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Existentialism Paper
Existentialism Paper Existentialism is a very broad subject in which there are many philosophers
who have studied it and what it means. Some of whom are Franz Kafka, Soren Kierkegaard, and
Friedrich Nietzsche. They all had specific views on life and what it means. The characters that we
read, and watch show some of the aspects of this philosopher's ideas on existentialism. Claudius
shows Kafka's idea that all actions will come back and hurt you somehow. Ophelia shows Sorens
idea of that love is all, it gives, and it takes all. Phil Connors shows Nietzsche's idea that you should
do the right thing in life.This is how I believe that each character represents the philosopher's idea.
Franz Kafka wrote that " ...they are hopelessly caught, not...show more content...
In the beginning of the movie Phil was a selfish prick who didn't care for anyone but himself.
During his time he would commit crimes, use women, and be rude to his new's team. But later
one in his time he started to be a little bit nicer he Rita and others in the community. Finally he
found his way out of the loop by giving back to the community and devoting his entire time in the
loop to helping others and finding actual love in Rita and treating her and others with the respect
they deserve. Existentialism is a huge concept that covers things from love to revenge and so
many people have tried to find its meaning. Franz Kafka, Soren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich
Nietzsche are just 3 of the many philosophers who find their meaning of existentialism. Franz
Kafka talks about how setting up a plan may come back with the gravest of consequences, Claudius
represents this idea. Soren Kierkegaard Says that love gives all and takes all Ophelia represents this
idea. Finally Friedrich Nietzsche says that one should devote their lives to charity, Phil Connors
represents this
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Subjectivity in Existentialism is a Humanism
In Existentialism is a humanism, French philosopher and existentialist Jean–Paul Sartre defends
existentialism from 20th century critics who believed that its overly subjective nature promotes
anguish, abandonment, and despair. Sartre explains these common misconceptions about
existentialism and argues that it is not a pessimist point of view, but the complete opposite. In what
follows, I will explain how Sartre not only invalidates the surging misconceptions, but how he also
turns his explanation into an optimistic and humanitarian work.
During the 20th century, many philosophers including Communists and Christians were criticizing a
surging attitude commonly known as "existentialism". Communists, for example, argued that the
emphasis that existentialism has on individual choice leads to contemplation rather than to action.
Christians reproached the way that existentialists overlook the dignity that originates from being
created from the image of God. Also, publics viewed subjectivity in existentialism as a bad thing
because if human values originate from subjective human choices, then all human action is arbitrary.
They argued that from one 's own subjective point of view, whatever one does is the right thing.
Therefore, this creates the notion that life does not have predetermined values. In other words: to an
existentialist, there is no such thing as a standard of values because there is no God or perfect being
to
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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
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Existentialism, By Jean Sartre Essay
Existentialism is an entity unable to be coined to a simple term or phrase; it is the embodiment of
many topics, but all coexist under these similar themes – man is a conscious, absurdity, nothingness,
death, alienation, and anxiety. Jean–Paul Sartre was a prominent existentialist from Paris, France; in
his existentialist works, he held strongly to the ideal people do not have to continue with the
ailments in their lives. He also believed capitalism enslaves humans , stopping them from reaching
their full potential. He was a self–proclaimed communist, who spread subliminal anti–capitalist
messages in his novels, such as Nausea. He primarily focuses on the themes anxiety and
meaninglessness in his writings; such as in Nausea, where Antoine, Anny, and The Self
–Taught Man
all face their own solitude and undergo a transformation, resulting in the realization, the world is
strange and somewhat meaningless. Jean Sartre's character , Antoine, a French writer goes through
life being scared of his own existence, and expresses his peculiar experiences and interactions
through the form of a diary. Antoine interacts with many other characters, and experiences an entity
he calls "nausea", which is a representation his anxiety. This feeling captivates him the most when
he is in uncomfortable settings or forced to interact with others. Antoine is in the process of writing
a novel about Marquis de Rollebon. At one time we was excited to finish the novel, but he quickly
loses all
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Essay on Existentialism in Night
Existentialism in Night In his essay "Existentialism", Jean Paul Sartre discusses the main beliefs
of existentialism. Perhaps the most important belief of existentialism is that there is no human
nature, and there is no God. This means that each individual man has control of his own destiny.
The definition of each individual man is the sum of his life and all he has accomplished in his life.
He is also responsible for all the choices and actions he makes in his life. These types of choices and
actions can be seen in the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel. This book is a story about a boy, Wiesel, who
is taken to a concentration camp with his family. It follows him and his father through their trials
and movement from Auschwitz...show more content...
The poor man Moshe the Beadle helps him; they would sit for hours and talk. Sartre would call this
existentialism. Wiesel took control of his own destiny and future, despite his father's wishes. He
doesn't let his father's efforts discourage him. He begins to learn the cabbala, which is an
existentialist decision since the main idea of existentialism is creating your own self.
Another example of an existentialist decision occurs in the concentration camp of Buna, when a
young boy is to be hanged with two adults. Many of the Oberkapos had little boys that they liked
and had hang around for sexual purposes. Someone at the camp was suspected of blowing up the
electric station, and eventually they found it to be the Dutch Oberkapo, and he was arrested.
This Oberkapo had a little boy (not his son), and he would not say whether or not the man had
done it, so they decided to hang him. Many of the men are thoroughly disturbed by the fact that
the boy being hanged was so young. Many of the young boys grew meaner than some adults, but
"the Dutchman's little servant was loved by all. He had the face of a sad angel" (60). The
Lagerkapo who is supposed to do the hanging refuses, and SS officers have to step in and perform
the execution. This Lagerkapo shows an existentialist decision because he takes control of his own
life. He does not want his life to include the hanging of a small boy. Remember, according to Sartre,
a man's life includes
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Existentialism : A Very Short Introduction Essay
"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It 's about the choice to
show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen" (Brown). In
the book Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn writes about one of the leading
philosophical movements in the twentieth century: existentialism. This theory emphasizes that each
individual is entirely free, making them responsible and accountable for their actions or choices.
With this idea, your choices are solely based on your own judgment, not anyone else's. The book
focuses on seven leading figures, Jean–Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Soren
Kierkegaard, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau–Ponty, and Camus who contributed to and
greatly influenced the movement (Flynn). The seven individuals were popular philosophers who
studied many topics, as well as contributed to and founded different theories with a great focus on
existentialism. The book discusses key themes of free will and personal responsibility as well. Free
will is the ability to choose from among various alternatives and options. Throughout life, each
individual has the ability to choose how they live their life because of their position as a
self–determining agent, although making them responsible for the authenticity of their decisions.
Authenticity can be defined as something that is original or genuine, not a copy of anything else. It
resides in one of the themes of
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Reaction Paper On Existentialism
The world we live in is an odd one; some cope with its absurdities through intensive faith, others
through utter disregard of all its meaning. Existentialism, however, leads us down a peculiar path
that blurs these concepts into one unique belief system. While we might be faced with situations
beyond our complete control, we do have the power to control how we handle said situations and
whether or not we choose to cultivate significance from them. The search for significance is very
primitive and so are the answers that have accompanied it throughout human history. Obviously,
life doesn't have a clearly stated purpose to it; it is up to each individual to create their own
relative purpose and find their own happiness in a life of suffering. This is exactly what
Existentialism proposes, that it is not possible to know the truth, so it is up to the individual to
create his or her own, and then create their own purpose. Merriam–Webster defines the philosophy
theory of Existentialism as a "...philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering
on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who
must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is
right or wrong or good or bad." But Existentialism is not a concept that can simply be defined in one
fell swoop. Throughout our studies of philosophy, I found there to be two main concepts that act as
the foundation for the basic
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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 by Franz 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
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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
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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.
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Existentialism: Choice In The Concentration Camps
Existentialism concentrates on many things like freedom of oneself and responsibility as I said
before but the one thing Existentialists stress the most; choice. Almost everyone in these two stories
had a choice from the lamplighter lighting the lights every night to the people in the concentration
camps and that choice decided what was going to become of
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Existentialism Is Humanism Essay
How to live authentically is a question that arises when speaking of existentialism and humanism.
Authenticity describes the mode of being true to one self, living an honest and free life. Both
Nietzsche and Sartre propose ideas and perspectives on the nature of human life and their existence.
