What do we mean by ?self?? Is it important to define for ourselves this concept? Why?

What in your opinion is a happy life? What is the role of self in shaping this kind of life?

What is human nature? Give 2-3 examples from our readings to support your opinion.

 

 

When preparing to discuss the questions listed below, think of the response that can be derived from the text itself and of the views that other texts offer on the same issue(s). You can/will also be asked to offer your own opinion.

 

PLATO?S ?TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOCRATES?

1. What are Socrates? views about the meaning of life? Do you agree? Which of our texts disagree with this opinion?

2. Comment on the values of Socrates.

3. Why does Socrates refuse the help of Crito and submits himself to death after he makes it clear that personal beliefs matter most and that he disagrees with the jury`s verdict?

4. How does Socrates view virtue?

 

 

 

EPICTETUS

1. What is Stoicism? Do you think that it helps one to lead a happy life?

2. If you were to embrace the Stoic philosophy in your life today, what things
would you do? Do you think that Stoic thought is applicable in today`s
world?

3. Do you think that living a life in a Stoic fashion is living life to its
fullest? If yes, explain why, and if not, what elements of life does
Stoicism neglect?

4. Can Stoicism be reconciled with Christian thought? Give examples from
class readings of this reconciliation.


DIOGENES

1. What is Cynicism? What elements of it do you think are beneficial and
which ones are harmful for leading an ideal life?

 

2. What role does knowledge play in living one`s life? Answer this question from the point of view of Diogenes, Socrates and Lao Tsu.

3. What sort of role does criticism play in understanding the world from
Diogenes point of view? Does this criticism amount to an anti-intellectual
attitude?

4. Diogenes engaged in many actions which by our standards seem very vulgar and of questionable moral nature. Give examples. How would Diogenes justify acting in this way?

5. What is the relationship between the person and nature from Diogenes
perspective?

6. Do you support the claim that philosophy of Cynicism has been utterly rejected by the modern civilization?

 

LIFE OF ST. ANTONY AND THE DESERT FATHERS

1. What is asceticism? What are the common misconceptions of this philosophy?

2. Comment on the life style and the system of beliefs of the desert fathers.

3. What is holiness? Give an example of a holy person/ holy actions from our readings.

4. Describe St. Antony`s conversion to the ascetic life. What steps did he take
to achieve the holiness he is famous for?

5. What virtues did desert fathers cultivate?

 

6. Can people today live like St. Antony? Should they?

7. What kind of wisdom did the desert fathers have and how did they obtain it?

 

8. What ascetic practices if any could be beneficial to the modern humanity?

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

1. What are the main stages of St. Francis` life?

2. Comment on the concept of the freedom of self in relation to St. Francis.
What, if anything, was he freed from, and how?

3. Could St. Francis live today and inspire a similar movement? What would it
look like?

4. What role does joy play in the ascetic life of Francis?

 

5. Discuss ?human nature? in application to St. Francis. What was his natural disposition? How is it seen in his life before and after his conversion?

 

 

RISE AND FUNCTION OF THE HOLY MAN IN LATE ANTIQUITY

 

1. "Asceticism" is derived from the Greek word, "askesis," which means "training." In what ways did holy men and the desert fathers "train" themselves?

 

2. Describe how the holy man related to the community.

 

4. Can the complete denial of our physical needs be equated with the denial of our own humanity?

 

5. The rise of asceticism was ushered in by the decline of persecution of Christians. In what ways are ascetics martyrs?

 

7. What are the motivations for asceticism?

 

8. Why do the ascetics return to the community after years of seclusion?

 

 

MIND AND BRAIN

 

1. What is Becker?s line of comparison between the artist and a person regarded as clinically neurotic?

 

2. How do people deal with neurotic tendency?

 

3. How do you understand Becker?s claim that illusion is the ideal state in which to live? Do you agree?

 

 

BHAGAVAD-GITA

1. How can we approach Bhagavad-Gita? Can we consider it a piece of military propaganda? What is its real meaning?

 

2. Do you believe that Bhagavad-Gita and Christian Gospels have anything in common? Discuss.

3. You are a devout Hindu who believes in reincarnation. Prove to your Christian opponent that it is a valid concept.

 

4. What is the law of karma?

 

 

CARL GUSTAV JUNG

1. What according to Jung, is the importance of self knowledge?

2. According to Jung, is there a natural tendency to seek God? What is Jung?s argument.

3. Describe how dreams reveal unconscious thoughts.

4. What according to Jung is individuation (p. 189)?

 

 

FEDOR DOSTOEVSKY, ?THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV?

