Strengths Of Existentialism

Jean-Paul Sartre was considered one of the foremost thinkers in the world of existentialism. He firmly represented the idea of atheistic existentialism, and further described the broader term of existentialism as “existence precedes essence” (1946, 318). Sartre did account for Christian existentialists, but focuses primarily on the atheistic view in one of his major works, Existentialism Is a Humanism. He further goes on to explain that our essence as humans come from first existing, and from there, making choices that finally define us as a person. Sartre describes man as “…nothing else but what he makes himself” (1946,319), and looks at importance of the choices we make. Choices, according to Sartre, give an individual their essence, but those

Existentialism is a philosophy that puts emphasis on the existence of a person’s freedom or life. In a human point of view, it means to believe in oneself, not a group or religion. (33)

In literature, Existentialism (philosophical movement) ponders the question of human existence. Existence here indicates the ability of a human being to be able to recognize his potentialities and exercise his freedom and choice in making decision. This philosophy has quite notably impacted the world literature and the reader could easily detect

Existentialism is the notion that every individual must choose their own meaning in life built on individual experience rather than look for a cosmic absolute that holds the truth. To define

Existentialism is a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. In other words existentialism is saying your  a free individual  and your actions define what you are. Many people see the the philosopher Jean Paul Sartre as "the father"of existentialism , but existentialism was founded in the 1800s by Friedrich Nietzsche, soren kierkegaard. The ideas accredited to Sartre are in many ways the ideas of Nietzsche and kierkegaard presented in a different way. Those that parctice existentialism to its strictest interpretation being you should live your how ever you want, live a life without much regrad to others

At first, existentialism appears as free will. However, when used in mythology, it is revealed as a man’s purpose for life. Even though existentialism is not shown in a positive light while used in mythology, it still plays an important aspect because it shows the essence of fate and how it affects and restricts the free will of people.

The question of human subjectivity has plagued the minds of philosophers for centuries. Existentialism attempts to answer this question by recognizing humans not as beings who exist through the tethers of an objective deity, but rather as beings who exist as agents of free will. In his lecture "Existentialism is a Humanism," philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre explores principal ideas of existentialism—and of the human condition—by responding to the objections of many secular groups and their misinterpretation of this philosophy. These critics of existentialism, according to Sartre, have incorrectly accused it of being a philosophy that could only lead to a "quietism of despair" (Sartre 1). In other words, they have assumed that it is a philosophy of nothing but idleness—one that is merely contemplative and will deter people from committing themselves to any course of actual action. Others reprimanded existentialism for being exaggeratedly pessimistic and for concentrating solely on the undignified attributes of the human condition. Sartre refutes these assertions by making connections between existentialist views and the more accepted philosophy of humanism. His overall argument, in its simplest form, is as follows:

In his defense of existentialism, Sartre first defines the unifying factor of existentialism, (for both atheist and deist alike), as the belief that existence precedes essence. To help illustrate his point he presents the example of a paper knife, an object that possess a set of qualities that enable it to carry out its purpose. He states that it would not have been created without a particular purpose, therefore its essence precedes its existence. (Sartre) Sartre rejects this idea when it comes to mankind and declares that humans in themselves have no nature and define themselves after coming into existence. This stems from his atheistic worldview, in which the rejection of a higher power leads him to accept the fact that humans are

In his 1946 essay Existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre undertakes the task of defending existentialism against what he defines as “charges” (341) brought against it. Sartre begins to outline the “charges” brought against existentialism and further, existentialists. Following the medieval quaestio-form, Sartre begins with the statement of the objection, a short discussion, and then his reply to each.

Sartre’s atheist existentialism presented in his lecture mainly states that there is no human nature in which man can place his trust; therefore, man is free to choose and is the definer of himself through his own choices and actions. Sartre begins by listing some prevalent oppositions against existentialism. For example, the Communists blame it for inducing “quietism and despair,” because the idea that there is no code of ethics to tell man what he ought to do and become generates fear that might discourage people from committing themselves to action. Christians reproach existentialism for

Existentialism could be defined as a philosophical theory that focuses on the individual person being a free and responsible person who determines his or her own development through acts of will. Existentialism is a thesis that has been discussed by some of the greatest philosophical minds ever to live. Minds such as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche all had their own view on what existentialism was and major impact on the development of this thesis. Each of these philosophies played a huge influence on a great mind that would come later on in history. That was the mind of Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre, who is considered one of the great philosophical minds, based many of his ideas around the idea of existentialism and phenomenology.

For this paper, both movies used to explain Existentialism are adapted from real stories. The first film is Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed and the second is Into the Wild, starring Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless. In Sartre’s definition of existentialism, human existence precedes essence, therefore leading to meaning, purpose and identity. When Chris and Cheryl leave their family, friends and everything else they know from the society, they are attempting to find a meaning and purpose to their lives.

Jean Paul Sartre is a philosopher that supports the philosophy of existentialism. Existentialism is a twentieth century philosophy that denies any crucial human nature and embraces that each of us produces our own essence through our free actions. Existentialists like Sartre believe there isn’t a God that determines people’s nature. So, existentialists believe that humans have no purpose or nature except the ones that they create for themselves. We are free and responsible for what we are and our engagements; even though we are mindful that this can cause agony.

The faith is individuals are looking on figure out who and what they are all around existence concerning illustration they settle on decisions. In view of their experiences, beliefs also personal decisions turn into interesting without those need about a objective structure of an existentialist puts stock that an individual ought to make compelled with decide. Furthermore be answerable without those help for laws, ethnic rules, or conventions. Fundamentally those existentialist expects that the huge truth will be that a distinct. Furthermore things as a rule exist, anyway that these things have no implying to them but as particular case experience acting upon them would make significance.

I consider myself an existentialist. There are two basic approaches to this philosophy: either one rejoices in the freedom of the idea that a higher power is not imposing rules and purpose onto our existence, or, one sinks beneath the burden of responsibility that this bequeaths. Existentialists like Sartre, who can only see the bleak and meaningless aspects of living, have missed the opportunity that this philosophy gives to structure and guide their lives based on their own inner moral principles. I think that the inability to cope with inherent absence of meaning points to a dependence on the guidance of a higher power: in effect, a reluctance to take responsibility for oneself. I see existentialism as an incredibly liberating