Essay Question 1: Existentialism in No Exit In Jean-Paul Sartre’s play No Exit, Sartre masterfully combines an underlying theme of existentialist philosophy ironically in a scene portraying Hell. No Exit communicates existential philosophy by expressing that requiring outside approval is a failing in human nature, that one must take absolute responsibility for one’s actions, and that God does not exist. Existentialism states that humans have the ability to choose and define their own individualities or characteristics, also known as one’s essence. However, this freedom brings with it the absolute responsibility for one's actions. The overwhelming significance of this complete responsibility causes fear and anxiety in many people.
Many people today, make careless decisions based on their impulsive and rash emotions which usually leads to disaster. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo Montague was a great example of this. His rash emotions and decisions caused him suffering and ultimately his own destruction. The fact that Romeo is overly dramatic, impulsive, and stubborn proves that he is nowhere near being admirable nor is he heroic. Throughout the play, Romeo exemplifies many instances of where his emotions take over.
In the quote below Rand explains why she rejects religion outright, and she believes man himself deserves the attention: Just as religion has preempted the field of ethics, turning morality against man, so it has usurped the highest moral concepts of our language, placing them outside this earth and beyond man’s reach. “Exaltation” is usually taken to mean an emotional state evoked by contemplating the supernatural. “Worship” means the emotional experience of loyalty and dedication to something higher than man… But such concepts do name actual emotions, even though no supernatural dimension exists; and these emotions are experienced as uplifting or ennobling, without the self-abasement required by religious definitions.
Hard determinism is the theory that human behaviour and actions are wholly determined by external factors, and therefore humans do not have genuine free will or ethical accountability. There are several different supporting views for this belief. Hard determinism is underpinned by the work of Isaac Newton’s theory of scientific laws which is that we are completely governed by these laws. According to these laws one does not have moral responsibility for their actions as they were predetermined by a ‘higher power’. Hence why, natural laws such as gravity and motion assist in forming the basis for the cause and effect that fills the discussion of hard determinism.
To what extent is conservatism the ideology of Human Imperfection? (45 marks) Human imperfections is a core belief of conservatism. Conservatives belief we are imperfect on three levels. One we are morally imperfect they believe that immoral and criminal behaviour can be traced back to the innately selfish and greedy individual rather than to problems within society as socialists or modern liberals would point too as the root cause. Conservatives have a pessimistic view of human nature, some would even agree with Hobbes view that the desire for “power after power” is the primary human urge.
However, ‘Brave New World’ differs to ‘Blade Runner’ as Huxley’s world is not as concerned with the destruction, but rather humanity becoming vastly separated form nature due to everything being controlled. Huxley’s context also played a significant role in the definition of the future. During the early decades of the 20th Century, the desire for stability saw the development of a number of fascist and totalitarian states throughout Europe. These states sought to obtain the people and their minds. In Huxley’s world of the World State, humanity is conditioned to reject the nature as the natural rhythms of birth and ageing as well as emotions that are evolved when in contact with nature are considered to threaten the stability of civilization.
McCarthyism in the 1950’s was the practice of broadcasting allegations of political treachery or rebellion with inadequate regard to evidence. The events that took place in the 1950’s concerning McCarthyism are what inspired Miller to write his play on the Salem witch trials of 1692. The fear of repeating the horrors of the past pushed him to try and open the eyes of those who seemed to be following a dangerous path. The Crucible and McCarthyism both contain instances of false accusation, wrongly gained power, and mass hysteria. Similarly to the Salem witch trials, McCarthyism started in a time of great fear, but instead of fearing witches that made pacts with the Devil, the people of the 1950’s feared communism.
Throughout the story, we never really get a grasp of any sort of happiness in these people’s lives, so for these bleak men and women, an equally bleak ending seems almost unavoidable, if not expected. I agree with this statement in that just about every character that Steinbeck creates is in some way damaged. There are the obvious characters, such as Lennie and
The Flaw of Cowardice Mai Tran Mr. Cassidy ENG3U-05 June 13, 2012 No matter how decisive or strong-willed one can be, there will always be a voice within that questions any action taken, and bring a sense of insecurity. Although the characters of William Shakespeare's Macbeth are all different and driven by their own motives, their biggest downfall is their cowardice. The subject of cowardice pervades Macbeth's decision making and acts of murder, as well as Lady Macbeth's greedy actions throughout the play. Fear, confusion and notable cowardice impel Macbeth's decisions, rather than "vaulting ambition" (1.7.27). His "dearest partner in greatness" (1.5.10), Lady Macbeth, arranges Duncan's assassination for their rise to sovereignty.
Believing that the constitution is evil, to say the least, Thoreau states that the only way to win as a whole is to take action accepting all consequences thrown their way. “For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once done well is done forever” (Thoreau 2.8). Bringing up the wealthy in his essay Thoreau feels that with more money comes a loss of virtue. No longer focusing on self-moral’s but more focused on what to spend their wealth on. As a part of his plan to go against the rules set by the government Thoreau refuses to pay a poll-tax given to him by a preacher as a way to show reader’s that it is not the government who protects one’s property it is man himself who protects his own belongings.