Texts discussed: Ch. 14 “The Gods! Tragedy and the Limitation of the Claims to Autonomy and Self-Sufficiency,” and Ch. 19 “Against a Certain Style of Philosophy.”

Actions

Chapter 14

1. Define the “double-level operation of tragedy” and how does it apply to Iphigenia?

“Human beings as dealing sensibly, foolishly, sometimes catastrophically, sometimes nobly, with a world that is only partially intelligible to human agency and in itself is not necessarily well adjusted to ethical aspirations” (67).

2. Define Human agency (or human will) and explain how the above quote might be true today?

“tragic responsibility makes its appearance when human beings begin to debate without reference to an external divine authority” (65)

“the role of gods in Attic tragedy is the placeholder for a force that exceeds yet determines and can indeed destroy human agency. The gods are names for powers not under our control” (68).

3. What is a current example of a divine “force that exceed(s) yet determines and can indeed destroy human agency”?

(Ch. 19):

4. How does Critchley explain the philosophy of tragedy, or “another style of philosophy,” as in opposition to more conventional types of human wisdom and philosophy?

“The world is a confusing, noisy place, defined by endless war, rage, grief, ever-growing inequality. We undergo a gnawing moral and political uncertainty in a world of ambiguity” (70).

Once you have written your own post, write an engaging response to at least 1 classmates in this discussion. Responses to classmates must be at least 4 sentences in length in order to earn credit.