Karima Karppinen | University of Edinburgh (original) (raw)

Drafts by Karima Karppinen

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE FREE TO BECOME WHO WE CHOOSE TO BECOME? An Existentialist Viewpoint to Neuroscience, 2020

Whether we are controlled by predefined destiny, the persistent appearance of chance, our own fre... more Whether we are controlled by predefined destiny, the persistent appearance of chance, our own free will, or to some extent all of these three, is an eternal question that the fields of religion, philosophy and science always return to. This essay philosophically reflects on neuroscience in discussing the role of free will in an individual’s life and asking; to what extent can we choose who we become? The aim is to suggest that despite the structure and function of our brain, controlled roughly by genetics and environment, human beings nevertheless persist to have ‘free will’, referring to, in this essay, not only the freedom to will, but also to act. This conclusion is arrived at from an existentialist point of view to freedom. I will begin by defining what I mean by ‘self’ and proceed to introduce determinism from the perspective of the Libet experiment. We will then look at different aspects to the concept of free will, that have been arrived at by criticising the Libet experiment. At this point, I introduce the existentialist stance, after which we finally continue to look at examples of what in our selves is not under our control, and what, at least potentially, we can control, in the light of neuroscience and existentialism?

What is According to William Wordsworth the Relation Between Science, Religion and Poetry as Means of Searching for Truth?, 2020

A remarkable English poet of the Romantic era, William Wordsworth (1770-1850), suggests that scie... more A remarkable English poet of the Romantic era, William Wordsworth (1770-1850), suggests that science, religion and poetry all have the same point of interest; grasping the truth concerning human life. In all three cases, this ‘truth’ is searched for by observing, experiencing and interpreting nature. The aim of this essay is to uncover how Wordsworth understood firstly, the nature of this truth and secondly, the best method for dealing with such truth. By attempting to answer those two questions, I will further explain what type of science, religion and poetry Wordsworth, according to his poetry and prose, stood for, and which type he despised of. I will begin by an introduction into the main content of Wordsworth’s poetry and prose. To understand what the truth found in nature meant for Wordsworth, I will next look at two things; whether his truth is divine or worldly and whether it is subjective or objective? Finally, we will see why, despite Wordsworth’s appreciation of all three fields, he found poetry the most powerful one, both as a way of observing the natural world and as a means for gaining knowledge about the truth in it. I will further argue that the understanding of Wordsworth’s perception of the world, in many ways typical to the Romantic era, is important in how it gives an interesting point of view to the nature of contemporary science in our secular world, where the love for poetry is dying out. It further makes one question what do we today accept as markers of truth?

To What Extent was Bertrand Russell the Predecessor of Daniel Dennett?, 2020

The aim of this essay is to compare the atheistic philosophy of a 21st-century thinker Daniel Den... more The aim of this essay is to compare the atheistic philosophy of a 21st-century thinker Daniel Dennett and a 20th-century philosopher Bertrand Russell, both seeking to free us from unquestioned inherent assumptions and set religion under rational, as well as a scientific study. Their goal in itself is not anything new on an atheist’s path, yet Dennett is often referred to as one of the leaders of an atheistic movement considered distinct from the traditional kind; New Atheism. Russell’s philosophy, which I in this essay argue to have a lot in common with that of Dennett’s, can be seen as a precedent of New Atheism. I will begin by a short exploration of how Dennett’s and Russell’s philosophies do and do not collide with the aims and arguments of the New Atheist movement as a whole. I will then move on to compare Dennett’s and Russell’s atheisms in order to get an idea of the extent to which Russell was Dennett’s predecessor. The points of comparison will be firstly, on how they define religion and its origin, and secondly, what they think is the problem with it and to what direction will and should the future take religion? Through these comparisons, this essay hopefully takes part in the wider, genuine, non-judgmental, yet taboo-breaking quest for Truth, and for the best possible way of living together.

BOOK REVIEW: The New Frontier of Religion and Science: Religious Experience, Neuroscience and the Transcendent. By John Hick. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan, 2006. , 2019

BOOK REVIEW BY KARIMA KARPPINEN The New Frontier of Religion and Science: Religious Experience, N... more BOOK REVIEW BY KARIMA KARPPINEN
The New Frontier of Religion and Science: Religious Experience, Neuroscience and the Transcendent. By John Hick. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan, 2006. 228 pages. 135.19€ (hardcover) 67.59€ (paper).

Kierkegaard and the Problem of Truth and Religious Diversity, 2019

What does it mean to follow one Truth in our contemporary world full of religious, cultural and p... more What does it mean to follow one Truth in our contemporary world full of religious, cultural and philosophical diversity? Is that even possible or desirable anymore? Søren Kierkegaard, arguably both an existentialist and a Christian, can, despite his deep understanding of the paradoxical construction of the world, be viewed as a proclaimer of devotion and commitment to one Truth and one sense of self. This essay examines Kierkegaard’s philosophy in a way relevant to an inhabitant of the contemporary secular age through three main enquiries: 1) What is the Kierkegaardian Truth? 2)What insight does such sense of Truth offer concerning the attitude one should take towards religious diversity? 3)And finally, what kind of message does Kierkegaard as a prophet of Truth leave to the secular people of the twentieth century? The first part will discuss whether truth is to be understood as objective or subjective, single or multiple, Christian or free of religion. The second part will examine Kierkegaard’s definition of a pagan versus a non-pagan and see how Kierkegaard defines a true believer. Finally, we will see how the levelling, typical in Western societies today, supports our falling away from conscious inwardly self-reflection, leading us to worldly despair.

