Thoughts on Existentialism - Free will, history and human’s nature

Our life is a constant fight between Good and Evil. Inside every human being there is a never-ending battle for choices we make and consequences that they can lead to. If God exists it is clear that he gave us free will- one of the greatest gifts of all. He also thought us feeling of guilt, fear before the punishment, happiness as an award, pain and cruelty and also existence of evil. Having a free will puts human’s nature in between. Human’s nature, effectively, becomes neither, good or bad- and it depends fully from us which ever way we will turn to. And so it is not God that dictates our lives or we are not part of his “great plan” but it is our choice whether we follow good or bad desires in our lives. (Ref.1 Paulo Coelho)

If something unfortunate happens in our lives we tend to question the existence of God and his greatness… Why? That is wrong! It is not God’s fault, it is the man’s decision that has effected our life in a dramatic way. On the other hand, if something pleasant happens to us, we tend to believe that because God’s values stand for good- it must have been another gift from Him or an award for our good choice.
Good things happen thanks to the right sequence of events in which we made right decisions which effected in our happiness.

When ancient thinkers like Plato or Aristotle based their theories on God’s law they must had been fully aware of God’s gift of free will, in that respect God’s laws have been created for individuals with free will who will be making their decisions to the best interest of theirs and then perhaps follow the laws.
People are certainly driven by many different intentions and conscious as well as sub-conscious desires and this looks like a power of the human’s mind rather than “God’s Will”. One of the greatest philosophers once wrote that will is “free, both from law, and obligation (…)”, (Ref.3) and “all men are competitions in their efforts to achieve what they have willed”. (Hobbs, Ref.3)

In XVIII century, the point of history for one of the famous philosophers Hegel, was a restoration of the Kingdom of God on earth, for Marx, the end point of history was Communism (ref 2). Both, Hegel and Marx saw the progress of the world as the vehicle of historical change, and any change seems to prove that our free will or new desires push us in new directions.

Further on in XIX century, James Joyce, said that history is a “nightmare” from which he was trying to awake and God is only “a shout in the street”.

XXI century philosopher, David Icke, created one of the most shocking theories about Jewish Reptile Conspiracy in which he indirectly puts “children of Jerusalem” (where Jesus was born) on top of the world. He puts Jews in charge of politics, economy and media, manipulating peoples minds to rule the world incognito. We also could refer these thoughts as a parallel to theories of Freud and Bernays (XIX century) about manipulation of sub-conscious desires, in order to gain a fortune (just like he did himself through his controversial theories followed by media).
Could we then see our sub-conscious desires as our evil and dark parts of the nature which are controlled by our conscious thoughts – which we could refer to as our free will?
Or does our sub-consciousness equals free will, and consciousness dictates which desires to follow? But in this case, free will would stand for our dark parts of mind which our conscious thoughts would have to fight to lead them in direction of good? In this case also, free will is not a tool of good, it is rather a voice of our natural desires fulfilling basic, selfish and biological needs rather than gift from God…
Applying Freud’s discoveries about his studies on human’s mind, our free will can be equally, a tool of good or evil and not necessary coming out of God but being part of human's mind function.

Every century has its own philosophies, will God still exist in XXII century symbolising good or rather global tool of manipulation invented by a philosopher, Jesus Christ from Nazaret?

References:
1. Paulo Coelho, Demon and Miss Prym
2. Winchester University Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism Part III Lectures from weeks 1, 3 and 4
3. Plato to Nato, Studies in Political Thought, Bryan Redhead
3. Bible/internet: http://biblescripture.net/Commandments.html

Freud, Bernays and beauty of James Joyse’s Ulysses

Lecture 2, weeks 3 and 4- Ulysses, HCJ, III
Fascinating, astonishing and incredibly inspirational lecture on Modernism- in History and Context of Journalism module introducing a shocking and utterly revolutional novel by James Joyce.
It is not only the novel’s style and structure or rather lack of any type of plot, which perfectly reflects a new type of literature but it’s influences on a new and unique style in literature that summarises the whole XIX century philosophical movement- Modernism.

Chaotic, original, full of sexuality, the novel was even once accused of obscenity and banned from catholic countries till two years ago! The author was influenced by Nietzsche, and also it clearly shows Freud’s and Freud’s nephew’s Edward Bernays theories showed through literature (modernism, psychoanalysis and unreliable narrative). Joyce tries to picture how Bernayse’s and Freud’s theories about sexual repression and memories from childhood are hidden in the layers of our mind deeply in our sub-cautiousness and tries to imagine how would the literature look like if it was written without our conscious control over it, in total sexual liberation.



The existence of sub-conscious animals that are hidden in us and are controlled by our consciousness is proven by many of his psychoanalytical examinations (psychotherapies, studies of the public opinion and needs, studies of the soldiers who came back from WWI).
His experiments show that manipulation is needed in order to help economy of the country and help to promote free market, thanks to which, we could become consumers in a new democratic system(time of WWI after the economic crush in America).

