ExistentialismExistentialism

Definition:Definition:

• Philosophical movement that deals Philosophical movement that deals with human freedomwith human freedom

• Requires individuals to posit their Requires individuals to posit their own subjective valuesown subjective values

Proposition1: Existence before Proposition1: Existence before EssenceEssence

• i.e. an individual exists (physically) before i.e. an individual exists (physically) before his or her life has value or meaning his or her life has value or meaning (substance)(substance)

• Each of us have a unique identityEach of us have a unique identity

• We all have unique experiencesWe all have unique experiences

• A person is the sum total of his actions in A person is the sum total of his actions in lifelife

• You are what you are at any given You are what you are at any given momentmoment

Proposition 2: Proposition 2:

Meaning is created by human beings Meaning is created by human beings actions and interpretations actions and interpretations

i.e. The individual is in control of the i.e. The individual is in control of the universeuniverse

Proposition 3: FreedomProposition 3: Freedom

• You are solely You are solely responsible for responsible for what you becomewhat you become

• Only you can Only you can create an image of create an image of yourselfyourself

Proposition 4: Man’s Encounter Proposition 4: Man’s Encounter with Nothingnesswith Nothingness

• We realize that external abstractions We realize that external abstractions are worth nothingare worth nothing

• We only have our own personal We only have our own personal freedomfreedom

• Man is alienated and estranged from Man is alienated and estranged from othersothers

Existentialism Throughout Existentialism Throughout HistoryHistory

• BuddhismBuddhism

• SocratesSocrates

• The BibleThe Bible

• John Locke: individualist politicsJohn Locke: individualist politics– Individual autonomyIndividual autonomy– Self-DeterinationSelf-Deterination

2020thth Century Existentialism: Century Existentialism:Fear and TremblingFear and Trembling

• Began after WWII: Old Began after WWII: Old order of the world order of the world challengedchallenged

• Atom Bomb: Man can Atom Bomb: Man can be totally annihilated be totally annihilated

• ParanoiaParanoia• Kierkegaard, Kierkegaard,

Dostoevsky, HeideggerDostoevsky, Heidegger• Popularity from Jean-Popularity from Jean-

Paul Sarte and Simone Paul Sarte and Simone de Beauvoirde Beauvoir

Sartean ExistentialismSartean Existentialism

• Existence Precedes EssenceExistence Precedes Essence• The individual constructs his or her identityThe individual constructs his or her identity• Values are subjectiveValues are subjective• The Preceperi: Watching one’s being or The Preceperi: Watching one’s being or

insightinsight• Bad faith: people lie to themselves which Bad faith: people lie to themselves which

negates their beingnegates their being• Being for othersBeing for others• Responsibility for choicesResponsibility for choices• Condemned to be freeCondemned to be free

Notable Works: Notable Works:

• The StrangerThe Stranger

• Myth of Sisyphus: Greek myth Myth of Sisyphus: Greek myth demonstrates the futility of existencedemonstrates the futility of existence

• Futility of this existence, but Sisyphus Futility of this existence, but Sisyphus ultimately finds meaning in this taskultimately finds meaning in this task

Other Existential Beliefs:Other Existential Beliefs:

• The existentialist starts with experience firstThe existentialist starts with experience first• Only when man fulfills himself he existsOnly when man fulfills himself he exists• Our state of existence is full of dread and Our state of existence is full of dread and

anxietyanxiety• Choice is always possible, you must always Choice is always possible, you must always

choosechoose• Each man is isolated with his own freedomEach man is isolated with his own freedom• Man is absurd: Generates the Theater of Man is absurd: Generates the Theater of

the Absurdthe Absurd

The Theater of the AbsurdThe Theater of the Absurd

• Waiting for GodotWaiting for Godot

• Plots deviated from normal episodic Plots deviated from normal episodic structure, and became circularstructure, and became circular

• Meaningless plots, repetitive or Meaningless plots, repetitive or nonsensical dialogue and dramatic nonsensical dialogue and dramatic non-sequiturs non-sequiturs

The question is: Do I exist?The question is: Do I exist?