First post so be gentle. :)
Ever since they introduced John Locke as a character I immediately thought of the philosopher and his 2nd treatise of government exploring the origins of society. It seemed kind of obvious giving the formation of the losties' society being the main thrust of season 1. Then there were the subsequent references to philosophers throughout with different names being dropped. I got caught up in the faith vs science thing and saw the main connection to philosophy as exploring ways of knowing. This is still true, but given the opening scene of this finale, I missed the obvious. I forgot Locke is always discussed as opposed to Hobbes.
When the bad dude said, "You're trying to prove me wrong," and went on to discuss the inevitability of man's lack of virtue leading to destruction, I was like doh! Locke believed man was aware of a natural law and felt compelled to the good. Hobbes believe man's natural state was a state of war due to selfishness and jealousy where anything goes. Just to make sure, I googled it and found this link to wikipedia on the state of nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_nature
In addition to mentioning Hobbes and Locke, it meantions Rousseau (as in Frenchie) and David Hume (as in Desmond David Hume). Rousseau thought Hobbes was just imagining people living outside the society in which they were raised (island) and Hume thought the whole thing kind of a silly thought experiment that could never be proved. So, I guess the island is a chessboard (or rather backgammon board of light vs dark) where the game is played out. Is man morally depraved and selfish, or can he choose the good?
So the island is a kind of Eden or natural state where this debate can be played out. Choice was emphasized so much this episode. The love quadrangle was also pretty heavy. Ultimately there is an integral connection between choice and love. It's all romantic to speak of lovers being destined for one another, but for love to be truly meaningful (and truly beautiful) it must be a free choice-a gift of the self for another.
That's what makes the love of Rose and Bernard so functional and the the love of our favorite love square still incomplete. Rose and Bernard made a choice to love each other above everything: petty pride and jealousy, worldly possession and even threat of a nuclear explosion. In the end, finally it is Juliet who is willing to choice Sawyer completely and her love blossoms into a gut wrenching sacrifice. A sacrifice of love.
Bringing this all together (hopefully), Jacob understands the connection between choice and love, he too makes a choice to sacrifice himself (do we honestly think he couldn't have taken Ben). Our Dark Friend, on the other hand, has masterfully appealed to the baseness of humans: pride, greed, desire for power and control - classic Hobbes. Our Light Friend, only appeals to our sense of choice, believing that man can and will choice the good - classic Locke.
On path is to light the other to darkness. Can our Losties choose the path of real love like Rose and Bernard, or will they follow the dark road empty road of Ben? Can those who have lost their way find the way home? I think they can, but I think there will be some pretty big sacrifices next year.
Ever since they introduced John Locke as a character I immediately thought of the philosopher and his 2nd treatise of government exploring the origins of society. It seemed kind of obvious giving the formation of the losties' society being the main thrust of season 1. Then there were the subsequent references to philosophers throughout with different names being dropped. I got caught up in the faith vs science thing and saw the main connection to philosophy as exploring ways of knowing. This is still true, but given the opening scene of this finale, I missed the obvious. I forgot Locke is always discussed as opposed to Hobbes.
When the bad dude said, "You're trying to prove me wrong," and went on to discuss the inevitability of man's lack of virtue leading to destruction, I was like doh! Locke believed man was aware of a natural law and felt compelled to the good. Hobbes believe man's natural state was a state of war due to selfishness and jealousy where anything goes. Just to make sure, I googled it and found this link to wikipedia on the state of nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_nature
In addition to mentioning Hobbes and Locke, it meantions Rousseau (as in Frenchie) and David Hume (as in Desmond David Hume). Rousseau thought Hobbes was just imagining people living outside the society in which they were raised (island) and Hume thought the whole thing kind of a silly thought experiment that could never be proved. So, I guess the island is a chessboard (or rather backgammon board of light vs dark) where the game is played out. Is man morally depraved and selfish, or can he choose the good?
So the island is a kind of Eden or natural state where this debate can be played out. Choice was emphasized so much this episode. The love quadrangle was also pretty heavy. Ultimately there is an integral connection between choice and love. It's all romantic to speak of lovers being destined for one another, but for love to be truly meaningful (and truly beautiful) it must be a free choice-a gift of the self for another.
That's what makes the love of Rose and Bernard so functional and the the love of our favorite love square still incomplete. Rose and Bernard made a choice to love each other above everything: petty pride and jealousy, worldly possession and even threat of a nuclear explosion. In the end, finally it is Juliet who is willing to choice Sawyer completely and her love blossoms into a gut wrenching sacrifice. A sacrifice of love.
Bringing this all together (hopefully), Jacob understands the connection between choice and love, he too makes a choice to sacrifice himself (do we honestly think he couldn't have taken Ben). Our Dark Friend, on the other hand, has masterfully appealed to the baseness of humans: pride, greed, desire for power and control - classic Hobbes. Our Light Friend, only appeals to our sense of choice, believing that man can and will choice the good - classic Locke.
On path is to light the other to darkness. Can our Losties choose the path of real love like Rose and Bernard, or will they follow the dark road empty road of Ben? Can those who have lost their way find the way home? I think they can, but I think there will be some pretty big sacrifices next year.