TWO MEANS, ONE GOAL: THE PLACE OF TANTRIC SEXUAL PRACTISES IN THE BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY OF ASCETICISM, 2018

According to the Vinaya texts Buddhism has originally been strict on its prohibition of sexual ac... more According to the Vinaya texts Buddhism has originally been strict on its prohibition of sexual activities among the monks , yet later on something today referred to as the “Tantric philosophy”, one existent long before Buddhism, as it merged with the Buddhist thought, has brought various other practices than celibacy as means to deal with sexual intercourse and sexual desire. The aim of this essay is to show how the general Buddhist philosophy of the renouncing of desire in order to reach enlightenment and reduce suffering, does not have to be seen as the opposite of the Tantric philosophy of using this desire as the means for the same goal. The similarities and differences of ascetic and tantric philosophies will be examined, through an overview of the teachings of holy texts, lives of gurus, and examples of the forms Buddhist monasticism has taken throughout history with regards to handling human desire. Though both the ascetic and the tantric philosophies concern much wider areas of life than just the question of how to deal with sexual desire and the potentiality of a man and a woman to physically unite, in this essay, the concentration will be especially on celibacy and tantric sexual practices.

THE UNIVERSE REFLECTED IN A SOUL: The Relation Between Inner Self and the Cosmology of the Universe in Early Indian and Ancient Greek Thought, 2019

Today the abstract concept of human self is examined through psychology, whereas science intends ... more Today the abstract concept of human self is examined through psychology, whereas science intends to explain the cosmology of the sensible universe. In the ancient times, it seems, there was no such strict distinction between humans and the world, an individual existence and the collective sphere. In this essay, I argue that both the ancient Greek and the early Indian philosophy understood the self or the soul as something interconnected, even one, with the whole of the cosmos. In this essay Plato will represent the ancient Greek world and a mixture of both the Sanskrit Vedas and Buddhism will be used as an example of the early Indian thought.

Secularization, Christianity, and Universal Faith: Thomas J.J. Altizer and Espen Hammer on Hegel, 2019

Secularity is often thought as simply the opposite of religiosity, and where philosophy seems to ... more Secularity is often thought as simply the opposite of religiosity, and where philosophy seems to fall under the first category, Christianity is placed in the latter. Questioning such assumptions, G.W.F Hegel, both a philosopher and a Christian, offers a unique point of view to these definitions and limits of religion and secularity. This essay examines Hegel’s perspective through two articles: “Hegel as a Theorist of Secularization” (2013) by Espen Hammer and “Hegel and the Christian God” by Thomas J.J. Altizer (1991).

Dissertation, 2020

The aim of this dissertation is to bring Ibn Arabi’s Sufism into interaction and dialogue with ne... more The aim of this dissertation is to bring Ibn Arabi’s Sufism into interaction and dialogue with neuroscientific study through looking at the topic of intuition. The two approaches to understanding intuition will be compared in a way where Ibn Arabi’s concept of unveiling (kashf) is defined as a type of intuition concerned on spiritual matters, whereas the type of intuitions addressed by neuroscience is worldly in its nature. Unveiling is the topic around which the whole dissertation builds and due to its divine nature, it is not only related to intuition, but also to spiritual experience. The origin and function of intuition will be discussed through asking the following questions 1.) Who are we in relation to God and the cosmos? 2.) How we acquire knowledge and what true knowledge is and? 3) Can we improve, as well as what is our goal?

The aim of this dissertation is to draw a connection between romantic love and love for God, thro... more The aim of this dissertation is to draw a connection between romantic love and love for God, through the eyes of three philosophers, Miguel De Unamuno, Erich Fromm and Vladimir Solovyov. Each thinker’s theory will be explained and briefly evaluated. The two typologies of loves will be compared as ways of overcoming our sense of separateness and as attempts to experience unity. The nature, motives and consequences of both types of loves will be examined and then compared. Finally, an attempt will be made to see whether what a believer experiences in his or her love for God, is similar to what any human being can experience through romantic love.

Papers by Karima Karppinen

Theology, 2008

focuses on Central America, which he identifies as the first instance of US colonialism based on ... more focuses on Central America, which he identifies as the first instance of US colonialism based on ‘client dependency’ – a key way in which power is exercised through global capitalism. But he finds inspiration as well as sorrow in telling this story, as it’s in Central America that liberation theology and church-led resistance to oppression came to the fore in the region’s recent troubled history. Crossing the River of Fire is an impassioned essay by a deeply concerned person of faith. Wilf Wilde has made the transition from working in big business and global finance to community-based social and economic regeneration projects, as well as becoming a ‘lay theologian’. This personal journey shines through – not least in the practical suggestion at the end for addressing the accumulation of power within global capitalism. His book will stimulate strong feelings because of its style and content, but if you are up for an argument it will stimulate plenty of thoughts and ideas as well.