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Existentialism

Philosophy- Existentialism

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20 views

Existentialism

Philosophy- Existentialism

Uploaded by

gcombatir08
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXISTENTIALISM

Why is there
Existentialism?
The rise of nihilism: Nihilism is the belief that there is
no inherent meaning or purpose to life. This idea
gained popularity in the late 19th century, as people
began to question the traditional religious and
philosophical beliefs that had previously provided
meaning and order to the world.
The horrors of World War II: The Second World War was a
time of great suffering and loss, which led many people to
question the nature of humanity and the meaning of life.
Existentialists argued that the only way to make sense of
such a world was to embrace the individual's freedom and
responsibility to create their own meaning.
The development of modern psychology: The work of
psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung
helped to focus attention on the individual's inner life
and the role of choice and responsibility in human
behavior. This work resonated with existentialists,
who argued that the individual is ultimately
responsible for their own destiny.
Big Statement or Claims of Existentialism
1. Existence precedes essence. This means that we are not
born with a predetermined purpose or identity. Instead,
we create our own meaning and purpose through our
choices and actions.

2. Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. Because we


are free to choose our own path in life, we are also
responsible for the consequences of our choices.
Big Statement or Claims of Existentialism

3. Anxiety and dread are natural parts of the human


condition. These emotions can arise from our awareness
of our freedom and responsibility, as well as our mortality.

4. We are condemned to be free. This means that we


cannot escape the responsibility of making choices about
our lives.
Being as subject,
Being as object
Common emphasis of Existentialism
SOREN KIERKEGAARD
ARTHUR SHOPENHAUER
JEAN PAUL SARTRE
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
MARTIN HEIDEGGER
Here are some of the key concepts of
Kierkegaard's existentialism:
1. The leap of faith: This is the act of choosing to believe in something even
though there is no rational justification for doing so. For Kierkegaard, the leap
of faith is necessary to live an authentic life. (Faith has reason which reason
does not understand.”
2. The absurd: This is the state of being confronted with something that is both
meaningless and yet impossible to ignore. For Kierkegaard, the absurd is a
central feature of human existence.
3. The individual: This is the only source of meaning and value in the world. We
must each create our own meaning in life, and we are responsible for our own
choices.
4. Anxiety: This is the feeling of dread or unease that arises from the awareness
of our own freedom and responsibility. For Kierkegaard, anxiety is a central
feature of human existence.
Arthur Schopenhauer's thoughts:
1. The world is essentially will. The world is not a collection of objects, but
rather a manifestation of an underlying force or will. This will is blind, irrational,
and striving.
2. Life is suffering. The will is constantly striving for satisfaction, but this
satisfaction is always fleeting. This leads to a cycle of desire, frustration, and
suffering.
3. The only way to overcome suffering is to deny the will. This can be done
through asceticism, compassion, or aesthetic contemplation.
4. Art is a way of transcending the world of suffering. Art allows us to see
the world as it really is, beyond the veil of representation.
5. Morality is based on compassion. We should act with compassion towards
others because we all share the same underlying will.
JEAN PAUL SARTRE
1. Existence precedes essence. This means that we are not born with a
predetermined purpose or meaning in life. We are free to create our own
meaning and to define ourselves as we see fit.
2. We are condemned to be free. This means that we are always
responsible for our choices, even the ones we don't make. We cannot escape the
burden of freedom.
3. The look of the other. This is the idea that we are always seen by
others, and that this can influence the way we see ourselves. We are constantly
trying to define ourselves in relation to the gaze of others.
4. Bad faith. This is the act of denying our own freedom and responsibility. It is
a way of avoiding the anxiety that comes with being free.
5. Commitment. This is the act of choosing to live our lives in accordance
with our values. It is the opposite of bad faith.
Martin Heidegger
• Born in Messkirck, Germany and studied theology
and Philosophy at the University of Freiburg.
• Martin Heidegger was a key German philosopher of
the 20th Century. He is best known for contributions
to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and
existentialism. In Heidegger's fundamental text Being
and Time, "Dasein" is introduced as a term for the
type of being that humans possess.
• Heidegger began his class with his discussion of
“being-in-the-world”, which focused on the mode of
existence or lived experience of the individual in the
world.
Martin Heidegger
According to Heidegger there are three fundamental features that characterize human existence:
FACTUALITY: Wherein the human person is already involved in the world.
Facticity is a part of what he calls “Geworfenheit” or “thrownness”. We are all thrown or
projected into the world, arbitrarily born into a given family, within a given culture and at a
given moment in human history, these “givens” are facticities.
EXISTENTIALITY: Which sees the human person as a project and a possibility
The second term is existentiality, the possibilities that we have at our disposal. The reality
of being a Dasein is to be a being that has possibilities, and that is what distinguishes us from
every other being, that is why we are part of Dasein.
FALLENNESS/ FORFEITURE: Which look at the human tendency to become mere presence in
the world, failing to make the most of their possibilities because of gossip, curiosity, and
ambiguity.
The final term that Heidegger uses is “fallenness”. It refers to the inauthentic existence of
Dasein. As human beings, we fall into certain tasks by default. Because of social expectations
and people telling us how we should be behaving, making us fall into a herd mentality. We
have all fallen into tasks as it is part of our nature.
Dasein

Factuality: “thrownness”

Existentiality: Project
& Possibility

“Fallenness” or
Forfeiture
In Brief
Thrownness: Dasein is thrown into the world. We do not
choose our own existence, but we are thrown into it. This
means that we are always already in a situation, and we have
to deal with the circumstances that we find ourselves in.
Existentiality (Existenzialität) is the capacity for self-
awareness and self-determination. It is the ability to choose
our own way of being in the world.
Fallenness (Geworfenheit) is the state of being lost in the
world, of being absorbed in the everyday and losing sight of
our own potential. It is characterized by a lack of authenticity
and a tendency to conform to the expectations of others.
Martin Heidegger
• To understand deeper the meaning of human existence in the world,
according to Heidegger, three aspects constitute individual existence:
1. UMWELT: which refers to how the individual experiences the world in
the sense of active participation and involvement. (Environment)
2. MITWELT: Which underscores the intersubjective or the human’s
experience of their fellow individuals. (people around us)
3. EIGENWELT: which looks at how individuals coming to awareness of
their own existence, realize that they are a distinct and subjective
existence. (self within us)
In the world where we live, we must not be a passive recipient or thing;
we must be on our own, discover things for ourselves even in the face of
dread and anxiety.
UMWELT (WITH
ENVIRONMENT)

EIGENWELT (WITH
MITWELT THE SELF)
(WITH
HUMANITY)
Any
Question?
FIRST QUIZ

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