Introduction to Existentialism Literature and Philosophy

The concept of existentialist thought. What does it all mean? Why are we here? What should I do with my life? Philosophers analyze, parse, and then they try to come up with reasons for their beliefs and reasoned answers for their questions.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOVE IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT. WARNING: EXISTENTIALISM DEALS WITH INTENSE THEOLOGICAL (“RELIGIOUS STUDY”) AND ONTOLOGICAL (“STUDY OF BEING”) AS WELL AS EPISTEMOLOGICAL (“STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE”) ISSUES. THIS CLASS IS NOT ENDORSING EXISTENTIALISM AS BEING ANYTHING MORE THAN MERE THEORY. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING THE TENETS OF EXISTENTIALISM AND RELATING THEM TO LITERATURE. EXISTENTIALISM CAN BE DEPRESSING. IT TENDS TO PROJECT “LIFE-AS-MEANINGLESS, AND A GLASS-HALF-EMPTY” SORT OF VIEW ON THINGS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOVE IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT.

The Problem with Humans Humans crave meaning A universe that makes sense Create stories to make sense out of the universe; but when the universe doesn’t cooperate you feel like a stranger in the world

EXISTENTIALISM A complex philosophy emphasizing the existence of the human being, the lack of meaning and purpose in life, and the solitude of human existence… ANDREW WYETH Christina’s World (1948)

It was during the Second World War, when Europe found itself in a crisis faced with death and destruction, that the existential movement began to flourish, popularized in France in the 1940s… GEORGIO DE CHIRICO Love Song

Two Different Types of Existentialists Godly (Kierkegaard; Marcel and Maritain (Catholic); Tillich and Berdyaev (Protestant) and Buber (Jewish)) Believe God exists, but people are alienated from Him. Man is alienated from his God-like self, and the problem of his life is trying to close that gap Being free involves accepting the responsibility for choice and committing to the choice Ungodly (Sartre and Camus) Do not believe God exists. “Because there is no God to give purpose to the universe, each man must accept individual responsibility for his own becoming.” In choosing for himself, he chooses for all men “the image of man as he ought to be.” He has to make good choices that others could follow

Existence Precedes Essence Cogito ergo sum. Existence Precedes Essence I think; therefore, I am! “Existence precedes essence” implies that the human being has no essence when he is born (no essential self). I think therefore I am

Existence Before Essence People are born like a blank slate and create their essence or being through their unique experiences.

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Big Ideas of Existentialism Despite encompassing a huge range of philosophical, religious, and political ideologies, the underlying concepts of existentialism are simple… MARK ROTHKO Untitled (1968)

Tenant 1: Absurdism The belief nothing can explain or rationalize human existence. There is no answer to “Why am I?” Humans exist in a meaningless, irrational universe and any search for order will bring them into direct conflict with this universe.

#2: Alienation or Estrangement From all other humans From human institutions From the past From the future We only exist right now, right here… EDGAR DEGAS “L’absinthe” (1876)

#3: Nothingness and Death Death hangs over all of us. Our awareness of it can bring freedom or anguish. “Nothingness is our inherent lack of self. We are in constant pursuit of a self. Nothingness is the creative well-spring from which all human possibilities can be realized.” –Jean-Paul Sartre

#4: Freedom: Choice and Commitment Humans have freedom to choose Each individual makes choices that create his or her own nature Because we choose, we must accept risk and responsibility for wherever our commitments take us “A human being is absolutely free and absolutely responsible. Anguish is the result of not accepting this.” –Jean-Paul Sartre

#5: Dread and Anxiety Anxiety stems from our understanding and recognition of the total freedom of choice that confronts us every moment, and the individual’s confrontation with nothingness.

Individual vs. History and Mass Culture Modern life has an alienating and dehumanizing effect of man. We live in an age that is becoming more impersonal everyday. If anything, modern man lives dread and regret because of meaningless jobs with mind-numbing repetitions.

The Big Names of Existentialism Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heidegger