Existentialism

Einstein and Relativity (and why you should care)

1. Relativity: What is it?

2. How does this change anything?

3. Existentialism

Einstein

1. What is Einstein’s famous equation?

2. What do the letters stand for?

3. Where is Einstein originally from?

4. Why did Einstein leave?

5. Why is Einstein and important figure in history?

Why Einstein?

E=MC2

Energy=Mass x Speed of Light2 GermanyNazi and HitlerRelativity changed physics and western

thought forever

Einstein and Light

What is the big deal about light? If you are in a car going the speed of light and

you turn on your head lights, will a bystander see them?

Before Einstein no one really understood how light worked Is it a wave, particles, quanta… no one was

really sure. Light did not follow Newtonian physics

Einstein and Light

Einstein decided that light is both a wave and a particle… that’s right… BOTH

Light is the fundamental measure of the Universe just like time is here on Earth

Since the Universe is so big, our understanding of time and space and physics and basically everything just does not apply…

Einstein and Relativity

Understanding light leads to a different understanding of… Everything

Einstein realized that everything we consider concrete is really related to our current position in the Universe. Answer: A bystander would not see the

headlights in front of the car

Frame of Reference

Your entire perception of mass, time, and light is based on where you are currently sitting (this is a whole new meaning to the idea of time zones)

Think of riding in a car. Does it appear that the inside of the car is moving or the outside world…

Twins Scenario

Two twins are born here on Earth. One is selected to travel 8 light years away at 80% the speed of light. (Why can’t he be going the speed of light?) He takes an atomic clock with him. What will he find when he returns to Earth?

Atomic Clock Experiment

To test Einstein’s theory, an atomic clock was placed in a stealth aircraft that flies above the atmosphere at very high speeds. The plane was flown around the earth for an entire day and then the atomic clock was compared to one that stayed on Earth all day.

Atomic Clock Experiment

According to Einstein, what should be true about the clock that comes off of the airplane?

Why does this matter to history?

How did the enlightenment and scientific revolution change history?

Philosophy and Relativity

What is philosophy?

Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.

The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs.

A system of values by which one lives

Existentialism

Read the following statement. Write 1-2 sentences describing how you feel about the statement. Is it true? Baloney? Insulting? What do you think?

Life is not inherently valuable.

Existentialism

Life only has meaning to the extent to which we assign it meaning. Individual decisions make the life worthwhile.

Freedom of choice is essential to humanity Denies inherent rationality of universe

Existentialism

Martin Heidegger Being and Time (1927) Laid the groundwork for existentialist thought Isolation, alienation, focus on the individual

experience

Existentialism

Kierkegaard How do we define meaning of life? If it is based on a religious sense of morality,

then it is defined by the extent to which we conform

Problem… we lose our individuality by conforming to ethical and moral standards

But what happens when religion directly contradicts morals and ethics…

Abraham and his son

Christian tradition tells the parable of Abraham being ordered by God to kill his son as a sacrifice to the Lord Problem- Thou Shalt not kill Since this order is directly against the “moral

standard” how can Abraham be considered faithful for listening to the command?

Here lies the problem… no universal measurement

Reason and Faith

Why should Abraham believe that the directive to kill is from God? Reasonable this would make no sense… why would

God tell someone to go against his own stated standards?

Abraham has no RATIONAL reason to believe that the order is really from God

So why does he listen… FAITH ALONE Abraham makes a personal decision against the crowd Therefore: Truth is defined individually and not by “the

crowd”

Crowds and the Untruth

Truth is defined individuallyThe moral standards do not apply equally

to all universally Conforming to the accepted norms of the

time is in direct contrast to this individuality that defines existence

Life is not inherently valuable

Why do existentialists make this claim? Truth (and meaning) is a personal decision and

realization that cannot be defined by an outward imposition of morality or ethics

We must ASSIGN something truth and believe it passionately (such as Abraham believed in the voice of God) in order for our life and our actions to have true meaning

Following the crowd mindlessly does not allow for these individual decisions that define our existence

Nietzsche

Father was a Lutheran PastorOriginally a teacher but illness keeps him

from continuing his careerBegins to write prolifically

Nietzsche and Existentialism

Nietzsche saw standard morals as a means to an end for powerful individuals Morality used as a tool

Following the herd benefits certain people in power

“God is dead” The morality no longer means the same thing

it used to therefore humanity has removed its meaning

Nietzsche and Existentialism

SUPERMAN Nietzsche believed in superman that was

secure, independent, and highly individualist Liberated from all values except those he

deems valid Focuses on this world and not the rewards

promised in the next Creator of a whole new “master” morality that

is grounded in the here and now

WWI

Devastated the European economies Heavy bombing of cities Retooling of the entire economy towards war is

costly to realign Population losses

United States and Japan come out strong No fighting on their soil Supplied goods to the warring countries

WWI Results

End of Absolutism New governments begin to form Democracies begin to form

Lack experience Many parties divide country

Coalition governments No one could gain a majority in many countries leading to

deadlock Temporary alliances between parties were necessary to

form majorities

WWI Results

Changing governments cause instability in the countries People in these countries wanted a return to

better times Willing to forfeit their right in hopes that a

stronger leader would be able to solve the problems the coalition governments could not

Weimar Republic

Germany develops a democracy after the war Problems

Lack democratic tradition Numerous political parties decentralizes decisions Germans blamed the new government for the defeat

and the conditions of Versailles because they were the ones who signed the official surrender and treaty

General unrest in population due to poor conditions

Weimar Republic

Inflation-a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency

Germany had not raised taxes during the war and now faced significant war debt, rebuilding costs, and reparation payments Money becomes useless as new government

attempts to pay off loans by printing more money Anyone on a fixed income saw their lives become

worthless Bread cost billions of marks

Dawes Plan International community realizes the German

situation will lead to revolt1. Reparation payments would begin at 1 billion

marks for the first year and should rise over a period of four years to 2.5 billion marks per year.

2. The German Reichsbank would be reorganized under Allied supervision.

3. Foreign loans (primarily from the United States) would be made available to Germany.

4. The sources for the reparation money should include transportation, excise, and custom taxes.

Europe Plays Nice.. For A While

1925 leaders from Germany, France and other nations meet Sign a treaty agreeing not to go to war with

each other Germany agrees to respect the boundaries of

France and Belgium Germany admitted to the League of Nations “Spirit of Locarno”

Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact

US Secretary of State worked with France to come to an agreement to end all wars

Almost all countries in the world signed No teeth in the treaty

How do you enforce this? Threaten a country with war?

Ripple EffectNewtonian Physics: Every action has an

equal and opposite reaction The American economy was holding up

the rest of the world through their booming manufacturing and foreign investing Recall the foreign loans trying to cover

domestic losses Americans consume less foreign goods

Trade Wars

Congress passes protective tariffs to try and revive the economy

World Trade drops off by 65%

Panic at the Disco… I mean Bank

AH well imagine as walked threw the lines of a bank corridor and I can’t help but to hear no I can’t help but to hear an exchanging of words

JUST GIVE ME MY MONEY says the man in the suit to the banker (yea I know it doesn’t fit…_

Think Mary Poppins at the bank with the children