【Public Affairs & Ethics】 How to Live as a Human Being: Study Notes
Hello! We are about to dive into the most fundamental area of "Ethics"—a topic that is easy to relate to on a personal level: "How to Live as a Human Being." In this chapter, we will tackle themes like "What is a human?" and "What are the characteristics of youth (adolescence)?"
You might encounter some terms that feel difficult at first, but if you read them while thinking about your own life, they will click into place. Let’s do this together!
1. What kind of being is a human?
First, let’s look at how thinkers of the past defined "humans." There are several characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals.
● Representative Views of Humanity
- Homo Sapiens (Wise Man): Proposed by Linnaeus. It means a "human who possesses wisdom."
- Homo Faber (Man the Maker): Proposed by Bergson. A being who creates tools to change their environment.
- Homo Ludens (Playing Man): Proposed by Huizinga. A being who creates culture through play.
- Animal Symbolicum (Symbolic Animal): Proposed by Cassirer. A being who uses words and symbols to understand the world.
- Homo Religiosus (Religious Man): A being who believes in transcendent things, such as gods.
Key Point: These concepts illustrate that "humans don't just exist; we are special beings who think, create, and play."
【Trivia】 Pascal’s Quote
The philosopher Pascal called humans a "thinking reed." Reeds are weak and easily broken plants, but he meant that humans are great precisely because we have the capacity to think—and thus realize our own fragility.
---2. Characteristics of Adolescence: The Staircase from Child to Adult
One area that appears frequently on the Common Test is your current phase of life: "Adolescence."
● Keywords representing Adolescence
- Second Birth: A term used by Rousseau in his book Émile. He described it as: "We are born twice: once to exist, and a second time to live," capturing the psychological shifts of puberty.
- Psychological Weaning: Proposed by Hollingworth. This likens the process of becoming mentally independent from one's parents to a baby being weaned.
- Marginal Man: Proposed by Lewin. This refers to an unstable state of being on the boundary between child and adult—not quite either one.
Common Mistake: People often mistakenly think "Marginal Man" means someone on the fringes of society, but it actually means "a person who exists between two worlds!"
---3. Self-Formation and Identity
The biggest homework assignment of adolescence is to find the answer to "Who am I?"
● Erikson’s Developmental Tasks
Psychologist Erikson stated that the task of adolescence is to establish identity (self-sameness). It is the sense of having a consistent feeling of "This is who I am!"
- Identity Diffusion: A state where you don't know who you are, leading to feelings of apathy or anxiety.
- Psychological Moratorium (Period of Delay): A period where social responsibilities are temporarily waived, allowing you time to search for yourself.
● Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks
Havighurst listed specific goals to be achieved during adolescence (e.g., building friendships, choosing a career, forming personal values, etc.).
Analogy for Understanding:
Establishing identity is like putting together scattered puzzle pieces to complete the "picture of yourself." The moratorium is the "time" given to you to assemble that puzzle carefully.
4. The Mechanism of Desires and Adaptation
Humans live with various desires. What matters is how we act when things don't go as planned.
● Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
This theory suggests that desires have a priority, similar to a pyramid.
1. Physiological Needs (eating, sleeping)
2. Safety Needs (wanting security)
3. Belongingness and Love Needs (wanting friends/connection)
4. Esteem Needs (wanting to be recognized)
5. Self-Actualization Needs (wanting to reach your full potential)
Key Point: Once lower-level needs are satisfied, you move toward higher-level needs (self-actualization).
● Conflict and Defense Mechanisms
A state where you have two competing desires and cannot choose between them is called conflict.
When desires are not met (frustration), the mind unconsciously activates a mechanism to protect itself, called defense mechanisms, a concept proposed by Freud.
- Repression: Pushing unpleasant thoughts away to try and forget them.
- Rationalization: Using plausible excuses to justify yourself (e.g., sour grapes).
- Projection: Blaming your own negative feelings on others (e.g., thinking "that person hates me" when you are the one who actually dislikes them).
- Sublimation: Directing unfulfilled energy into worthwhile activities like studying or sports. (← This is the healthiest one!)
5. Summary of this Chapter (Key Takeaways)
1. Humans are beings with diverse aspects such as "thinking," "creating," and "playing."
2. Adolescence is a "second birth," and we are "marginal men" standing between childhood and adulthood.
3. The goal of adolescence is to establish "identity." Don't rush; make good use of your "moratorium."
4. When desires aren't met, "defense mechanisms" kick in. Get to know your own mental habits.
Great job! This section is much easier to remember if you connect the terms to your own experiences. Next, we’ll move on to foundational philosophies like "Greek Thought," but for now, make sure you have a solid grasp on these "basics about yourself!"