existentialism

What is the basic definition of Existentialism?

Philosophical movement, emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice

What are the major themes of Existentialism?

stress on concrete individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice.

What is the basic idea of Moral individualism?

Highest ethical good is the same for everyone, as long as it approaches moral perfection.

What is subjectivity's role in morality?

There is great belief that there must be passionate individual action, based on one's own beliefs.

5. What is Sartre's position on existence and essence? How does that relate to choice?

He aligns himself with Marxism, and has a pessimistic and atheistic philosophy. Everyone's life is just "futile passion." But he insisted on human freedoms and choice, he explained existentialism as a form of humanism.

Define Kierkegaard's "dread."

Humans feel a "general apprehension", which is what he calls dread. HE said it was "God's way of calling to each individual to make a commitment to a personally valid way of life."

Define Sartre's "nausea" and "anguish."

Nausea is used to show the individual's recognition of the contingency of the universe

While....

Anguish is used for recognition of the total freedom of choice

In light of the basic tenets of existentialism, how does Kierkegaard come to a Christian way of life?

He believed that this Christian life was a choice, . (He advocated the "leap of faith").

What is Heidegger's positive notion of individual hope?

Humans can't hope why they are here, but the individual can choose a foal and follow it with passionate conviction, knowing that death is inevitable and our life is in turn, meaningless.

According to the packet, what are Kafka's primary themes?

Anxiety, guilt, and solitude. This was to reflect the influence of the philosophers, Kierkegaard and Nietzche.

Plato

5th century Greek philosopher, one of the greats. The Allegory of the cave. Existentialism responds to this, a positive way to view the world as we reason our way to the essential truth.

allegory of the cave

there are people in a cave chained to it, believe that an illusion is reality (puppets) but when exposed to reality they believe it's fake, when the enlightened happens returns to the cave they refuse to believe him, but it is his burden to lead them to reality. essence before existence.

what are the three possible reasons that sisyphus is punished? consider te reasons for his transgression?

1. stole the gods secrets

2. he returned from hell, to punish his wife but wont return to hell

3. he chains up death

what specific descriptions of Sisyphus' punishment seem significant to describing his existential situation? why?

"There is no move dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor" because existentialism is about choice and self. There is no worse punishment because the belief is that you would have no choice when pushing the rock.

why is Sisyphus consciousness so important cadmus

because is what will allow him the choice he has during his punishment.

what are some of the ways which camus sees sisyphus' fate as positive? do you agree with him? why or why not?

positive because he reserves the right to choose and still gets to defy the gods in doing so

how would camus view of sisyphus compare/contrst with Gregors situation

like him, they experience change/ metamorphosis and the right to chose

unlike him, he lived his life before his metamorphosis.