existentialism Essay

From the beginning of time people have pondered existence and what it means to truly “Be’, indeed the most important questions that one can ask are those of a metaphysical nature. The deeper questions that seek to explain the reason we’re here in the first place, if for any reason at all. It’s easy to get lost in the many differing theories proposed from Determinism to Rationalism to Solipsism to Absurdism the possible theories one can ascribe as correct are endless. But the ones that try to answer those big questions in the most general of terms are the ones that seem to hold the most verisimilitude. Existentialism, Nihilism, and Objectivism are the most general, and although quite different they are also quite similar. But existentialism seems to be the one which offers the most hope for optimism or any concern for altruism and personal growth.

The progress of humanity has been a movement from socially dependent units of a general collective to individuals - each with rights to protect their independence and ensure their privacy in our world. Today, “Existentialism” can be defined as a philosophical theory that holds further sets of categories other than physics, biology, force, function,; and it is governed by authenticity. It is an alternate way to understand human existence and identity. The key to existentialism is that notions such as alienation and authenticity must be understood. Existentialism is in a very suitable philosophical position in 21st

Existentialism is a philosophical way of thinking and it emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational existing in an irrational universe. The fact that humans are conscious of their mortality, and must make decisions about their life is basically what existentialism is all about. In the story “A clean, Well-lighted place” by Ernest Hemingway was about two waiters waiting to close up the restaurant/café for the night. They only had one customer left, an old man who was deaf and drunk. But he wasn’t causing any trouble, just keeping to himself. The two waiters apparently knew this old man because he was a regular at the café. Apparently the old man attempted to commit suicide but his niece stopped him from doing it. The two waiters had a discussion about the old man trying to commit suicide and both of them had very different opinions.

“Existentialism is a 20th century philosophy concerned with human existence, finding self, and the meaning of

Existentialism became an essential part of the 20th century as humanity suffered through great challenges during that time. The threat of the nuclear bombing, destruction of humanity and sudden loss of loved ones had caused people to suffer from alienation and despair. Existentialism, in those times, clearly stated that there is no palliative for such situations. It was thus, criticized to be a disheartening philosophy for dismal times. However this movement was not a discouraging one. It just freely stated that the responsibility of one’s actions lies on one’s own shoulders. It asserted that through self-determination, without any support of conventional doctrines, people can overcome their problems.

In simpler terms, existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. People search to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. An existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions; individuals are entirely free

How to live authentically is a question that arises when speaking of existentialism and humanism. Authenticity describes the mode of being true to one self, living an honest and free life. Both Nietzsche and Sartre propose ideas and perspectives on the nature of human life and their existence. As human beings, Sartre and Nietzsche identify how we, possibly unknowingly, alienate ourselves from the modes of living authentically instead of accepting into authentic practices. In Sartre’s “Being and Nothingness” and “Existentialism is Humanism”, the philosopher discusses the importance of achieving freedom and characterizing one’s identity. In Nietzsche’s “Gay Science Excerpts” and “History Essay”, he discusses the emergence of individuality

One of the main aims for the existential psychotherapy is to reframe the client's thinking about life and its purpose.

As a philosophy, Existentialism can be quite technical. Much of the theory involves generalized abstract concepts that seem difficult to implement in real life. In practice, however, Existentialism

Existentialism, originally from the 1900s, is focused on the existence of humans and their pursuit of meaning (“Existentialism-A Philosophy”). Catharine Savage Brosman studied Jean Paul Sartre’s lecture L’Existentialisme est un humanisme and concluded: Existentialists believe a human nature does not exist and neither does God. There is no set meaning to life, and the only purpose is for Man to find his own meaning. She then explains the ethics behind this, “Sartre gives an example […]: a young man during the Occupation trying to decide whether to stay home and take care of his unhappy mother or leave to fight with the Free French based in England.”

First of all, I am a philosophy minor. On a personal level, existentialism is one of the isms that fascinates me the most, stemming from my studies of The Stranger. I read it once in high school, then again last semester in my post-colonial literature course. I have always found it to be an intriguing novel. Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism is a Humanism was an equally interesting read. Of course, I feel it is important to take note that Sartre himself later rejected some of his own views in Existentialism is a Humanism and even expressed regret with regards to its publication.

In any case, what can be said from the very beginning is that by existentialism we mean a doctrine which makes human life possible and, in addition, declares that every truth and every action implies a human setting and a human subjectivity.

The five core existentialists themes include: individualism and subjectivity; freedom and responsibility; existence and essence; anguish and absurdity; authenticity. Existentialism gets rid of the one-size-fits-all notion that philosophy revolved around in the prior years. Its individualism and subjectivity allows for each individual person to choose what is best for them when it comes to how to live. Existentialism gives people immense freedom. We are allowed to choose as we please. But, with choices comes responsibility; thus, we cannot blame others for our choices that come as a result of our unbounded freedom. Before existentialism, there was a preconceived notion that our existence dictates our essence. We are born into the roles that God assigns to us. Existentialists view it to be the other way around. It was a common them for existentialist philosophers to believe that we are born with a clean slate and we must fill that slate in. We exist before we make our essence. This sense of freedom although it may be liberating, it can also lead to feelings of anguish. Knowing that you are in charge of giving your life direction and meaning can make you feel a sense of absurdity. Thus, we are responsible to give it meaning. Another existentialist theme is to be authentic. You must choose your own path, if not then you are deemed

Existentialism claims only that human beings cannot be fully understood in terms of the sciences. Nor can such an understanding be gained by supplementing our scientific picture with a purely moral one. Categories of moral theory such as intention, blame, responsibility, character, duty, virtue, and the like very much so capture important themes of the human condition, but neither moral thinking (the norm of goodness and virtue) nor scientific thinking (the norm of objective truth) suffices. Existentialism therefore may be defined as the philosophical theory which holds that a further set of categorical thinking, governed by the norm of “authenticity”, is necessary to grasp human existence.

The conscious essence is what defines each person as an individual. In the adolescent years one establishes their true self and begins to feel out their adult personality as they mature and grow as a person. For some this is a daunting task filled with confusion and self-doubt. The existentialist movement focuses on the independence of an individual to shape their lives through choices which help create their own values and give meaning to their own lives. The absurdity of the natural world, authenticity of the individual, and the angst that comes with life, which define existentialism, would manifest themselves with the end of World War II and the onset of the Cold War. These same beliefs can be seen