German Monks
What motivated Luther to become a monk and study theology (instead of continue his career as a lawyer)?
A storm he was caught in where he promised God he would become a monk if God spared his life.
Impossible to doubt.
How did Locke influence the Contribute of the United States? What main idea did he contribute?
The Separation of Church and State.
What do Nietzsche and Pascal have in common against Descartes?
That we should not strive for clarity or certainty, that being human is about being uncertain and unclear about things.
What event in history motivated the Enlightenment?
What event did the Enlightenment (especially John Locke) respond to?
The 30 Years War (1618-1648).
What technological development allowed Luther to have such widespread influence with his ideas in Europe?
The invention of the Guttenberg Printing Press in 1440.
What did Kant mean by the "Guardians"?
Anyone or anything (institution) that tries to do your thinking for you, and promises to keep you safe in the process.
How does Locke define a church?
A voluntary society (can't be born or forced into a specific faith).
What is the Parable of the Madman for Nietzsche? What is the main point of it?
The madman runs into a marketplace, looking for God, crowd laughs because they don't take God seriously. Madman rebukes them and shows that without God, everything falls apart. There is no frame to existence or meaning any more.
What is the one thing (ingredient) Kant says we need for Enlightenment?
Freedom
Free use of our public reason.
What was the whole point of the 95 Theses?
To open a discussion (with everyone, not just elites) about the practices and potential abuses of the Catholic Church (especially Indulgences).
What does "Cogito Ergo Sum" mean?
Why did it matter for Descartes?
"I think, therefore, I am."
My existence as a thinking thing is the first (and only) thing I can be 100% certain about.
What is the one kind of individual Locke would not tolerate in a society? Why?
Atheists. Because they do not believe in God, who guarantees our social contracts and holds society together.
What question do the Eternal Recurrence Idea and Zarathustra both answer, for Nietzsche?
How to live life after the death of God.
What are the two main obstacles to Enlightenment that Kant sees for every individual? What stops them from seeking Enlightenment?
Fear & Laziness
What did Luther argue was a higher authority than the Catholic Church (Tradition)? What should we shape our believes and lives by?
Own Reason and conscience (and view of Scripture).
How does Kant define Enlightenment:
The process of Emerging from our self-imposed immaturity.
Why can't I trust other with the care of my soul, for Locke?
Because the consequences are only for me, not for them. If they get it wrong, I still suffer the consequences, not them.
What is Pascal's Wager? What does it show?
To believe in God is the best bet, even if there is much uncertainty about God's existence, because they payoffs are greater than the alternative.
What's the difference between Nietzsche's Eternal Recurrence idea and Pascal's 8-hour rule?
Eternal Recurrence is this-worldly, no God involved, or ultimate accountability.
8-Hour then time to face God, ultimate accountability.
What was the debate between Luther and Erasmus? Describe one argument from each side.
Erasmus: We should not publish all truths. Some sicknesses are better to bear than the cure. (Let's avoid chaos and war).
Luther: We should publish all truths. The cure (chaos and war) is better than the sickness (corruption and lies).
Noble Lie vs. Horrible Truth
What is the difference between
Private Reason
Public Reason
for Kant?
Private reason: restricted to a role you perform in society. (obedience)
Public reason: unrestricted by what/who you are (human being) (argue).
Why is forcing people to come to church useless for Locke?
Because if they do not believe sincerely, coming to church will not benefit them at all.
God cares mostly about our sincerity.
What 3 transformations does Zarathustra talk about in his first speech? What does it mean?
Camel: Beast of burden (accepting obligations)
Lion: Creates freedom, slays Dragon of "thou shalt"
Child: Affirms (non-moral) life in its playful innocence.
What does "Tabula Rasa" mean for Locke?
Blank slate: That we are not born with innate (religious) ideas already programmed into our brains. That we all start from 0. (Why education is so important).