As human beings, Sartre and Nietzsche identify how we, possibly unknowingly, alienate ourselves
from the modes of living authentically instead of accepting into authentic practices. In Sartre's
"Being and Nothingness" and "Existentialism is Humanism", the philosopher discusses the
importance of achieving freedom and characterizing one's identity. In Nietzsche's "Gay Science
Excerpts" and "History Essay", he discusses the emergence of individuality...show more content...
First, she reduces anything the man says down to only facticity and fails to transcend any further,
secondly, she postpones her responsibility of deciding towards the man, "The young woman leaves
her hand there, but she does not notice that she is leaving it." (p.56) She is so occupied in
conversation that she has disconnected herself physically from her emotional being, which as Sartre
states, she neither consents this action or resists it. This example portrays a paradox between the
two personages involved in bad faith to be the same person; the deceiver is the one that is deceived,
the contradiction of knowing the truth and yet denying it. It is to say, that to live authentically you
must take responsibility towards being sincere and truthful to oneself.
Sartre recognizes the importance of freedom and individuality through his ontology. He differs
human beings' actuality through a comparison between human and an object. An object is produced
with the intention of having a purpose behind it, where as humans are defined by the first principle
of existentialism, "...man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the word
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Essay about The Philosophy of Existentialism
'The most dangerous follower is he whose defection would destroy the whole party: that is to say,
the best follower.' – Friedrich Nietzsche
Being recognizable and distinctive nowadays is something most individuals seek after. To become
important or standing out in any community is not something today's individuals have created or
whatsoever! Ever since the twentieth century and even before, that belief and eagerness to prove
your existence has been noticeably present. Not only between common people has this been there,
also philosophers had sincerely thought about that humanly keenness to prove that one is different
and essential, and tried to philosophically explain it.
The term used for that theory is existentialism; as explained by...show more content...
Another observation is that most of these philosophers were either religious moralists (a
philosopher who specializes in moral issues related to religion), agnostic relativists (who are
people that believe the existence of a higher power can't be proven or disproven, as well as
believe that some elements of experience are relative in terms of what they depend on, for
example), or the last and most common type are amoral atheists (who are people that don't believe
in the existence of a higher god, however don't have their own sets of morals and ethics that they
follow).
This, we can most clearly regard in the two most famous philosophers of the 19th century that have
been one of the first; SĐ“Ń‘ren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. Later on during the 20th century,
Martin Heidegger (a German philosopher) influenced other existentialist philosophers like Albert
Camus, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, was a religious
philosopher that believed in god however was interested in the individual silent struggle of humans
with their so seeming meaningless life, and the way they used diversion to escape this world's
boredom.
Nietzsche on the other hand, the German philosopher, was a pure anti–Christian that argued that
"God is dead" (according to the change that has happened in the European churches at that
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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
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Existentialism : A Philosophical Theory Essay
What is existentialism? Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existences of
one against it 's freedom of choice and will. It is also interpreted that humans come into the world
without a nature. Humanity has no universal established in advance principles or ethics common to
all of humankind. Since there is no preformed essence or definition exists of what is means to "be
human," a person must form its own conception of any existence by maintaining the actions of and
responsibility for its actions and choices. Consequently, a human being gains his/her essence
through individual choices and actions. It is simply through the process of living life that one can
define only itself. Existence in one does not include the consequence one will make.When we are
created in the world we are created without knowledge , we are produce to learn things throughout
life and chose the way and how we are going to live our lives. We have no choice but to make our
decisions for ourselves even if they are morally incorrect. The acceptance of one's decision will
maintain on what happened to and how one interpret the outcome. Though when humans are morally
incorrect, we are unlikely to admit it.Another concept of existentialism is resentment , the resentment
of one of it 's past cannot be ignored though one future can change. In No exit by Jean– Paul Sartre
each character is placed in the same room with no way out, it introduces existentialism in many ways.
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Existential Nihilism Research Paper
Now sometime ago, I wrote in a post that I would be studying up on Eastern religions and their
concept of God; because, typical arguments against God in the West only really work towards the
monotheistic Western deity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, I have been reading up quite a
bit between my studies at university. I can't say that I'm finished studying up on these interesting and
highly complex religions, but I will go over where I am, personally, at the moment.
