How Should We Then Live | Season 1 | Episode 7 | The Age of Non-Reason

Summary

This video script explores the philosophical evolution of humanism and existentialism, tracing the shift from optimistic humanistic ideals to the pessimistic conclusions of modern thinkers. It critiques the notion of total freedom, as proposed by Rousseau and later philosophers like Sartre and Heidegger, revealing how such ideas led to a collapse of meaning and reason. The script also addresses the rise of alternative belief systems, such as Eastern religions and the occult, in response to the perceived failure of humanist philosophy. Ultimately, it calls for a return to a personal, rational understanding of truth through the teachings of Christ.

Takeaways

• 😀 Humanistic philosophy evolved through history with various thinkers proposing different concepts of truth, but none succeeded in finding a unified answer to the universe's nature.
• 😀 Rousseau's idea of total individual freedom led to the notion of 'freedom from any kind of restraint,' which contributed to the bohemian ideal of rejecting societal values.
• 😀 Rousseau's philosophy, when applied to society, resulted in a contradiction, as his theory of freedom led to tyranny, as seen in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
• 😀 Paul Gauguin's search for freedom in Tahiti, inspired by Rousseau’s concept of the noble savage, led to disappointment as he encountered death and cruelty rather than the ideal he sought.
• 😀 The idea that 'man is good by nature,' as proposed by Rousseau, was critiqued, as reality proved that both primitive and civilized men were equally flawed.
• 😀 The Dutch Reformation painters understood that nature, while created by a good God, had been corrupted due to man's rebellion, marking a difference from the belief that nature itself is inherently good.
• 😀 German philosophers like Kant, Hegel, and Kierkegaard struggled to reconcile reason and meaning, with humanism failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for man's significance or freedom.
• 😀 Modern existentialism, epitomized by figures like Sartre, embraced non-reason to justify individual meaning, despite the logical contradictions inherent in their philosophy.
• 😀 Philosophers like Heidegger argued that anxiety and a sense of existence could provide meaning to life, despite rejecting reason, leading to a vague, non-rational basis for decision-making.
• 😀 Aldous Huxley and the drug culture represented an attempt to find meaning through altered states of consciousness, reflecting a broader rejection of rationality and search for inner truth.
• 😀 Eastern religions and occult practices became popular in the West as people sought meaning beyond reason, aligning with the existential methodology of rejecting rational answers to life’s questions.

Q & A

What is the main historical progression of philosophical thought discussed in the transcript?

The transcript describes a progression of philosophical thought where philosophers initially sought a unified knowledge of the universe, symbolized by a circle, but each philosopher rejected the previous one’s circle. Over time, the search for a unified answer shifted towards individual freedom and autonomy, culminating in the existentialism and pessimism of later thinkers.

What did Rousseau's concept of freedom lead to in societal terms?

Rousseau's concept of absolute freedom for the individual led to the idea of the 'general will' in society. This led to a paradox where individuals who refused to follow the general will would be 'forced to be free,' which manifested in the authoritarian aspects of the French Revolution, particularly during the Reign of Terror.

How did Paul Gauguin’s experience in Tahiti relate to Rousseau’s ideas?

Paul Gauguin, inspired by Rousseau's ideal of the 'noble savage,' went to Tahiti hoping to find a pure, untainted form of humanity. However, he found that the reality of life in Tahiti was marked by death and cruelty, challenging the romanticized view Rousseau had of primitive man as being inherently good.

What philosophical position did the Marquis de Sade adopt and what was its impact?

The Marquis de Sade took Rousseau’s ideal of nature as the ultimate moral authority to its extreme, concluding that cruelty was justified as a part of nature. This led to his infamous cruelty towards women and a rejection of both moral and legal constraints.

What is the difference between the Dutch Reformation painters' view of nature and Rousseau's view?

Dutch Reformation painters saw nature as the creation of a personal and good God, but also acknowledged that nature, as it exists now, is abnormal due to man's fall from grace. This view contrasts with Rousseau’s idea of nature being inherently good and pure, untainted by society or culture.

What conflict arises between Rousseau’s concept of freedom and the idea of humans as part of a machine?

Rousseau’s belief in total individual freedom conflicts with the mechanistic view of humans as part of a grand machine, as this view negates free will and individual agency. The two ideas could not be reconciled, leading to tension in philosophical thought during the 18th and 19th centuries.

How did existential philosophers like Sartre and Heidegger address the tension between reason and meaning?

Existential philosophers like Sartre and Heidegger addressed the tension by rejecting reason as the sole means to find meaning. Sartre suggested that meaning could be authenticated by an act of the will, independent of reason, while Heidegger emphasized the mood of 'angst' or anxiety as a source of meaning, which was divorced from rationality.

What role did drugs and Eastern religions play in the modern search for meaning?

Drugs and Eastern religions became popular in the modern search for meaning because they offered a way to transcend reason. Both provided non-rational experiences where individuals could find meaning, reflecting the existential crisis of modern man who had abandoned the belief in objective, rational truth.

What is the connection between the occult and the modern existential search for meaning?

The occult is linked to the modern existential search for meaning because it offers a non-rational way of understanding the universe. Just as existential thinkers moved beyond reason, many individuals turned to occult practices in search of meaning, even if it involved embracing a dark or destructive form of meaning.

How does the transcript critique modern liberal theology and its impact on the search for truth?

The transcript critiques modern liberal theology, particularly the liberal theology of the Renaissance and the 19th century, for attempting to reconcile Christianity with Enlightenment rationalism. This approach led to a rejection of the supernatural and a weakening of the Bible’s authority, leaving a vacuum that ultimately contributed to the rise of existentialism and a loss of certainty about moral and spiritual truths.