Existentialism

Existentialism
Existentialism and its facets
There are many philosophies that people use in their lives. Some of the ways of thinking are linked to some prominent people. There is idealism,
naturalism, experimentalism, and existentialism among others. This essay explores existentialism, which has been postulated by Sartre among others.
The other proponents of existentialism include Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, martin Buber, Martin Heidegger and Martin Buber. The weakness and strengths
of existentialism are going to be discussed in this essay. The main facets of existentialism that are going to be discussed include the following:
authenticity, existence precedes essence, being and nothingness, being–in–itself, being–for–itself and man being condemned to be...show more content...
We are free to determine how we live. We should not be tied to the views and dictates of the society in which we live. We make who we are by the
choices we make on a day to day basis. We are responsible for coming up with our own values. There is no a predetermined value system, a value
system created by the society or religion. What we do is what we value. We are not like equipment that is made for a particular or special reason. A
knife is made to cut; but we are not made for any particular purpose. We determine the purpose for our lives. Another aspect is that of facticity.
This means that, we, as individuals have not chosen to be borne and live the way we do. We have been made to live on this earth not through our
own choices. The other aspect is that of anxiety. This facet says that we do not have an established reason for existence, what we do depends on
our individual choices. So we choose our values as well as how we want to live our lives. The issue of despair means that we live in a world which
we have no control over. What happens in the world we live we have no control on. One example could be that of climate change. We no longer have
control over it. Some natural disasters that happen cannot be controlled by us. The concept of authenticity means that we must live according to the
choices that we make not the choices other people force us to make. We must be completely free to do what we want. However, for these choices we
must
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Example Of Existentialism
Existentialism is a movement in philosophy and literature that began in the mid to late 19th and reach its peak in mid–20th century, and was largely
spread through the works of French existentialist like Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir (Mastin L, 2008). There is no agreed
definition of existentialism, as those who are considered as "existentialist" do not share the same exact thought on the subject though the starting point
may be fairly linked. Jean Paul Sartre, defines existentialism as a school of thought where one's existence comes before his essence. Being an atheist
existentialist, he argues that there is no God and that man existed first and defines himself afterwards. Thus "there is no human nature, because there is
no God to have a conception of it. Man simply is" (Jean Paul Sartre,...show more content...
Eliza Binte Elahi (2014), explains that metaphysics deals with questions that can't be answered by Science, like the existence of God or the
difference between reality and perception thus questioning the pure existence of human beings on earth. TS Eliot is considered to be a fine example
of a metaphysical poet as "he wrestles with noumenal experiences using extended metaphor, as the 'Things of God's cannot be known in any other
way'" (Dr Niamh C, 2012). According to his biography, one of his famous poem "The Waste Land", was written when he was facing some hardships
in his life; his marriage was falling and he was suffering of nervous disorder. The physical and mental distress of the poet may provide an indication
about the state of mind in which "The Waste Land" was written, which seems to have greatly influenced the choice of the title of the poem itself. The
sub title "The Burial of the Dead" is equally troubling providing an obscure and dark atmosphere about the poem. It seems like the titles chosen act as
a foretaste of what is to come

Existentialism Essay
Jean–Paul Sartre says "man is nothing else but what he makes of himself" (762). This existentialist view depicts the idea that one is not
based on the essence of a soul, but rather, based on decisions made throughout life. Sartre also believes that every man is responsible for all men. One
may choose his marriage partner, however, in choosing to marry, one chooses monogamy. Decisions that individuals make will collectively create a set
of principles and beliefs for all of man.
Many people believe that a person's decisions are a reflection of his soul and personality. However, it is more likely that the conclusion a person
reaches is due to the influence of different ideas, as well as the circumstances surrounding the choices....show more content...
There is no longer the sense of "God judging man" so one must make his own decisions and based on them he is "condemned to be
free" (765–766). Sartre believes that man is condemned because he did not choose to exist, but is also free because he is completely responsible
for his actions.
Existentialism does not allow room for mistake. A person has no one to blame for bad decisions or misunderstandings. One cannot say, "I have
had bad luck" because existentialism does not believe in fortune or misfortune, but only in personal decisions. This enhances the true reality of
life. Situations create the future and therefore hopes and dreams are a mere loss of reality. The future is produced by a person's decisions and so one
should not dream but rather, make decisions that will lead to a beneficial life in the future.
Sartre also says "a man who lies and makes excuses for himself by saying 'not everybody does that,' is someone with an uneasy conscience,
because the act of lying implies that a universal value is conferred upon the lie" (764). This further illustrates the concept that there is an
unwritten law for man, and creates the idea of good and bad. There are choices that are universally made when a person is placed in the same situation,
with the same circumstances. Sartre believes that man should base his decisions on the thought that all of mankind is watching and will guide