Let me start out by saying, I was always leaning more towards existential nihilism to begin with and
less towards humanism. Humanism sounds great, but for various reasons I found it problematic.
Maybe I just don't share Humanism's optimism, but I digress.
So let's talk about Buddhism. Buddhism, unlike many religions...show more content...
Why? Well, for one there is no better and easier way to learn about areligion than to go to their
religious service. Secondly, I seek to mediate properly, as mediation has many beneficial effects.
Thirdly, and most importantly, I am an open minded person.
I am starting to realize that the Buddhist view of human nature seems to be quite accurate. Human
beings are not "fallen." Still, every intentional action has moral significance, and we would all be
happier if we learn to control are mind. In a nutshell, it's not the situation that's the problem, it's what
we think about a given situation that's a problem. If you think a situation is horrible, terrible, or
unlivable it is. If you think the situation isn't that bad after all you won't suffer as much. Now, if you
don't believe me about the thinking part, consider asking any psychologist. I have.
The Western monotheistic deity I, certainly, see as false. (See many of my other posts.) Still, I am
playing around and toying with different ideas. I am not saying I am converting to Buddhism, but so
far, it's been
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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, inchoosing 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
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Existentialism : A Philosophical Movement
"The existential attitude begins with a disoriented individual facing a confused world that the cannot
accept" – Robert Solomon Existentialism is best considered a philosophical movement established
after World War II. People in this movement examined the problem of life for human beings. Each
existentialist believes that life is absurd and has no meaning. Their common concern was with the
"human condition". Existentialists have differing evaluations of the human condition but all of them
believe that "existence precedes essence". This means that people are born without pre–existing or
pre–determined circumstances or rules by which to conduct their lives. Sartre was an atheist and
therefore didn't believe in the morals set forth by the divine creator God. People come into the
world lacking essence, and simply exist and can make choices to determine their essence. All
existentialists reject systems which propose to have answers to the definitive questions of life.
Existentialists believed that believing in an all–encompassing system such as Christianity was
detrimental to a person's true capability of being free. People who believe in God believe that
"essence precedes existence", which is the opposite of existentialist belief. Soren Kierkegaard's
father believed that a youthful denunciation of God had brought a curse upon his family and that all
his children would die before the age of thirty–four, which was true for all but Kierkegaard and one
brother. Kierkegaard studied
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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
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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
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Essays On Existentialism

  • 1. Existentialism Paper Existentialism Paper Existentialism is a very broad subject in which there are many philosophers who have studied it and what it means. Some of whom are Franz Kafka, Soren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich Nietzsche. They all had specific views on life and what it means. The characters that we read, and watch show some of the aspects of this philosopher's ideas on existentialism. Claudius shows Kafka's idea that all actions will come back and hurt you somehow. Ophelia shows Sorens idea of that love is all, it gives, and it takes all. Phil Connors shows Nietzsche's idea that you should do the right thing in life.This is how I believe that each character represents the philosopher's idea. Franz Kafka wrote that " ...they are hopelessly caught, not...show more content... In the beginning of the movie Phil was a selfish prick who didn't care for anyone but himself. During his time he would commit crimes, use women, and be rude to his new's team. But later one in his time he started to be a little bit nicer he Rita and others in the community. Finally he found his way out of the loop by giving back to the community and devoting his entire time in the loop to helping others and finding actual love in Rita and treating her and others with the respect they deserve. Existentialism is a huge concept that covers things from love to revenge and so many people have tried to find its meaning. Franz Kafka, Soren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich Nietzsche are just 3 of the many philosophers who find their meaning of existentialism. Franz Kafka talks about how setting up a plan may come back with the gravest of consequences, Claudius represents this idea. Soren Kierkegaard Says that love gives all and takes all Ophelia represents this idea. Finally Friedrich Nietzsche says that one should devote their lives to charity, Phil Connors represents this Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Subjectivity in Existentialism is a Humanism In Existentialism is a humanism, French philosopher and existentialist Jean–Paul Sartre defends existentialism from 20th century critics who believed that its overly subjective nature promotes anguish, abandonment, and despair. Sartre explains these common misconceptions about existentialism and argues that it is not a pessimist point of view, but the complete opposite. In what follows, I will explain how Sartre not only invalidates the surging misconceptions, but how he also turns his explanation into an