Seminar Discussion #2 – Fate / Destiny
The central message in Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex warns Greek audiences of the dangers of questioning the gods or one’s fate. In the eyes of Greeks, any person who denied the fate that the gods had deemed appropriate showed excessive hubris, and would inevitably be punished.
While the Greeks had a strong belief in fate, linked closely to their religion and mythology, the concept of fate is much less influential in modern Western society. In America, the idea of fate, once a guiding principle in many faiths and philosophies, took a back seat to the Puritan idea of predestination and later all but disappeared to the attractive ideals of free-will and “rugged individualism.”
Use the assigned reading to learn about the concept of “fate” and related ideas. Connect the readings to what you know about ancient Greek culture and your own personal beliefs. Be prepared to discuss the questions listed below and take time to prepare a discussion question of your own.
Common Discussion Questions:
Define the following terms in your own words and considered the relationship of those paired together: fate and destiny; free will and determinism. How would you explain the distinction between these concepts?
Restate Professor Simon Blackburn's logical argument on p. 85 of Think. Do you agree with the logic presented? What doctrine (of the four listed above) does the argument support?
What does Blackburn mean by the quote “Chance is as relentless as necessity?” (p.83) What does he mean by indeterminism?
What does Blackburn mean by ‘lazy sophism’? (p. 110). Have you ever embraced this view of life. Why or why not?
Of the doctrines discussed (fate, destiny, free will, determinism), which idea seems to reflect the beliefs of the Greeks as presented in Oedipus Rex? Which doctrine best describes your personal beliefs. Why?
Your Discussion Question:
Seminar #2 – Notes
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I FORMULARIO DE INSCRIPCIÓN SEMINARIO “LÍDERES DEL FUTURO”
SEMINARIO CICLO ELECCIÓN DE ALTERNATIVAS E BUSINESS DE
SEMINARSKI RAD IZ PREDMETA PRAVO U KOMUNIKACIJAMA TEMA
Tags: central message, destiny, discussion, seminar, central