Existentialism Essay example
In his 1946 essay Existentialism, Jean–Paul Sartre undertakes the task of defending existentialism against what he defines as "charges" (341) brought
against it. Sartre begins to outline the "charges" brought against existentialism and further, existentialists. Following the medieval quaestio–form, Sartre
begins with the statement of the objection, a short discussion, and then his reply to each. The first of the charges is that of quietism. "First, it has been
charged with inviting people to remain in a kind of desperate quietism because, since no solutions are possible, we should have to consider action in
this world as quite impossible" (341). Historically, quietism was a Christian philosophy that advocated withdrawal from worldly...show more content...
Before I begin to discuss the replies Sartre provides for each objection raised, it is important to establish what Sartre believes existentialism to be. That
is, it is important to understand exactly what Sartre is defending. Sartre begins his definition by defining the two groups of existentialists: Christian
existentialists and atheistic existentialists. Sartre aligns himself with the atheistic existentialists for the remainder of the essay. What the existentialist
philosophers have in common, and where Sartre begins his definition, is the idea that existence precedes essence. The reader is provided the
example of a paper cutter. A designer has a plan for a paper cutter in his/her mind and sets about creating it with the preconceived notion of its
function. This preconceived notion is the essence of the object and thus for the object (a paper cutter) essence precedes existence. That is to say the
paper cutters being is predetermined. It would follow that for essence to precede the existence in a person, there must be an individual to conceive of
the beings essence and thus bring about its existence. However, Sartre declares that there is no God and

Essay about Existentialism
"The world is, of course, nothing but our conception of it."
This quote, by Anton Chekhov, seems obvious and easy to relate to. However, it perfectly describes the concept of existentialism, which is neither
obvious nor relatable. Existentialism is "a modern philosophical movement stressing the importance of personal experience and responsibility and the
demands that they make on the individual, who is seen as a free agent in a deterministic and seemingly meaningless universe" ("Existentialism").
Existentialism is a difficult philosophy to grasp, but by exploring examples in literature and art, one can come to a better understanding of its basic
tenets.
The first tenet of existentialism is individualism and alienation, which is revealed...show more content...
Before his metamorphosis, his days were mindless, and since all he did was work, he was alienated from his family, who did not appreciate him; also
due to his obsession with work, he did not partake in society, either. After his metamorphosis, no one understood Gregor, making him entirely alone.
Just as The Metamorphosis demonstrates the alienation tenet of existentialism, "A Hunger Artist," also byFranz Kafka, describes the theme of
individualism. The hunger artist is a man who "performs" for his audiences by locking and displaying himself in a cage where he then proceeds to
starve himself. His fasts last for long periods, stretching for forty days at some points. He is obviously alone and isolated in the cage, but he is also
alienated from society. This is because he rejects the practice of eating, which he does because he just does not like food. The hunger artist represents
famous musicians, writers, painters, and other artists, who are alone because they are misunderstood and essentially isolated from the realm of society.
This perfectly describes the existential tenet of individualism and alienation. "The Yellow Wallpaper," by Charlotte Gilman also shows this tenet. "The
Yellow Wallpaper" is about Jane, a woman suffering from what one might interpret as postpartum depression. Her husband, John, who is a doctor,
prescribes