optimistic and humanitarian work. During the 20th century, many philosophers including Communists and Christians were criticizing a surging attitude commonly known as "existentialism". Communists, for example, argued that the emphasis that existentialism has on individual choice leads to contemplation rather than to action. Christians reproached the way that existentialists overlook the dignity that originates from being created from the image of God. Also, publics viewed subjectivity in existentialism as a bad thing because if human values originate from subjective human choices, then all human action is arbitrary. They argued that from one 's own subjective point of view, whatever one does is the right thing. Therefore, this creates the notion that life does not have predetermined values. In other words: to an existentialist, there is no such thing as a standard of values because there is no God or perfect being to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Existentialism, By Jean Sartre Essay Existentialism is an entity unable to be coined to a simple term or phrase; it is the embodiment of many topics, but all coexist under these similar themes – man is a conscious, absurdity, nothingness, death, alienation, and anxiety. Jean–Paul Sartre was a prominent existentialist from Paris, France; in his existentialist works, he held strongly to the ideal people do not have to continue with the ailments in their lives. He also believed capitalism enslaves humans , stopping them from reaching their full potential. He was a self–proclaimed communist, who spread subliminal anti–capitalist messages in his novels, such as Nausea. He primarily focuses on the themes anxiety and meaninglessness in his writings; such as in Nausea, where Antoine, Anny, and The Self –Taught Man all face their own solitude and undergo a transformation, resulting in the realization, the world is strange and somewhat meaningless. Jean Sartre's character , Antoine, a French writer goes through life being scared of his own existence, and expresses his peculiar experiences and interactions through the form of a diary. Antoine interacts with many other characters, and experiences an entity he calls "nausea", which is a representation his anxiety. This feeling captivates him the most when he is in uncomfortable settings or forced to interact with others. Antoine is in the process of writing a novel about Marquis de Rollebon. At one time we was excited to finish the novel, but he quickly loses all Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. Essay on Existentialism in Night Existentialism in Night In his essay "Existentialism", Jean Paul Sartre discusses the main beliefs of existentialism. Perhaps the most important belief of existentialism is that there is no human nature, and there is no God. This means that each individual man has control of his own destiny. The definition of each individual man is the sum of his life and all he has accomplished in his life. He is also responsible for all the choices and actions he makes in his life. These types of choices and actions can be seen in the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel. This book is a story about a boy, Wiesel, who is taken to a concentration camp with his family. It follows him and his father through their trials and movement from Auschwitz...show more content... The poor man Moshe the Beadle helps him; they would sit for hours and talk. Sartre would call this existentialism. Wiesel took control of his own destiny and future, despite his father's wishes. He doesn't let his father's efforts discourage him. He begins to learn the cabbala, which is an existentialist decision since the main idea of existentialism is creating your own self. Another example of an existentialist decision occurs in the concentration camp of Buna, when a young boy is to be hanged with two adults. Many of the Oberkapos had little boys that they liked and had hang around for sexual purposes. Someone at the camp was suspected of blowing up the electric station, and eventually they found it to be the Dutch Oberkapo, and he was arrested. This Oberkapo had a little boy (not his son), and he would not say whether or not the man had done it, so they decided to hang him. Many of the men are thoroughly disturbed by the fact that the boy being hanged was so young. Many of the young boys grew meaner than some adults, but "the Dutchman's little servant was loved by all. He had the face of a sad angel" (60). The Lagerkapo who is supposed to do the hanging refuses, and SS officers have to step in and perform the execution. This Lagerkapo shows an existentialist decision because he takes control of his own life. He does not want his life to include the hanging of a small boy. Remember, according to Sartre, a man's life includes Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Existentialism : A Very Short Introduction Essay "Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It 's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen" (Brown). In the book Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn writes about one of the leading philosophical movements in the twentieth century: existentialism. This theory emphasizes that each individual is entirely free, making them responsible and accountable for their actions or choices. With this idea, your choices are solely based on your own judgment, not anyone else's. The book focuses on seven leading figures, Jean–Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Soren Kierkegaard, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau–Ponty, and Camus who contributed to and greatly influenced the movement (Flynn). The seven individuals were popular philosophers who studied many topics, as well as contributed to and founded different theories with a great focus on existentialism. The book discusses key themes of free will and personal responsibility as well. Free will is the ability to choose from among various alternatives and options. Throughout life, each individual has the ability to choose how they live their life because of their position as a self–determining agent, although making them responsible for the authenticity of their decisions. Authenticity can be defined as something that is original or genuine, not a copy of anything else. It resides in one of the themes of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Reaction Paper On Existentialism The world we live in is an odd one; some cope with its absurdities through intensive faith, others through utter disregard of all its meaning. Existentialism, however, leads us down a peculiar path that blurs these concepts into one unique belief system. While we might be faced with situations beyond our complete control, we do have the power to control how we handle said situations and whether or not we choose to cultivate significance from them. The search for significance is very primitive and so are the answers that have accompanied it throughout human history. Obviously, life doesn't have a clearly stated purpose to it; it is up to each individual to create their own relative purpose and find their own happiness in a life of suffering. This is exactly what Existentialism proposes, that it is not possible to know the truth, so it is up to the individual to create his or her own, and then create their own purpose. Merriam–Webster defines the philosophy theory of Existentialism as a "...philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad." But Existentialism is not a concept that can simply be defined in one fell swoop. Throughout our studies of philosophy, I found there to be two main concepts that act as the foundation for the basic Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. 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 by Franz 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. 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. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Existentialism: Choice In The Concentration Camps Existentialism concentrates on many things like freedom of oneself and responsibility as I said before but the one thing Existentialists stress the most; choice. Almost everyone in these two stories had a choice from the lamplighter lighting the lights every night to the people in the concentration camps and that choice decided what was going to become of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Existentialism Is Humanism Essay How to live authentically is a question that arises when speaking of existentialism and humanism. Authenticity describes the mode of being true to one self, living an honest and free life. Both Nietzsche and Sartre propose ideas and perspectives on the nature of human life and their existence. As human beings, Sartre and Nietzsche identify how we, possibly unknowingly, alienate ourselves from the modes of living authentically instead of accepting into authentic practices. In Sartre's "Being and Nothingness" and "Existentialism is Humanism", the philosopher discusses the importance of achieving freedom and characterizing one's identity. In Nietzsche's "Gay Science Excerpts" and "History Essay", he discusses the emergence of individuality...show more content... First, she reduces anything the man says down to only facticity and fails to transcend any further, secondly, she postpones her responsibility of deciding towards the man, "The young woman leaves her hand there, but she does not notice that she is leaving it." (p.56) She is so occupied in conversation that she has disconnected herself physically from her emotional being, which as Sartre states, she neither consents this action or resists it. This example portrays a paradox between the two personages involved in bad faith to be the same person; the deceiver is the one that is deceived, the contradiction of knowing the truth and yet denying it. It is to say, that to live authentically you must take responsibility towards being sincere and truthful to oneself. Sartre recognizes the importance of freedom and individuality through his ontology. He differs human beings' actuality through a comparison between human and an object. An object is produced with the intention of having a purpose behind it, where as humans are defined by the first principle of existentialism, "...man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the word Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Essay about The Philosophy of Existentialism 'The most dangerous follower is he whose defection would destroy the whole party: that is to say, the best follower.' – Friedrich Nietzsche Being recognizable and distinctive nowadays is something most individuals seek after. To become important or standing out in any community is not something today's individuals have created or whatsoever! Ever since the twentieth century and even before, that belief and eagerness to prove your existence has been noticeably present. Not only between common people has this been there, also philosophers had sincerely thought about that humanly keenness to prove that one is different and essential, and tried to philosophically explain it. The term used for that theory is existentialism; as explained by...show more content... Another observation is that most of these philosophers were either religious moralists (a philosopher who specializes in moral issues related to religion), agnostic relativists (who are people that believe the existence of a higher power can't be proven or disproven, as well as believe that some elements of experience are relative in terms of what they depend on, for example), or the last and most common type are amoral atheists (who are people that don't believe in the existence of a higher god, however don't have their own sets of morals and ethics that they follow). This, we can most clearly regard in the two most famous philosophers of the 19th century that have been one of the first; SĐ“Ń‘ren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. Later on during the 20th century, Martin Heidegger (a German philosopher) influenced other existentialist philosophers like Albert Camus, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, was a religious philosopher that believed in god however was interested in the individual silent struggle of humans with their so seeming meaningless life, and the way they used diversion to escape this world's boredom. Nietzsche on the other hand, the German philosopher, was a pure anti–Christian that argued that "God is dead" (according to the change that has happened in the European churches at that Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Existentialism : A Philosophical Theory Essay What is existentialism? Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existences of one against it 's freedom of choice and will. It is also interpreted that humans come into the world without a nature. Humanity has no universal established in advance principles or ethics common to all of humankind. Since there is no preformed essence or definition exists of what is means to "be human," a person must form its own conception of any existence by maintaining the actions of and responsibility for its actions and choices. Consequently, a human being gains his/her essence through individual choices and actions. It is simply through the process of living life that one can define only itself. Existence in one does not include the consequence one will make.When we are created in the world we are created without knowledge , we are produce to learn things throughout life and chose the way and how we are going to live our lives. We have no choice but to make our decisions for ourselves even if they are morally incorrect. The acceptance of one's decision will maintain on what happened to and how one interpret the outcome. Though when humans are morally incorrect, we are unlikely to admit it.Another concept of existentialism is resentment , the resentment of one of it 's past cannot be ignored though one future can change. In No exit by Jean– Paul Sartre each character is placed in the same room with no way out, it introduces existentialism in many ways. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Existential Nihilism Research Paper Now sometime ago, I wrote in a post that I would be studying up on Eastern religions and their concept of God; because, typical arguments against God in the West only really work towards the monotheistic Western deity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, I have been reading up quite a bit between my studies at university. I can't say that I'm finished studying up on these interesting and highly complex religions, but I will go over where I am, personally, at the moment. Let me start out by saying, I was always leaning more towards existential nihilism to begin with and less towards humanism. Humanism sounds great, but for various reasons I found it problematic. Maybe I just don't share Humanism's optimism, but I digress. So let's talk about Buddhism. Buddhism, unlike many religions...show more content... Why? Well, for one there is no better and easier way to learn about areligion than to go to their religious service. Secondly, I seek to mediate properly, as mediation has many beneficial effects. Thirdly, and most importantly, I am an open minded person. I am starting to realize that the Buddhist view of human nature seems to be quite accurate. Human beings are not "fallen." Still, every intentional action has moral significance, and we would all be happier if we learn to control are mind. In a nutshell, it's not the situation that's the problem, it's what we think about a given situation that's a problem. If you think a situation is horrible, terrible, or unlivable it is. If you think the situation isn't that bad after all you won't suffer as much. Now, if you don't believe me about the thinking part, consider asking any psychologist. I have. The Western monotheistic deity I, certainly, see as false. (See many of my other posts.) Still, I am playing around and toying with different ideas. I am not saying I am converting to Buddhism, but so far, it's been Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. 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, inchoosing 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. Existentialism : A Philosophical Movement "The existential attitude begins with a disoriented individual facing a confused world that the cannot accept" – Robert Solomon Existentialism is best considered a philosophical movement established after World War II. People in this movement examined the problem of life for human beings. Each existentialist believes that life is absurd and has no meaning. Their common concern was with the "human condition". Existentialists have differing evaluations of the human condition but all of them believe that "existence precedes essence". This means that people are born without pre–existing or pre–determined circumstances or rules by which to conduct their lives. Sartre was an atheist and therefore didn't believe in the morals set forth by the divine creator God. People come into the world lacking essence, and simply exist and can make choices to determine their essence. All existentialists reject systems which propose to have answers to the definitive questions of life. Existentialists believed that believing in an all–encompassing system such as Christianity was detrimental to a person's true capability of being free. People who believe in God believe that "essence precedes existence", which is the opposite of existentialist belief. Soren Kierkegaard's father believed that a youthful denunciation of God had brought a curse upon his family and that all his children would die before the age of thirty–four, which was true for all but Kierkegaard and one brother. Kierkegaard studied Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 20. 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 Get more content on HelpWriting.net