Existentialism: Learn to think and 'be' an Existentialist
This blog contains two web resources and nine short video to learn the fundamentals of Existentialist philosophy (apart from additional reading resources for deeper understanding).
1) Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. It holds that, as there is no God or any other transcendent force, the only way to counter this nothingness (and hence to find meaning in life) is by embracing existence.
Thus, Existentialism believes that individuals are entirely free and must take personal responsibility for themselves (although with this responsibility comes angst, a profound anguish or dread). It therefore emphasizes action, freedom and decision as fundamental, and holds that the only way to rise above the essentially absurd condition of humanity (which is characterized bysuffering and inevitable death) is by exercising our personal freedom and choice (a complete rejection of Determinism) (The Basics of Philosophy) (Click here to read full article)1) Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. It holds that, as there is no God or any other transcendent force, the only way to counter this nothingness (and hence to find meaning in life) is by embracing existence.
Existentialism
2) Existentialism is a catch-all term for those philosophers who consider the nature of the human condition as a key philosophical problem and who share the view that this problem is best addressed through ontology. This very broad definition will be clarified by discussing seven key themes that existentialist thinkers address, i.e.
d. Situatedness; e. Existence; f. Irrationality/Absurdity g. The Crowd
- Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) as an Existentialist Philosopher
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) as an Existentialist Philosopher
- Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) as an Existentialist Philosopher
- Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) as an Existentialist Philosopher
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) as an Existentialist Philosopher
- Albert Camus (1913-1960) as an Existentialist Philosopher
(Click on the themes or names to read the article by Douglas Burnham)
Apart from the philosopher mentioned above, the contribution of Hegel, Dostoevsky, Husserl and Samuel Beckett is significant in the 'Existenlialism'.
Video 1: What is Existentialism? (Click the link to watch the video)
Video 2: The Myth of Sisyphus: The Absurd Reasoning (Feeling of the Absurd) (Click the link to watch the video)
Video 3: The Myth of Sisyphus: the notion of philosophical suicide (Click the link to watch video)
Video 4: Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism
Video 5: Existentialism - a gloomy philosophy (Click the link to watch the video)
Video 6: Existentialism and Nihilism: Is it one and the same?
Video 7: Let us introduce Existentialism again!
If you still find it difficult to understand this philosophy, view this video:
Video 8: Explain like I'm Five: Existentialism and Nietzsche:
Video 9: Why I like Existentialism? Eric Dodson
Video 10: Let us sum up: From Essentialism to Existentialism
Additional reading resources:
If you want to read more about
What is Existentialism?
o Read Existentialismo Read ExistentialismWhat is the theme of The Myth of Sisyphus?
o Read The Myth of Sisyphus. Translated from the French by Justin O'Brien, 1955
Do you agree that Existentialism is Humanism?
o Read brief note on Existentialism is Humanismo A Student’s guide to Existentialism and Humanism
What is Übermensch?
o Nietzsche had his character Zarathustra posit the Übermensch as a goal for humanity to set for itself in his 1883 book Thus Spoke Zarathustrao Read brief on Übermensch?