Existentialism : What Is It? Essay
Salena LeDonne
23 December 2016
Period 6
Mr. Reidinger
Existence: What Is It? One of the most persistent, haunting dilemmas is the uncertainty of the meaning of life. Although there is no single answer to
this enigma, there are countless theories concerning it. For example, one philosophical approach is known as Existentialism. Jean Paul Sartre, a
well–known existentialist, introduced his 3–word ideology, existence precedes essence in his lecture titled Existentialism is a Humanism which was
presented during 1940's Europe, a time when people needed a new foundation of thinking. From then, the theory gained popularity and became the
backbone of future pieces. For example, even Charles M. Shultz's cheery cartoon series Peanuts has camouflaged existential crises through it's
characters, particularly Charlie Brown and Snoopy. According to The Atlantic journalist Sarah Boxer, Peanuts offers more philosophical insight than
one might expect, "the strip's cozy suburban conviviality, its warm fuzziness, actually conveyed some uncomfortable truths about the loneliness of
social existence" (1). Both Charlie and Snoopy are much like the characters found in existential literature, as they are alienated by their peers and, "like
the existential human in a world of silent or absent deities, Schulz's characters exist in a world of silent or absent adult authority" (Radke).
Additionally, Sartre writes a short story titled The Wall, which reinforces the same principles of Existentialism.

Essay Existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism refers to the philosophical movement or tendency of the nineteenth and twentyth centuries. Because of the diversity of positions
associated with existentialism, a precise definition is impossible; however, it suggests one major theme: a stress on individual existence and,
consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice {3}.Existentialism also refers to a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of
human existence in the world that stresses its concreteness and its problematic character. Existentialism is often seen as an irrationlist revolt against
tradiational phylosphy. Although this may be true to a certain point, existentialism has played a key role in the way...show more content...
Nineteenth–century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard
{4, 333} reacted against this tradition, insisting that the individual's highest good is to find his or her own unique vocation. In terms of moral choice,
existentialists have argued that there is no objective, rational basis for decisions; they stress the importance of individualism in deciding questions of
morality and truth. Most existentialists have held that rational clarity is desirable wherever possible but that life's most important questions are not
accessible to reason or science. The first to anticipate existentialism's major concerns was seventeenth–century
French philosopher Blaise Pascal, who denounced a systematic philosophy that presumes to explain God and humanity. He saw life in terms of
paradoxes: The human self, combining mind and body, is itself a contradiction. Later, Kierkegaard rejected a total rational understanding of humanity
and history, stressing the ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation. Nineteenth–century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche espoused tragic
pessimism and life–affirming individual will. Heidegger argued that human beings can never hope to understand why they are here; instead, each
individual must choose a goal and follow it with passionate conviction, aware of the certainty of death and the ultimate meaninglessness of one's life.
Twentieth–century French philosopher Jean

Essay about Existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophical movement that stresses individual existence. Human beings are totally free and responsible for their own acts.
Another main idea of existentialism is the limitation of reason and the irreducibility of experience to any system. Man is not a detached observer of
the world; rather, he "exists" in a special sense – he is "in the world." Stones, trees, and other objects do not share this existence, and man is open to the
world and the objects in it. There is no set limit to how many choices man must make, and no particular set of rules or values one must follow. Rather,
there is simply a framework in which action and choice are to be viewed, implying that there are right and wrong ways of...show more content...
From the Christian standpoint, existentialists are charged with denying the reality and seriousness of human undertakings, since, if they reject God's
commandments and the eternal verities, there no longer remains anything but pure caprice, with everyone permitted to do as he pleases and incapable,
from his own point of view, of condemning the points of view and acts of others.
In any case, what can be said from the very beginning is that by existentialism we mean a doctrine which makes human life possible and, in addition,
declares that every truth and every action implies a human setting and a human subjectivity.
As is generally known, the basic charge against existentialists is that they put the emphasis on the dark side of human life. Consequently,
existentialism is regarded as something ugly; that is why existentialists are said to be naturalists; and if they are, it is rather surprising that in this
day and age we cause so much more alarm and scandal than does naturalism, properly so called. The kind of person who can take in his stride such a
novel as Zola's The Earth is disgusted as soon as he starts reading an existentialist novel; the kind of person who is resigned to the wisdom of the
ages–which is pretty sad–finds us even sadder. Yet, what can be more disillusioning than saying "true charity begins

