that beliefs should be judged by the difference they
make in our lives, is deeply rooted in this psychological realism.
Kaag shows how James’ early psychological writings emphasized habit, will, and attention as key tools for mental well-being. He believed that our minds can be trained, much like muscles, and that small, deliberate actions could gradually shape a more stable, purposeful self. His famous phrase, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind,” is more than inspirational as it’s a call to action.
A major theme in Chapter 3 is James’ emphasis on the will. For
someone like James, who had struggled with feelings of futility and despair,
the concept of will became a lifeline. He argued that even when life seems
meaningless, and when we feel powerless, we still have one freedom: the ability
to choose how we respond. This choice may not always be easy, but it is real.
Kaag writes about how James urged readers to act as if their choices
matter, even when they doubt that they do. This idea later influenced
existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre, but James arrived at it through
his own inner battles. He once wrote, “My first act of free will shall be to
believe in free will.” In other words, belief itself could be a decision, a leap of faith that becomes a turning point.
Psychologically, this concept is empowering. It suggests that we don't have to wait for our emotions to align or for certainty to appear. Instead, we can begin with small acts of will, forming a habit, sticking to a routine, showing up for others and through those actions, we can forge meaning.
James also believed that attention and habit play critical
roles in mental health. He argued that what we attend to determines the quality
of our experience. If we continually focus on negativity, we reinforce a
pessimistic worldview. But if we can train ourselves to notice beauty,
goodness, or even just the possibility of change, we begin to shift our
internal landscape.
Habits, James claimed, are the "flywheel of society" which are the
stabilizers of personality and culture. For those struggling with mental
health, building positive habits can provide structure and momentum, even when
motivation is low. Kaag emphasizes that James wasn’t naïve. He didn’t believe
that habits alone could cure depression or anxiety, but he saw them as
essential tools in the larger project of cultivating a healthy mind.
This chapter makes clear that James’ psychology was deeply humanistic. He didn’t reduce people to their symptoms or see mental illness as a failure of character. Instead, he understood that everyone suffers, and that part of being mentally healthy is learning how to suffer well with dignity, perspective, and even hope.
What makes Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls, Healthy Minds" so powerful is
how directly it speaks to our modern moment. In a culture that often glorifies
constant happiness and success, James offers a radically honest alternative:
it’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to struggle. In fact, those struggles might
be the very things that open us to deeper truths.
Kaag uses James’ life and writings to remind us that the search for meaning is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. And that psychology, when practiced with compassion and curiosity, can help us navigate that search. In the end, mental health isn't about being happy all the time. It’s about building the inner resources to face life’s complexity and still find reasons to carry on.
William James was not just a thinker. He was a fellow traveler through
the rough terrain of the human condition. In Chapter 3 of "Sick Souls,
Healthy Minds", John Kaag brings to life James’ profound insights into
psychology and the healthy mind. For anyone grappling with anxiety, depression,
or simply the weight of existence, James offers not a cure, but a companion. Someone who understands that life is hard, but that it is still worth living.
Through attention, habit, will, and honest reflection, we can begin to
shape minds that are not perfect, but resilient. And in doing so, we honor
James’ most radical idea: that philosophy should help us live, not in spite of
suffering, but through it.
In what ways do you think our habits, focus, and choices
shape our mental well-being?
- By Larry Lehmann III
“To live is to be exposed to suffering.” – Kieran Setiya
In Life is Hard, philosopher Kieran Setiya offers a bold, compassionate idea: that life’s challenges aren’t detours — they’re the path. Instead of chasing a perfect life without pain, Setiya invites us to reflect on what suffering can teach us about being human.
This post explores the Introduction and Chapter 1, “Infirmity,” focusing on how Setiya reframes hardship — not as something to avoid, but something to understand and grow from.
But what happens when things go wrong? When we get sick, lose someone, or face mental health struggles, we often feel like we’ve failed — like we’ve fallen off the path.
Setiya challenges that idea:
What if suffering isn’t a failure, but a feature of the human experience?
What if the “good life” doesn’t mean avoiding pain, but learning how to live with it?
He proposes a “philosophy of difficulty” — a way of thinking that makes room for disappointment, imperfection, and grief. Rather than looking for a fix or escape, Setiya asks us to engage with suffering directly — not to glamorize it, but to take it seriously as part of life.
In Chapter 1, Setiya turns to a specific form of suffering: physical illness.
Drawing on his own experience with chronic pelvic pain, he explores what it means to live in a body that doesn’t function the way it used to. Pain, he says, doesn’t just hurt — it changes your experience of time, disrupts your daily life, and isolates you from others.
More importantly, it challenges a long-standing assumption in Western philosophy:
that the mind is who we really are, and the body is just a container.
Setiya argues:
We are our bodies — not just minds floating around in shells.
Illness makes us confront that reality, sometimes painfully.
When our bodies change or break down, our sense of self is shaken.
He also draws from disability studies and activist voices, showing that the problem isn’t just physical suffering — it’s also how society treats people with illness or disability. Often, they’re ignored, isolated, or viewed as “less than” — not because of their condition, but because of cultural stigma.
Setiya reminds us that struggle is not a sign of failure. It’s a natural part of life, and sometimes, it’s the part that teaches us the most.
We don’t need to romanticize pain. But we also shouldn’t ignore or deny it.
To live well, we have to live honestly — including the hard parts.
Illness reveals how deeply connected we are to our physical selves. Setiya’s pain isn’t just an obstacle — it’s part of his identity now. This leads to big questions:
Are we still “ourselves” when our bodies change?
How do we hold on to identity when our lives look and feel different than before?
Setiya draws on Simone Weil, who saw suffering as a path to truth. When we suffer, we’re forced to confront the reality of human limitation — in ourselves and others. This can lead to something powerful: compassion.
Not pity, but a deep recognition of another person’s pain — and the choice to be present with them in it.
Life is Hard isn’t a book about fixing suffering — it’s about living through it with thoughtfulness, courage, and care.
Setiya doesn’t pretend pain is noble or beautiful. But he also refuses to treat it like an error or a curse. Pain is real. Pain is human. And if we want a philosophy that’s worthy of life as it’s actually lived — not just as we wish it were — then we have to start with that truth.
“The task is not to eliminate suffering, but to understand what it asks of us.”
– Kieran Setiya
By bringing the body back into philosophy, and putting compassion at its center, Setiya gives us a way to think — and live — that’s more honest, more inclusive, and maybe even more hopeful.
Can a life without hardship still be fulfilling? Or is pain — as difficult as it is — part of what makes love, resilience, and joy matter?
If our bodies shape our identity, what happens when they change? Are we still the same “self” through sickness, disability, or aging?
Last call for presentations, today and Thursday. Exam 2: Apr 29, a week from today. Audio review: Part 2... Part 1 (recorded in November: don't be confused)... Part 3
22
- SSHM ch6 Wonder and Hope #5 Grace A. #6 Samantha J. #7John D
- Setiya 6-7 Absurdity, Hope #5 Nadia Jones #6 Patrick S #7 Koathar
- QE XIII Now what? #5 Valencia B. #6 Kal Ingram. #7 Caitlyn W.; Zach S. (or *below)
- WJ, What Pragmatism Means (1903) #5 Bailey H. #6 Benji W. #7 Isaiah B
24 Final report presentations conclude
- Your choice of essays not previously discussed in Be Not Afraid: in the Words of William James (BNA, on reserve) - *Zach S
- Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of Their Lives by Robert Richardson (TRB-on reserve) chapter on Emerson - #6 Derieno S
- TRB (on reserve) chapter on Thoreau
- TRB (on reserve) chapter on James
Setiya, L is H
