transformation of thought1
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The Transformation of Thought
Darwin, Freud, Nietzsche,
Einstein, and Marx
Introduction
The 19th Century continued the search for truth and enlightenment
General idea that progress would continue through science
People also began to care for others’ welfare through charitable organizations
From 1850 - 1900s, there was a large amount of optimism
Charles Robert Darwin
12 Feb 1809 - 19 April 1882
English NaturalistOrigins of SpeciesThe Voyage of the Beagle
Natural Selection
Influences on Darwin
Thomas Malthus greatly influenced Darwin with his “Essay on Population”
Malthus believed that progress not inevitable and nature was not a fair place Population would always outrun resources Suffering would increase despite social improvements
Is this happening today?
Darwin’s Major Arguments
Saw change and development to be a consequence of nature
Suggests Theory of EvolutionHumans were not special creations made by God, but evolved from common ancestors through gradual change
Darwin’s Major Arguments
Idea of evolution linked with view of the earth People now beginning to see that Earth was millions of years old (not thousands as previously believed)
Darwin used this time scale to show plenty of time on earth for evolution to occur
Argued that species developed slowly as they adapted to their surroundings
Those that could not adapt became extinct (i.e. Survival of the fittest or Natural Selection)
Darwin Destroys Religion
Darwin argued the selection process was natural and NOT chosen by God
Viewed life as a constant struggle for existence
By accepting Darwin’s theories, people believed that peace and harmony were not possible in society
Many applied Darwin’s Struggle for Survival to politics, ethics, and economics
Social Darwinism
Def’n: The application of Darwin’s beliefs to human affairs
Herbert Spencer was a major Social Darwinists Spencer believed governments should not change the social environment because it would interfere with personal liberty
Believed competition was necessary to allow the most fit
Ecouraged laissez-faire ideas
Spencer’s ideas eventually subsided since people liked the idea that the government helped out (social & welfare programs)
Social Darwinism
Also used to support racial theory that a certain group of people are superior to others because of what they have accomplished technologically and scientifically Spain and South America Britain and India European Countries and Africa Hitler and the Aryan Race African Genocides and Ethnic Cleansing Wars
Religion Holding On…
Religious institutions were holding on but being challenged daily
Dogma or writings were now more clear as people began to study ancient languages and interpret the messages
Scholars concluded that the Bible and 5 Books of Moses in Old Testament were written by several authors and, therefore, NOT the truth
Religion Holding On…
Archaeologists and anthropologists raised questions about origins of Christianity and Judaism
Darwin’s arguments added to long list of assaults against the Church
Many began to question: What is the purpose of life? What is my relationship with God? What is the soul?
Some theologists believed evolution was part of God’s plan
Sigmund Freud
6 May 1856 - 23 Sep 1939
AustrianNeurology, Philosophy, Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis
Freud’s Background
Regarded as one of the most innovative thinkers in modern thought
Started out in medicineNoticed patients symptoms caused by their minds
Freud’s Two Level Theory
Believed two levels of the mind in operation - the conscious and unconscious
The unconscious played the primary role - therefore the actions of a person was the result of both rational and irrational motives
Freud’s Other Ideas
Childhood greatly influenced the actions of the adult
Dreams were the window to the unconsciousThe Interpretation of Dreams (1900)
Freud’s Theory on Sexuality
Human nature has certain instincts (aggression and sexual desire) which had to be repressed in a civilized world
These instincts were part of a person’s ID which represented basic desires
However, the ID was always kept in check by the SUPER EGO (the conscience one gains from living in society)
The face people present to others is the EGO which is constantly torn btwn the desires of the ID and the repression of the SUPER EGO
Freud’s Infantile Sexuality Theory
From birth, an infant is driven by sexual desire
Oral Stage: Infant satisfied through suckingAnal Stage: Please from anus through defecationPhallic Stage: Child develops interest in its own sexual organs Also, child develops sexual attraction to parent of opposite sex & hatred of parent of same sex
Known as Oedipus Complex Freud derived this theory from dreaming that his older
stepbrother was his father. He wished his brother dead which meant he wanted his own father dead because he was competition
Freud’s Infantile Sexuality TheoryPhallic Stage cont’d
Child then feels guilty and realizes he/she can never overthrow the stronger parent
Attraction for opposite sex parent is repressed and makes peace with same sex parent (by age 5)
Latency Stage: Sexual motivations subside until puberty where genital masturbation begins
Freud’s Infantile Sexuality TheoryFreud believed this process was necessary for NORMAL human development
However, his theory caused major controversy because it challenged the Enlightenment view that all humans are rational and reasonable
Friedrich Nietzsche
15 Oct 1844 - 25 Aug 1900
PrussiaEthics, Ontology, History, Psychology
Nietzsche’s Thoughts
First to propose the irrational and reject the notion of a common humanity Stressed the differences between people Believed people needed to develop their own talents
Believed Christianity was the religion of the weak because it forced people to subordinate themselves to myths
Didn’t support nationalism because it satisfied the “group” therefore forgetting the “individual”
Follow the Leader…
Made a distinction between the “noble man” who determines his own destiny and the “common man” who simply follows othersThink: What does your heart truly desire?
Now, how many of you are willing to sacrifice everything to get it?
What are you afraid of?
Albert Einstein
14 March 1879 - 18 April 1955
GermanPhysics
Theory of Relativity
Introduced in 1905Argued that the observer is important in describing the movement of bodies in spaceEx. Train - A person standing in a field will see the speed of a train differently that a person standing on another train
Einstein’s system included the observer’s frame of reference
Theory of Relativity
Defined space relatively, not absolutelyNo accuracy in describing where a planet is in space w/o stating where the person who is measuring is measuring from
Significance: The physics developed by Einstein formed the basis of nuclear technology which allowed people to harness power and build new technology
Karl Marx
5 May 1818 - 14 March 1883
German Philosopher, Political Economist,
Historian Communist Manifesto (1848)
Major Arguments
Marx summarized his view in the opening line of the Communist Manifesto “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”
Capitalism, like previous economic systems, produces internal tensions
Just as Capitalism replaced Feudalism, Socialism will in turn replace Capitalism
Socialism will succeed because it calls for a stateless, classless society which will emerge after a transitional period
Major Arguments
Marx argued that economic change would occur through organized revolutionary action Capitalism would end through the actions of the working class, led by the Communist party
"Communism is for us not a state of affairs which is to be established, an ideal to which reality [will] have to adjust itself. We call communism the real movement which abolishes the present state of things. The conditions of this movement result from the premises now in existence.”
His ideas were prominent with the workers’ movement and led to the Russian October Revolution in 1917