Søren Kierkegaard - Dreyfus and the 3 Stages of Existence Flashcards
(34 cards)
Hubert Dreyfus (1929-2017) is most famous for criticising what?
The human tendency to ‘idolise’ computing technologies
Dreyfus was strongly influenced by which branch of philosophy, and which three respective philosophers?
Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty
Which three key values did he defend?
Selfhood, embodiment, and commitment
What was the aim of his book ‘Anonymity versus commitment’, in short?
To translate Kierkegaard’s account of ‘The Press’ into a ‘critique of the internet’. In particular, how the internet has changed the way educators teach.
Dreyfus argues the “internet is too” … “for us to think of it as a device for satisfying any specific need…”.
Gigantic
Which short story by Jean Louis Borges encapsulates Dreyfus’ concept of a ‘global network that links all minds and all knowledge’?
The Library of Babel
Referencing Kierkegaard, Dreyfus argued that qualitative distinctions on the web have what?
Levelled
Which two components of quality have disappeared online according to Dreyfus?
Relevance and significance
Which two sentence quote encapsulates Dreyfus argument regarding the lack of distinct quality on the internet?
“Nothing is too trivial trivial to be included. Nothing is so important that it demands a special place.” - Anonymity (p 642)
What are Kierkegaard’s ‘Three Stages of Existence’?
The ‘Aesthetic’ Stage’, The ‘Ethical Stage’, and The ‘Religious Stage’
For Kierkegaard, what term describes the method of escaping ‘levelling’?
Leap to faith
In short, what is the ‘leap to faith’?
Making an unconditional commitment
What stage(s) of Kierkegaard’s ‘Three Stages of Existence’ does Dreyfus suggest the tendencies of the net allow for?
The ‘Aesthetic Stage’ and the ‘Ethical Stage’
Dreyfus argues the Religious Stage is… by the internet?
Undermined
The individual in the ‘Aesthetic Stage’ is known as what?
An anonymous spectator
During the ‘Aesthetic Stage’ which two driving forces are the reason for selecting information?
Enjoyment and boredom
During the ‘Aesthetic Stage’ curiosity is apparent, but there is a lack of … and …
Commitment and risk
The ‘lack of commitment and risk’ in the ‘Aesthetic Stage’ leads to no … or …
Competence or mastery
Aesthetic life eventually makes “…everything equally […] and equally […]” - Anonymity (p 643)
Interesting, boring
In Kierkegaard’s book ‘Either/or’ (p 391), he argues that people who view life Aesthetically experience what?
Despair
What did Kierkegaard say was an ‘imperative requirement’ for those living Aesthetically?
a higher form of existence
In the ‘Ethical Stage’ of existence the individual is defined by…
Conditional social roles
How do we select information in the ‘Ethical Stage’?
According to ‘what is relevant to our role’
Commitments and risks are unconditional in the ‘Ethical Stage’. - True or False
False - they are conditional
