Existentialist Ethics 7.1

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to existentialist ethics and thinkers.

Nietzsche's challenge

Questioning the metaphysical framework of morality provided by Christianity, asserting that without God, moral values lose their hold.

The 'death of God'

Nietzsche's declaration that traditional religious values are collapsing, leading to spiritual desolation but potential renewal.

Atheistic existentialists

Philosophers including Camus and Sartre who accept a Godless spiritual predicament while being skeptical of objective ethics.

Existentialism

A philosophical movement focusing on individual existence, freedom, and choice, often in an absurd and indifferent universe.

Absurdity

The conflict between human beings' search for meaning and the meaningless nature of the universe, as highlighted by Camus.

The myth of Sisyphus

A symbol of the human struggle against absurdity, representing the ceaseless and ultimately futile effort of existence.

Sartre's 'existence precedes essence'

The idea that individuals first exist and then define their essence through actions, rejecting the notion of a predetermined human nature.

Engaged intellectuals

Philosophers and writers who actively participate in social and political issues, relevant to the historical context of existentialism.

Humanism

A perspective that emphasizes human value and agency, often contrasted with theistic moral frameworks in existentialist thought.

Authentic existence

Living in a way that acknowledges the contingent nature of one's existence while taking responsibility for one's choices.

The problem of bad faith

The act of deceiving oneself in order to escape the anxiety of freedom and responsibility inherent in authentic existence.