existentialism Essay
Existentialism provides a moving account of the agony of being in the world. The spirit of existen– tialism has a long history in philosophy. But it be–
came a major movement in the second half of the 20th century. Existentialism is not a systematic body of thought like Marxism or psychoanalysis.
Instead, it is more like an umbrella under which a very wide range of thinkers struggled with ques– tions about the meaning of life.
Much of the appeal and popularity of Existential– ism is due to the sense of confusion, the crisis, and the feeling of rejection and rootlessness that
Euro– peans felt during World War II and its aftermath.
Existentialism's focus on each person's role in cre– ating meaning in their life was a major influence...show more content...
His being does not emerge from necessity. If a human being rejects the false pretensions, the illusions of his existence hav– ing a meaning, he
encounters the absurdity, the fu– tility of life. The human being's role in the world is not predetermined or fixed; every person is com– pelled to make
a choice. Choice is one thing the human being must make. The trouble is that most often the human being refuses to choose. Hence, he cannot realize
his freedom and the futility of his existence.
Basically existence is of two types: authentic and inauthentic forms of existence. Authentic existence is contrasted with dynamic and is the being–for–
itself, rising from the human being's bad faith, by which the human being moves away from the bur– den of responsibility, through this beliefs in
dogma and by regarding himself as subject to outside in– fluences and his actions to be predetermined.
There is a striking contrast between the authentic and the inauthentic forms of being; the authentic being is the being of the human being and the inau–
thentic being is the being for things. Yet, authentic being is only rarely attained by the human being; still it is what the human being must strive to
gain. The inauthentic being–in–itself is characteristically distinctive of things; it is what the human being is diseased with for his failure to see
himself as and act according as a free agent and his impotency to

Strengths Of Existentialism
This assignment is about "the main features of the existentialist view" (UoPeople, 2017), or existentialism, as well as the major strengths and
weaknesses, and what is appealing or discouraging about Sartre's Theory. First and foremost, existentialism is a philosophical theory or "approach that
emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will" (Prezi,
2017). In other ways is a philosophy that focuses on human existence and the important of their personal freedom, decision, and commitment. It
"originated with the 19th century philosophers" (Philosophybasics, 2017) Kierkegaard, who was religious, and Nietzsche, an anti–Christian, though
"they never used...show more content...
This is shown in magician when they perform their magic, and in prophets and religious leaders, who believe and have faith in these deities, can heal
people because of powers given from these deities. So, if they don't exist, then why is there a practical proof of them in these people? Another
weakness of the existentialist view is the fact that when treating patients with psychological problems, they may not fit in any of the four different
themes discussed above. As a result, they cannot be treated

Existentialism Essay
Existentialism, which spread rapidly over continental Europe after the First World War, is essentially the analysis of the condition of man, of the
particular state of being free, and of man's having constantly to use his freedom in order top answer the ever– changing and unexpected challenges of
the day. According to the Existentialists, the starting point of every philosophical investigation isconcrete human existence. That means that human
personality in itself should point the way to the absolute value of reality. A single definition of existentialism is impossible. Definitions, provided by
dictionaries are only part of what existentialism is about. ...central to each definition is the assertion that existentialism is a theory or...show more
content...
When men acknowledges that there are others that makeup the society in which he exists, the man discovers that he has identity. People know who he
is and what he does, then he discovers that he is "a being in the world of others"(4) If man can acknowledge his facticity situation, that is
accept that he is a being with biological and social past, that means that he is according to Sartre acting clear headed, and in good faith. This means
that man manifests his freedom authentically and therefore his freedom is real. I think that Sartre's tenets are applicable to life. I can think of
many occasions in which we face realizations we are not prepare for and act without a clear head, and this not allows us to achieve peace of our
minds. Once a clear head is put to use, Sartre says, the reconciliation and peace of mind will come (5) As atheist, Sartre states that no one can escape
from his/her freedom, and that the human being is absolute free, and as he believes there is no Got, that means that our freedom is unrestricted. We
and only we are responsible for

Existentialism

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