Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Existentialism. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Existentialism. Sort by date Show all posts

Monday, 19 September 2016

Existentialism: Video Resources

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 existencefreedom 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 actionfreedom 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)


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. 
a.                   Philosophy as a Way of Lifeb.                  Anxiety and Authenticityc.                   Freedom
d.                  Situatednesse.                   Existencef.                   Irrationality/Absurdity g.                  The Crowd

  1. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) as an Existentialist Philosopher
  2. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) as an Existentialist Philosopher
  3. Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) as an Existentialist Philosopher
  4. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) as an Existentialist Philosopher
  5. Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) as an Existentialist Philosopher
  6. 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
  1. What is Existentialism?

    o   Read Existentialism (Burnham and Papandreopoulos)  
    o   Read Existentialism (C. Wikipedia, Existentialism)
  2. What is the theme of The Myth of Sisyphus?


    o   Read The Myth of Sisyphus. Translated from the French by Justin O'Brien, 1955 (Camus)

  3. Do you agree that Existentialism is Humanism?



    o   Read brief note on Existentialism is Humanism (C. Wikipedia, Existentialism and Humanism)

  4. 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 Zarathustra
    o   Read brief on Übermensch(C. Wikipedia, Ubermensch)

Simple explanation by Suman Shah in Gujarati language

Monday, 22 September 2014

Worksheet: Screening Movie Waiting for Godot

After viewing the movie adaptation (Waiting for Godot) of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot (Beckett, Waiting for Godot), students are supposed to give their responses in the comments below this blogpost. The points to ponder are given to give direction to their thoughts. It is expected they give honest responses on the points given below.
The movie is directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. In this 2001 movie, Barry McGovern and Johnny Murphy played Vladimir and Estragon, where as Lucky and Pozzo were performed by Alan Sandford and Stephen Brennan, respectively.


Attempt this online quiz to check your understanding of the play


Points to Ponder:
·       What is Existentialism?
o   Read Existentialism (Burnham and Papandreopoulos)  
o   Read Existentialism (C. Wikipedia, Existentialism)
o   Watch this video on the Introduction of Existentialism


·       What is the theme of The Myth of Sisyphus?

o   Read The Myth of Sisyphus. Translated from the French by Justin O'Brien, 1955 (Camus)
·       Do you agree that Existentialism is Humanism?

o   Read brief note on Existentialism is Humanism (C. Wikipedia, 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 Zarathustra
o   Read brief on Übermensch? (C. Wikipedia, Ubermensch)
·       What is Theater of Absurd?
o   Read brief on The Theater of Absurd (C. Wikipedia, Theater of Absurd)


  • Language: The surprise of the play is its language. It is incredible to see the complex philosophical thoughts of Existentialism captured with this sort of simplicity in language.


With reference to these topics of background reading, you have viewed the movie ‘Waiting for Godot’ (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). Please give your responses to these points:
·       What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?

·       The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves - ?
Leaves on Tree - Waiting for Godot

·         In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?
Night and Moon - Waiting for Godot

·       The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?
·       The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?
·       Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?
·       How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?
·       Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?
Pozzo - Lucky: Master-Slave

·       Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or  . . .
·       “The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’” (Esslin, A Search for the Self). Do you agree? How can you justify your answer?
·        Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘viewed’ as it requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals help in better understanding of the play?
·       Which of the following sequence you liked the most:
o   Vladimir – Estragon killing time in questions and conversations while waiting
Vladimir and Estragon: The Had and the Boot

o   Pozzo – Lucky episode in both acts
o   Converstion of Vladimir with the boy
·       Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie? Where and when exactly that feeling was felt, if ever it was?
·       Vladimir and Estragon talks about ‘hanging’ themselves and commit suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?
  • Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the 'names' of the characters (Vladimir - Russia; Estragon - France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky - England)? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II? Which country stands for 'Godot'?






  • So far as Pozzo and Lucky [master and slave] are concerned, we have to remember that Beckett was a disciple of Joyce and that Joyce hated England. Beckett meant Pozzo to be England, and Lucky to be Ireland." (Bert Lahr who played Estragon in Broadway production). Does this reading make any sense? Why? How? What?


  • The more the things change, the more it remains similar. There seems to have no change in Act I and Act II of the play. Even the conversation between Vladimir and the Boy sounds almost similar. But there is one major change. In Act I, in reply to Boy;s question, Vladimir says: 

  • "BOY: What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?
    VLADIMIR:
    Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?
    How does this conversation go in Act II? Is there any change in seeming similar situation and conversation? If so, what is it? What does it signify?

