1. David Rawnsley St John’s Grammar School
Existentialism
David Rawnsley
St John’s Grammar School

2. Plato
Dear Ima,
We can know the things which are eternal, absolute and universal.
We know these things through reasoning – using our mind to gain understanding of the world of ideals.
This knowledge is valuable in its
own right and helps us know how
to live.
Plato

3. Aristotle Dear Ima, We can describe the world around us
and discover the laws which govern it.
We know these things through observation, categorisation and reasoning.
This knowledge is valuable
because it describes our world.
Aristotle

4. St Augustine
Dear Ima,
We can know the things which God allows us to know.
We know these things through prayer and contemplation.
This knowledge is valuable because it leads us to God.
Augustine
Blake’s Ancient of Days

5. St Francis of Assisi Dear Ima,
We can know the things which God allows us to know.
We know these things through enjoying living in his creation.
This knowledge is valuable because it allows us to live as God intended.
Francis
God creating adam

6. Descartes
Dear Ima,
We can only know the things which are capable of reason.
We know these things through logically using our mind to gain understanding of the physical world.
This knowledge is valuable so that we are not deceived.
Rene

7. Bacon, Hobbes, Locke and Berkeley
Dear Ima,
We can know particular things which we experience.
We know these things second hand through our physical senses.
This knowledge is valuable because it gives us power over our world
– Knowledge is power.
Francis, Tom, John and George

8. Newton Dear Ima, We can know the things about our physical world.
We know these things through the scientific methods of induction.
This knowledge is valuable
in its own right.
Newton

9. Raphael’s School of Athens

10. Raphael’s School of Athens

11. What is the nature of the universe?
What is truth?
What is the nature of the universe?
Knowledge and Truth
are
External
Absolute
Universal
Objective
Plato
St Augustine
Descartes
Aristotle
St Francis
Bacon
Berkeley
Locke
Hobbes
Newton

12. Rationalism Existentialism
Empiricism
Existentialism
What and how much can people expect to know?
(Depends on one’s ontology –theory of being)
We can know things that are eternal, absolute, universal.
Mathematics
(Plato, St Augustine, Descartes)
We can know particular things and our relationship to them.
(Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley)
We can know the human condition.
(We may be able to know other things too but this would not change anything. E.g. If people could know God existed it would not change anything because we are each responsible for our own choices.)
(Kierkegaard, Sartre)
How can we know?
(Depends on one’s epistemology)
We know them through the use of reason – the mind and intellect.
Objectively
Cogito, ergo sum.
We can know them through our physical senses.
We can know the human condition through subjective experience and reflection on existential anguish and despair.
Subjectively
How valuable would this knowledge be to people?
(Depends on one’s axiology – theory of values)
Knowledge is valuable in its own right.
It helps people know how to live.
It provides a pattern for life in the becoming.
Knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)
Knowledge gives power to people over their environment, and to transform their natural and social environment.
Understanding the human condition is part of existential values and these are the only important values to people.

13. Rationalism Existentialism
Empiricism
Existentialism
What and how much can people expect to know?
(Depends on one’s ontology –theory of being)
We can know things that are eternal, absolute, universal.
Mathematics
(Plato, St Augustine, Descartes)
We can know particular things and our relationship to them.
(Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley)
We can know the human condition.
(We may be able to know other things too but this would not change anything. E.g. If people could know God existed it would not change anything because we are each responsible for our own choices.)
(Kierkegaard, Sartre)
How can we know?
(Depends on one’s epistemology)
We know them through the use of reason – the mind and intellect.
Objectively
Cogito, ergo sum.
We can know them through our physical senses.
We can know the human condition through subjective experience and reflection on existential anguish and despair.
Subjectively
How valuable would this knowledge be to people?
(Depends on one’s axiology – theory of values)
Knowledge is valuable in its own right.
It helps people know how to live.
It provides a pattern for life in the becoming.
Knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)
Knowledge gives power to people over their environment, and to transform their natural and social environment.
Understanding the human condition is part of existential values and these are the only important values to people.

14. Rationalism Existentialism
Empiricism
Existentialism
What and how much can people expect to know?
(Depends on one’s ontology –theory of being)
We can know things that are eternal, absolute, universal.
Mathematics
(Plato, St Augustine, Descartes)
We can know particular things and our relationship to them.
(Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley)
We can know the human condition.
(We may be able to know other things too but this would not change anything. E.g. If people could know God existed it would not change anything because we are each responsible for our own choices.)
(Kierkegaard, Sartre)
How can we know?
(Depends on one’s epistemology)
We know them through the use of reason – the mind and intellect.
Objectively
Cogito, ergo sum.
We can know them through our physical senses.
We can know the human condition through subjective experience and reflection on existential anguish and despair.
Subjectively
How valuable would this knowledge be to people?
(Depends on one’s axiology – theory of values)
Knowledge is valuable in its own right.
It helps people know how to live.
It provides a pattern for life in the becoming.
Knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)
Knowledge gives power to people over their environment, and to transform their natural and social environment.
Understanding the human condition is part of existential values and these are the only important values to people.

15. Rationalism Existentialism
Empiricism
Existentialism
What and how much can people expect to know?
(Depends on one’s ontology –theory of being)
We can know things that are eternal, absolute, universal.
Mathematics
(Plato, St Augustine, Descartes)
We can know particular things and our relationship to them.
(Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley)
We can know the human condition.
(We may be able to know other things too but this would not change anything. E.g. If people could know God existed it would not change anything because we are each responsible for our own choices.)
(Kierkegaard, Sartre)
How can we know?
(Depends on one’s epistemology)
We know them through the use of reason – the mind and intellect.
Objectively
Cogito, ergo sum.
We can know them through our physical senses.
We can know the human condition through subjective experience and reflection on existential anguish and despair.
Subjectively
How valuable would this knowledge be to people?
(Depends on one’s axiology – theory of values)
Knowledge is valuable in its own right.
It helps people know how to live.
It provides a pattern for life in the becoming.
Knowledge is power (Francis Bacon)
Knowledge gives power to people over their environment, and to transform their natural and social environment.
Understanding the human condition is part of existential values and these are the only important values to people.

16. Kierkegaard (1813-55 Denmark)
Truth is subjectivity
The crowd is untruth
Dear Ima,
We can know the human condition through our subjective experiences. Existential values are the only important values.
Soren

17. Human nature True or False?
Human beings have a will and this differentiates them from other beings.

18. Nietzsche Will to Power God is dead
Objectivity is the main enemy of understanding

19. Everything happens for a reason.
It will be all right in the end.
These things are sent to try us.
God only gives these difficulties to people who can handle them.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel
It’s always darkest before the dawn.
There’s a purpose for everything.
The universe has its own meaning and purpose.

20. Husserl Phenomenology Reality is our stream of consciousness
(How do we know the physical world exists?)

21. Heidegger The essence of human being is our existence.
Choices – authentic and inauthentic
What is the most basic emotion?

22. Sartre Existence comes before essence
“Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself”