Existentialism

Existentialism

Humans are born without purpose and are free beings that can determine their own meaning of life

What is Kierkegaard’s 3 stages of life

• The aesthetic stage - focus on immediate sensations and pleasures w/o purpose or direction

• The ethical stage - Commitment to moral principles + values but lacks depth of religion

• The religious stage - “highest truth”, personal relationship w God and commitment to faith

Kierkegaard - “Leap of faith”

Religious faith is a personal choice

What does Kierkegaard say abt Existentialism

Individuals must find their own truth and live authentically rather than conforming to societal norms

Why was Kierkegaard critical of the church

He believed an individual’s relationship with God is a personal choice that should be made rather than conformed to as social status

What did Nietzsche say abt Existentialism

Strived for self-overcoming + creating own meaning in a meaningless world and rejects pre-determined values + societal constraints

Nietzsche - “God is dead”

Signalled the demise of traditional religious + moral frameworks and that we should make our own morality

Nietzsche - “The will to power”

Fundamental drive for growth, self-overcoming and creation of meaning rather than passive acceptance of a meaningless life

Nietzsche - “slave morality” vs “master morality”

Slave morality is a reaction by the weak who lack power but master morality are those who retain power and have values of strength, nobility and independence.

What did Sartre say abt Existentialism

Humans have no set purpose and must define themselves through their actions and choices

Sartre - “existence precedes essence”

No set purpose, must define through actions and choices

Sartre - penknife analogy

Unlike a penknife who’s purpose and design exists before its creation, humans are born without a pre-determined purpose

Sartre - “Man is condemned to be free”

We are responsible for our own choices, if we are unhappy it is a result of our own choices but we must live with it

What did Heidegger say abt Existentialism

Awareness of death should help us to make most of our lives

Heidegger - “There-ness”

We are aware of our existence, we are present in the moment but also trying to make a future

Heidegger - “Throwness”

We are “thrown” into existence which makes us anxious and uneasy abt our purpose

Heidegger - “Histrosize”

We must make choices that make you part of the human narrative

Heidegger - “Authentic being”

Be yourself and embrace your own existence rather than conforming to societal norms

De Beauvoir - “The second sex”

Feminism + social constructs where women’s freedom are limited but can fight back and retain freedom

What does De Beauvoir say abt existentialism

Emphasised the importance of embracing ambiguity and responsibility in the world without pre-determined purpose

Camus - Absurdism

World has no inherent meaning but we should embrace it and continue life with passion

Camus - “Philosophical suicide”

Blind faith and rejection of freedom, essentially a mental death

Camus - “Physical suicide”

Nihilistic view on life that drives you to literal death when you try apply meaning in a meaningless world

Criticisms of existentialism

• leads to nihilism

• Unrealistic as laws exists so cannot be “authentic”

• Can lead to anarchy + ppl breaking rules