    Online QUIZ: Click here to open in new browser

    Click here to view some videos of the movie:











    Works Cited

    • Beckett, Samuel. "Waiting for Godot." Samuel Becket.Net. 22 Sept 2014 <http://samuel-beckett.net/Waiting_for_Godot_Part1.html>.
    • Burnham, Douglas and George Papandreopoulos. "Existentialism." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 22 September 2014 <http://www.iep.utm.edu/existent/>.
    • Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus. Trans. Justin O'Brien. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1975.
    • Cybulska, Eva. https://philosophynow.org/issues/93/Nietzsches_Ubermensch_A_Hero_of_Our_Time. 22 Sept 2014 <https://philosophynow.org/issues/93/Nietzsches_Ubermensch_A_Hero_of_Our_Time>.
    • Esslin, Martin. "A Search for the Self." Bloom, Harold. Waiting for Godot: Critical Interpretations. New Delhi: Viva Books, 2001.
    • —. Absurd Drama. 7 May 2003. 22 Sept 2014 <http://www.samuel-beckett.net/AbsurdEsslin.html>.
    • Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism Is a Humanism. Ed. Andy Blunden. 1998. 22 Sept 2014 <https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm>.
    • Schrahé, Svenja. Albert Camus and The Myth of Sisyphus. 2011. 22 Sept 2014 <http://www.camus-society.com/myth-of-sisyphus.html>.
    • Stanford, CCRMA. https://ccrma.stanford.edu/. 22 Sept 2014 <https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~pj97/Nietzsche.htm>.
    • Waiting for Godot. By Samuel Beckett. Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Perf. Barry McGovern and Johny Murphy. Blue Angels Films, Dublin Gate Theatre, Parallel Film Productions. 2001.
    • Warburton, Nigel. A student’s guide to Jean-Paul Sartre’s Existentialism and Humanism. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism_and_Humanism>.
    • Wikipedia, Contributor. The Myth of Sisyphus. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_Sisyphus>.
    • Wikipedia, Contributors. Existentialism. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism>.
    • —. Existentialism and Humanism. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism_and_Humanism>.
    • —. Theater of Absurd. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Absurd>.
    • —. Ubermensch. 22 Sept 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Cbermensch>.




    Friday, 13 January 2023

    Open AI Generated Literature - ChatGPT




     

    OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company. Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.

    OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—by which they mean highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work—benefits all of humanity.


    ChatGPT: Optimizing Language Models for Dialogue

    OpenAI explains ChatGPT as - 
    "We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT, which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response.

    Click here to try ChatGPT 

    Sample of Literature generated over ChatGPT

    Prompt: Please generate a Poem on Waiting for Godot


    In fields of barren earth we wait 
    For Godot, who we hope is fate 
    Our lives a constant holding pattern 
    As we long for something to happen

    We pass the hours in idle chatter 

    As we ponder what does or does not matter 

    Our existence a question mark 

    As we sit in the dark

    We wait for a sign, a word, a clue 

    But nothing comes, and nothing is new 

    We wait for Godot, but he never arrives 

    Leaving us with nothing but our own lives

    We wonder if we've been forgotten 

    If Godot is a lie, a cruel hoax 

    But still we wait, with hope unbroken 

    For the day when our wait is over, and we can finally take stock

    Of what we've gained, and what we've lost 
    In this waiting game at any cost 
    But until then, we'll sit and stare 
    At the empty horizon, and wait for Godot to be there.

    Prompt: Generate a poem on Existentialism

    Existence, a question deep and true,
    A search for meaning, all life must pursue.
    A quest for answers, in a world so vast,
    A search for purpose, that will forever last.

    We wander through life, with no final goal,
    No certain destination, no fixed role.
    We make our own paths, in this endless game,
    And seek our own answers, to life's eternal flame.

    We question our being, in this endless quest,
    And wonder what it all means, above all the rest.
    Is there a purpose, in this mortal coil,
    Or are we just a fleeting thought, in a cosmic toil?

    Existence is a puzzle, that we must solve,
    And find our own purpose, in the grand revolve.
    So let us seek, and let us find,
    The answers to the questions, that weigh on our mind.

    For in this search, we may find our way,
    And in this journey, our souls will sway.
    And though the answers may be hard to see,
    Existence, is a journey, that sets us free.

