On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:09:27 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In a message dated 1/30/2005 12:52:43 PM Central Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > That would be my view, yes. However, I assume you believe in > contextualizing some sort of timeless (?) essentialist morality > > Sure. Except I'm not sure I can clearly even imagine the alternative. > My understanding of existentialism would suggest an individual boldly > making whatever decisions they wanted and taking responsibility for > them. But I'm not sure what an "existentialist morality" would be.
> The original author said "essentialist", not "existentialist". > Yes, I know. Existentialism and Essentialism are often contrasted. So if Mark is opposing "essentialist morality" it suggests or at least raises the possibility that he is defending some version of "existentialism". Existentialism is sometimes defined as the idea that your "existence" comes before your "essence". You first are born, you exist, and THEN, through living and making decisions you decide for yourself what kind of person you will become, your "essence". THAT you are, comes before WHAT you are. Although some Existentialists were theists, it is often associated with atheism. Essentialism tends to emphasize the other side. God created us and before we were born we had a certain purpose, and God-given human nature with certain attributes. And other things tend to be associated with this perspective too. To really get into the whole issue would probably take a really long discussion. Peace Gilberto -- "pharoah is just a leaf on a burning bush" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