 

1. What are the basic differences in the personalities and philosophies of Alyosha, Ivan and Dmitrii.

 

2. State briefly Fyodor Karamazov?s personality and indicate his relationship with each of his three sons.

 

3. Who is Smerdyakov? How does Fyodor?s relationship with Smerdyakov differ from his relationship with his legitimate sons?

 

4. Comment on Ivan?s philosophical views.

 

5. Comment on the views maintained by Father Zosima.

 

6. Is Alyosha an embodiment of Father Zossima?s teachings?

 

7. Who is the main character of the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov?? Why?

 

8. How is Dmitrii?s repentance and desire for suffering and regeneration a reflection of Zossima?s teachings?

 

9. How do Alyosha?s relations with the young boys function in the total scheme of the novel?

 

10. How is free will portrayed in the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov??

11. Why did Ivan break down at the conclusion of the novel?

12. How is redemption through suffering seen throughout the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov??

13. Who is guilty of the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich? Can this murder be attributed to just one person?

 

14. Comment on the evolution of Dmitrii?s character in the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov?

15. What has caused the split we see in Ivan at the end of the novel?

16. How does Alyosha`s response to the suffering of children differ from Ivan`s?

17. Is the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov? a theodicy? Why or why not?

18. What does the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov? say about hope and salvation? Can a Karamazov truly be saved? What must one do to get salvation?

19. After reading the book ?The Brothers Karamazov?, what conclusions can be made regarding human nature?

20. Are faith and intellect juxtaposed in the novel ?The Brothers Karamazov?? Are they in your opinion necessarily opposed to one another?

21. What are we to make of Zosima`s contention on page 196 that all mankind is
responsible for the sinning of all the rest of mankind?

22. How does the character of Smerdyakov further our knowledge/understanding of any other characters?

 

 

 

RUMI

1. What is the significance of drunkenness in Rumi?

2. Discuss Rumi?s poem of your choice. Comment on its imagery and Islamic subtext.

 

3. Comment on the theme of love in Rumi?s poetry.

 

4. What struck you the most in Rumi?s poetry and spirituality of Sufism?

 

 

 

 

1. What exactly is the Tao?

 

2. What did you find interesting about Tao Te Ching and Tao?

 

3. Discuss one Tao Te Ching verse of your choice.

 

4. Would the Tao be more feminine or masculine?

 

 

ZAMIATIN?S WE

 

1. In We, what is the role of art and artistic self-expression in the One State?

2. Discuss the concept and imagery of soul in We.

 

3. How do D-503 and I-330 represent Adam and Eve, especially in the aspect of
the decision between freedom and happiness?

4. Are the members of the One State happy?

 

5. How does D-503`s view of selfhood progress in the novel We?

 

6. At the end of the novel D-503 gains happiness. What do you think of his happiness?

7. One of the major themes in "WE" is the idea of I vs. WE concerning individual
or collective happiness. How would the other authors we have read confront this
theme?

8. Could WE have a happy ending?

 

 

PASTERNAK?S DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

 

1. What does ?Doctor Zhivago? say about human happiness? Who is happy in this book? Is happiness important?

 

2. What does ?Doctor Zhivago? say about the value of self?

 

3. What was of interest to you in ?Doctor Zhivago??

 

4. Comment on Yurii?s affair with Laura. What did Laura mean to him? What is her role in the book?

 

5. Yuri finds that only individuals seek the truth. Is this true? What does this
say about the nature of groups? Can one find oneself without digressing from the
group?

6. What does the novel propose about the reality of death?

7. What is the significance of the fact that Lara died nameless and forgotten?

8. What does Yuri and Lara`s daughter represent?