    Prompt: Generate a poem on Vladimir and Estragon

    Vladimir and Estragon, two friends so true
    Together they wandered, nothing else to do
    Through fields of waiting, with nothing in sight
    They talked and joked, to pass the long night

    They dreamed of Godot, a savior to come
    But day after day, he never arrived, just some
    They bantered and bickered, but always made up
    Their friendship unbreakable, in a world corrupt

    They saw the world as a waiting room
    Where nothing happens, and nothing can bloom
    But in each other's company, they found solace
    And the beauty in their friendship, was all they needed to endorse

    Vladimir and Estragon, in a world so grim
    Their bond unbroken, forever intertwined.

    Prompt: Generate a poem on Lucky and Pozzo

    Lucky and Pozzo, two men so strange
    One strong and silent, the other in range
    Of constant chatter, a never-ending flow
    Together they trudge, with a heavy load

    Pozzo the master, Lucky his slave
    Bound by a rope, their fates they pave
    A journey through life, with purpose unclear
    But onward they go, with no hint of fear

    Lucky's mind is blank, but Pozzo's is filled
    With thoughts and ideas, yet never stilled
    He talks and he talks, but says nothing true
    While Lucky just drags, his strength never through

    But in this strange duo, a bond is formed
    A friendship unlikely, yet ever warm
    For though they may seem, two men apart
    Together they journey, with a steady heart

    So let us all learn, from Lucky and Pozzo
    That in life's great journey, there's always a combo
    Of two very different, yet perfectly fit
    Together they make the story, a perfect script.

    Prompt: Generate Micro-fiction on 'Waiting for Godot'

    1. Estragon and Vladimir sat on the barren stage, waiting for the arrival of Godot. They passed the time by bickering and reminiscing about their past, but deep down they both knew that Godot would never come. They were trapped in a never-ending cycle of hope and disappointment, but they couldn't bring themselves to leave. 
    They couldn't leave because the thought of leaving meant acknowledging that their entire existence was for nothing. So they waited, and waited, for a Godot that would never arrive.

    2. Estragon and Vladimir sat on the barren wasteland, waiting for the mysterious Godot. They had been waiting for days, but he never came. As they passed the time, they reflected on the futility of their existence and the purpose of their waiting. They were trapped in a never-ending cycle of hope and disappointment. They couldn't help but wonder, was Godot even real? Or were they just waiting for nothing? They decided to wait a little longer, just in case.

    Prompt: Generate micro-fiction on Lucky and Pozzo

    Lucky and Pozzo were an odd pair, one a tall and lanky man, the other a short and rotund one. They trudged along the dusty road, Pozzo tugging Lucky along by a rope tied around his neck. They had been traveling together for what felt like an eternity, and had long since run out of things to say to each other. But they were bound by something deeper than words, a sense of dependence and fate that kept them moving forward, step by step. They knew that wherever the road led them, they would go together, for better or for worse.

    Prompt: Generate a Sonnet on Albert Camus's Myth of Sisyphus

    The weight of life, a boulder on his back,
    Sisyphus pushes on, with weary tread.
    Eternal labor, with no turning track,
    No end in sight, no hope to be ahead.

    Yet, in this struggle, he finds a release,
    A freedom in the toil, a strange delight.
    For in this endless cycle, he finds peace,
    In knowing that his fate is out of sight.

    So too, we all must bear our own weight,
    The struggles that define our mortal days.
    But in our labors, we too can find fate,
    A purpose in the endless, endless ways.

    Thus, let us embrace the myth of Sisyphus,
    And find our own meaning in life's endless fuss.

    Prompt: Generate a Sonnet on Existentialism

    Existence is a puzzle, a mystery untold,
    A quest for meaning in a world so cold.
    We search for purpose in a life so fleeting,
    A reason to be here, a point worth meeting.

    We question all that is, and all that's not,
    We wonder why we're here, and what our lot.
    We struggle with our doubts, our fears, our plight,
    And seek to find a way to make things right.

    But in our search for answers, we may find,
    That life is not a quest with a clear guide.
    That meaning is a choice, a state of mind,
    And that our purpose is to be defined.

    So let us live our lives with open hearts,
    And find our own way in these existential parts.

    Prompt: Generate a Heroic Couplet on Existentialism

    "Existence is our plight, our lonely fight,
    To find meaning in a world void of light."

    Prompt: Generate a micro-fiction on Myth of Manasa Devi

    Mansa Devi, goddess of snakes and wishes, was said to reside in the temple on the top of the mountain. Pilgrims would trek the treacherous path to make offerings and ask for her blessings.

