Existentialism By: Danette Crosby & Tracey Cromer

Introduction  Socrates has been considered to be the first existentialist.  Existentialism is philosophical and literary tendency that typically displays a dismissal of abstract theories that seeks to disguise the untidiness of actual human lives and emphasizes the subjective realities of individual existence, individual freedom, and individual choice. It is virtually impossible to define absolutely as it is now so broad in its approaches but some of its major strands can be outlined.

In Brief Existence does not mean living a life alone, it means to maintain perfect, powerful, self-conscious, responsible and intelligent life. Man should get opportunity for subjective consciousness. Truth is realized only in inner life. As modern mechanical and industrial life has taken away individual freedom from man, existentialism lays emphasis on freedom and individual responsibility. It has an eye view on human weaknesses and insecurity as man is leading a lonely life, being surrounded by anxieties, frustrations, fear, feelings of guilt and etc. His individuality is being crushed.

Origins  Soren Kierkegaard may be considered the founder of the philosophy. Since his time many writers and thinkers and influenced this philosophy.  After WWII, there was a surgence for philosophic ideas that are concerned with existential approaches to life.  Jean Paul Sartre was the principal writer that popularized the atheistic and humanistic approach.

Key Terms   Essence: Existence precedes essence. In other words, Man first is, then he defines himself.   Contingency: contingency of human life is the “giveness” or “throwness”. In other words, man is thrown into the social world which is unnatural to him.

Other Key Terms  Reality: Life is suffering. There is nothing before life or after life. It is only the here and now.  Knowledge: Individual has free will of choices in all areas of life. These choices have consequences.  Purpose of Education: To allow students to freely choose their own path in education to obtain intrinsic value.

Approaches  Emphasis is on each person finding their own way in life.  Making their own choices: including, in particular, all serious and monumental life-choices.  Individual choices.  Acceptance of moral standards could provide an objective basis for making choices Existentialism’s denial of the existence of moral standards means that the primary basis for the making of choices has to be subjective. Persons actively engaged in situations may well make choices that are subjectively valid in terms of themselves, there and then, but which might seem questionable to other people.  Free to choose their own path, but must accept the risk and responsibility of following their commitment wherever it may lead.

Choices  Choices influence the ensuing nature and aspect of the person who makes them.  Even choosing not to make a choice is a form of choice.  People are faced with choices in everything they do.  Choices made tend to establish the subsequent pattern of individuals lives.

Meaning of existentialism  Existentialism represents a protest against the rationalism of traditional philosophy, against misleading notions of the bourgeois culture, and the dehumanizing values of industrial civilization. Since alienation, loneliness and self-strangement constitute threats to human personality in the modern world, existential thought has viewed as its cardinal concerns a quest for subjective truth, a reaction against the “negation of Being” and a perennial search for freedom.

Influences on Curriculum  Teachers and students are able to make their own choices regarding educational input.  However, choices have consequences.

Impact  Choices are made with positive or negative impact. However, choices need to be made that are intrinsic to add value to oneself. Honors and accolades do not add to ones self worth.  External consequences could be poor grades, summer school, detention, retention the stigma of being an underachiever.

Historical Context for Schools  Early years of education only focused on the Three R’s. Schools were concerned with turning out literate citizens.  Schools now how have more choices such as many types of math, science and elective courses.  Many extracurricular activities are also offered.

Academic Content Standards Academic Content Standards  Content standards would be difficult to reach using the existentialist philosophy due to self choice. The student must choose to participate in order to achieve. The student must first realize that academic achievement results in intrinsic value. Until that is realized no progress can be made.

Curriculum  Existentialism fits in between outcome and experience in the curriculum.  Outcome curriculum refers to consequences of what the student does however, it is a planned learning.  Experience curriculum refers to the student experiencing through a development process, however, it demand group ways of thinking and acting.

Personal Connection  In order for a student to achieve they must be allowed to make the choices to reach their own pinnacle of success.  Some students will never be motivated to achieve the standard in education however, they have already succeeded in their own eyes because they have made their own choices and are willing to accept the consequences.

In Summation   In simpler terms, existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. Personal choices become unique without the necessity of an objective form of truth. Existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules or traditions.