Ullysis put in the historical, economical and political context perfectly reflects what was happening in America in the age of mass democracy when Freud’s theories proved to be effective in manipulation of masses through their sub-conscious desires. Thanks to Bernayse's psychotherapies and studies on human’s mind, he came up with very dangerous and powerful tool to manipulate people’s minds with help of media in order to sell products and improve economic climate in America in 1920s (Free Market, creating new desires and making them into needs- new necessities).

First tip to understand sense of Ullysis is to understand philosophies of Freud and Bernays and times they lived in. Having watched “Crowd Psychology & Manipulation series” Ulyssis becomes clear all of the sudden, its no structure doesn’t frighten anymore, it starts to have a lot more sense and the hidden plot behind characters’ thoughts of consciousness an sub-consciousness becomes understandable and even structured.

Winchester University Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism Part III
Youtube links: Crowd Psychology & Manipulation 24 parts of the documentary which starts with The Century of the Self (BBC Documentary) part 1.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrOz-inIG30)

Hegel, Marx… and finally, David Icke

Shocking ideologies of current philosopher, ex TV presenter David Icke, a philosopger of the XXI century- Jewish Reptile Conspiracy.
Is Icke a new revolutionalist, a philosopher who took his ideas one step tooo far or is he a mentally ill lunatic, who in fact, shouts for Psychiatric help?


Have a look on those YouTube Videos:



http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=David+Icke+%22The+Lizards+and+the+Jews%22+1+of+5&search_type=&aq=f

Winchester University Journalism Course History and Context of Journalism Part III

Germinal- sensationalistic piece of Art, Photojournalism expressed through the story.

While reading all the sensations awaken, you can virtually feel the pain of the boy with broken legs (Chicot), starvation and misery of the hewers, “(…) standing there sweating in the icy draughts and busy trying to swallow their sense of grievance.” Even sexual experiences of the teenagers, hiding from their parents, getting to know first physical pleasures (Chaval and Catherine), and unfulfilled desire (Entienne and catherine). Hypocrisy screens through the scene when the priest is compared to “some large and well nourished cat”, when Father Joire was “(…) passing by, holding up his cassock with the fastidiousness (…)”and did not wish to get himself wet. Ignorance and lack of help from the church’s side; missing ideology of God’s rules especially for priests that should be servants of God. Christianity was not in its right rules. Prostitution reached its picks. The punishment from God for exploitation of coalminers and sexual deviance expressed on the streets of France.

The violence, cruelty with their graphic descriptions provoke physical reaction on the reader. Contrast of lives of the classes through the descriptive visions of houses of the aristocracy, “The kitchen was huge, and judging by its extreme cleaningness and the great battery of dishes, saucepans and utensils with which it was filled, (…)”. George’s allowed themselves to spoil their only daughter Cecile who in the age of 18 still needn’t to work living of their parent’s inheritance, waiting to find the right, rich husband for her. On the other hand, Zola describes Maheu’s family house where everyone bathed in one room in front of the fire place to keep worm, where the whole family was used to each others nudity and had to bear in mind heavy burden of the circumstances.
Zola describes the state as a violent tool of oppression of working class, “Iron fist inside the velvet glove”. Implying Hegel’s philosophy, who sees beyond the material objects and looks out for inevitable change, workers uprising had to become an effect of cruel and violent nature of the state in XVIII century France.

Inspiration:
Winchester University Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism Part III Lecture 2
Germinal, Emile Zola

"The time has come! " Germinal- let the revolution begin

Emile Zola, Germinal (Part IV-VII)

Entiene spreads ideas of a strike believing to be treated unfair by working long hours and being unpaid and what was more, further reductions in pay to give more benefit for the bourgeoisie. The new and free minded idea is supported by fellow miners at first, however after being hit by a cold wave of harsh reality of starvation, workers start to loose their belief in succeeding.
They stop fighting for the right purpose, furthermore, things get out of control and strikers decide not to follow Entienne’s plans and decide to demolish the mine, machinery and attack aristocracy’s houses. As a result, the army is being sent against the strikers. They open the fire and Maheu, Moquette dye in the fight.

Tragic deaths stop workers and eventually, they decide to ask for their jobs back, having no other choice. The only person that sees that choice as an act of betrayal is Suwarin, who decides to sabotage and damages the entrance shaft of the mine. When the whole place gets trapped down the mine the whole place gets flooded and workers get trapped.Following another argument, Entiene kills Chaval, Catherine’s lover, with a brick of stone.
Finally, Catherine and Entienne uncover their feelings but the lovers don’t get to live in happiness for long as Catherine dies from starvation.
The rescue action effects in only one survival, Entienne, who eventually quits the job at mine and leaves with a new hope in his heart, despite the tragic past, he was waiting for another social revolution to come, that this time would begin a new revolutionary era for the lower classes and change the future.