    One day, a poor farmer named Hanuman made the journey. He had lost his entire crop to a swarm of locusts and had nothing left to feed his family. Desperate, he prayed to Mansa Devi for a miracle.

    As he reached the temple, a strange thing happened. A giant serpent appeared before him and whispered, "I am Mansa Devi. I have heard your prayers. I will grant you one wish, but you must promise to use it wisely."

    Hanuman thought for a moment and said, "I wish for enough food to feed my family for a year."

    The serpent nodded and disappeared. When Hanuman returned home, he found his fields bursting with bountiful crops. He kept his promise to the goddess, sharing his abundance with the less fortunate.

    Word of Hanuman's miracle spread, and soon more and more people made the pilgrimage to the temple, hoping to receive Mansa Devi's blessings. And the goddess, pleased with Hanuman's kindness, continued to grant wishes to those who were pure of heart.

    Prompt: Generate a micro-fiction on The Great Gatsby

    "He threw lavish parties, yet remained an enigma. She fell for him, despite his shady past. In the end, their love was doomed by his obsession with the green light across the water. The Great Gatsby, a tragic tale of love and wealth."

    Prompt: Generate teaching activities on Amitav Ghosh's novel 'Gun Island'

    1. Summarize the plot of Gun Island in your own words and discuss the themes that Ghosh explores in the novel.
    2. Write a character analysis of one of the main characters in the novel, such as Deen or Rafi.
    3. Discuss the role of mythology and folklore in the novel and how it informs the characters' understanding of their world.
    4. Compare and contrast Gun Island with another novel by Amitav Ghosh, such as The Hungry Tide or The Glass Palace.
    5. Create a map of the locations mentioned in the novel, including the places in India, Bangladesh, and Venice. Mark important events and trace the journey of the characters.
    6. Write a conversation between two characters from the novel, such as Deen and Rafi, or Deen and Piya.
    7. Write an essay on the novel, focusing on the narrative structure and how it contributes to the novel's overall meaning.
    8. Create a visual representation (such as a collage, or a painting) inspired by some of the key scenes and symbols in the novel.
    9. Host a book club discussion on Gun Island and lead the conversation on the themes and characters
    10. Research on the Gun trade and culture and compare it with the representation in the novel and write a analysis paper.

    Write a research paper on teaching English literature


    I'm sorry, I am not able to write a research paper as I am a AI language model but I can provide you with an outline of what a research paper on teaching English literature might include and some key points you might consider.

    Title: "Effective Strategies for Teaching English Literature in the 21st Century Classroom"

    Abstract:
    This research paper aims to explore and examine effective strategies for teaching English literature in the 21st century classroom. The paper will begin by providing a brief overview of the current state of English literature education, highlighting the challenges faced by educators in the digital age. The paper will then delve into various teaching strategies that have been proven to be effective in the classroom, such as the use of technology, inclusive teaching practices, and the incorporation of student-centered learning. Furthermore, the paper will also discuss the importance of cultural and historical context in the interpretation of literature. Finally, the paper will conclude by providing recommendations for future research in the field of English literature education.

    Introduction:

    • Introduce the topic of teaching English literature in the 21st century classroom
    • Provide a brief overview of the current state of English literature education
    • Highlight the challenges faced by educators in the digital age
    • State the main research question and the objectives of the paper
    Literature Review:

    • Discuss the current state of English literature education
    • Examine the challenges faced by educators in the digital age
    • Provide a summary of the existing research on teaching strategies for English literature
    Methodology:

    • Describe the research methods used in the study
    • Explain the data collection and analysis methods
    • Describe the participants of the study
    Results:

    • Present the main findings of the study
    • Discuss the effectiveness of the teaching strategies used in the study
    • Provide evidence to support the findings
    Discussion:

    • Discuss the implications of the findings for English literature education
    • Provide recommendations for future research in the field
    Conclusion:

    • Summarize the main findings of the paper
    • Restate the research question and the objectives of the paper
    • Provide a final conclusion on the effective strategies for teaching English literature in the 21st century classroom.
    References:

    • List the sources cited in the paper
    • Use a recognized citation style (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago)
    • Note: This is just a basic outline and the research paper should be more elaborative and detailed with evidence and examples. Also, it is important to note that this is not a complete research paper and should not be used as such. It's important to conduct your own research and gather your own evidence and examples when writing a research paper.