Human Nature: From Kierkegaard to Sartre
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Kierkegaard's views of the self and human nature, including such concepts as "present age," "spiritlessness," passionate commitment," and the "aesthetic sphere." He then discusses Heidegger and Sartre, both of ...
Inner Self and External World
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about the views of multiple philosophers concerning how the inner self encounters the every day reality of the external world.
Nietzsche and the Death of God
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Friedrich Nietzsche's views on God, then flashes back to the time of Plato, before moving forward again and exploring the question: what happens to a culture which is organized around the notion of God as a sin...
Kierkegaard and the Infinite
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Kierkegaard's views of the self, observing that for Kierkegaard, one's whole world is organized in terms of what is relevant, significant and important, and that is tied up with one's unconditional commitment t...
Being and Nothingness: Jean Paul Sartre
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Jean-Paul Sartre, who views all human activity as a way of trying to cover up our nothingness and delude ourselves into thinking that we have an identity, content and meaning in our lives.
Darwin and Human Nature
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Charles Darwin, who wrote at about the same time as Kierkegaard, but wasn't drawn in by the same existentialist concerns. Darwin believed there is something like a human nature, even if unplanned by God. In fac...
Heidegger and Kierkegaard
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus contrasts the ways in which Martin Heidegger and Soren Kierkegaard answer the question what it is to be a self. For Heidegger, according to Professor Dreyfus, who you are is the social role that you've chosen or grown up i...
What is the Meaning of Life?: What is the Meaning of Life?
Is there a Divine Plan that can give purpose and meaning to our lives? Hegel and Mark argued that meaning for individual lives comes from contributing to the progress of history, the arena in which humans come to the full realization of reason and f...