Emile Zola, Germinal
Winchester University Journalism Course History and Context of Journalism Part III

Emile Zola 'Germinal' - story of the unavoidable events

Story of the unavoidable uprisings of coal hewers in Northern France in 1860s.

The fight for keeping hope for a better future that seeds amongst the miners and birth of idea of socialism under the rule of Emperor Napoleon III. It shows a struggle between capital and labour, resulting in the natural

Main character, Entiene arrives to Montsou and starts work at the coalmine in Le Voreux. After a range of unfortunate events and economic situation in the country, Entiene becomes interested in socialism. Other hewers working at the mine share his fate of misery and poverty. Mr and Mrs Maheu, their children, Levaque, Bonnemont (good death), Chaval and others begin to understand and approve of Entiene’s ideas of better, fairer future.

In Part I, not only the miserable and incredibly hard life, filled with starvation and poverty of the hewers is being described, but also sights of hope, pride, love and romance (Entiene and Catherine- Entiene doesn’t want to take food of Catherine, hunger wins over the man’s pride). The lower class entertainment was usually at the public house, where all the workers would meet up and drink beer and discuss their unfortunate fate.

On the other hand, Part II shows a contrasting image of wealthy lives of Mr and Mrs Gregoire, illustrates detailed descriptions of life of the aristocracy, and their fortunate inheritance that keeps them in a wealthy state of life, “ the owners of the mine.

The clash of the two classes is also showed in the types of worries that they had, workers dreaded of finding enough money for food, electric, clothes for themselves and their children.
Aristocracy was bothered by the fact of who should marry whom for better family business or how to make more money on poor mine workers or how to keep their shares.

One of the first visual clashes of the two classes, perfectly describing their relation to each other is showed when Mrs La Maheude brings her 2 children to Gregorie’s house, begging for warm clothes and money, trying to make them aware of the situation that their employees have to live in. Male part of Gregorie’s tried to blame it on drunkenness of the workers and wasting their money on pleasures, shading their feel of guilt away and focusing on their own good.
Eventually, “The point of equilibrium” is reached, it is the “empty stomach, life imprisonment in the house of hunger”. Main character starts his thoughts of standing against unfairness. And after the further reduction of the pay in Part III, workers begin to panic, the workers know that “The time has come! The time has come!”

Part 1-3, Germinal(tbc)
Winchester University Journalism Course History and Context of Journalism Part III

Invention of God ‘seekers of the truth’, Philosophies throughout history

Descartes, one of the first significant philosophers gives first thoughts of existentialism saying “I think and therefore I am” showing an idea of a need for having reasons to prove existence. Both, Plato as a poet type of guide for religious and political matters and Aristotle, a political scientist, see justice as a right order of relations. Plato thinks that right order is between men themselves. Augustine, another philosopher, sees justice as a right order between men and God. Further on, in the history of a theological process, Empiricism and Idealism intruded into the history of ideas being scrutinised by Kant and Hegel, philosophers of the XVII and XVIII centuries. Empiricists stood against of idealists and believed in ‘change’ as a tool for intellectual development.
Where does God ‘stand’ in all those theories?

If we take that the existence is the synthesis of two opposites the analysis of God’s existence could look like this:
Thesis – God does not exist
Antithesis – God exists (and man has been created on the image of God- Catholic’s view)
Synthesis – Existence/ birth of an idea of invention of God for survival reasons (‘change in thinking’) this could prove Hegel’s theory that ‘God is made in the image of man’

If the idea of “God being made in the image of man” (Feuerbach/ Hegel), in another words, God was invented by a man, this means that the Synthesis has already resulted after a clash of the thoughts about the God’s existence. Effectively it means that God as an Almighty and metaphysical spirit from Eden does not exist (Thesis). The whole process of “Alienation” in Hegel’s theory would no longer direct people to reach eternity and connect back with God as an award for following the God’s Ten Commandments during their lives.

One of the philosophers of the XIX century, Karl Marx wrote a criticism of Feuerbach’s book about Jesus Christ. Feuberback agreed with Hegel in this book, but also said that, God is the result of a dialectical change rather than causing it. (ref.3) Moreover, materialism bacame a new way of thinking, the way that people are, depends on how do they lead their lives and what do they show by their moral behaviour rather than whether they obey God’s law or not. In Thesis on Feurbach, a new category of philosophers, known as instrumentalists was also created, “knowing by doing” (ref.3)

References:
1. Plato to NATO, Studies in Political thought, Brian Redhead
2. Bible/internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments
3. Winchester University Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism Part III Lecture 1