Chapter 14 - Existentialism

INCOMPLETE - From Vaughn Textbook, Topics: The Existential Tone; Kierkegaard; Nietzche; Heidegger; Sartre; and Camus

What is existentialism?

A term applied to different philosophies that share themes about the uniqueness of each human being, the central importance of choice, and the individual’s response to an indifferent, absurd universe

What is fideism?

The notion that religious belief is grounded in faith, not reason

What are the five main themes of existentialism?

1. Individualism and subjectivity

2. Freedom and responsibility

3. Existence and essence

4. Anguish and absurdity

5. Authenticity

Who is Kierkegaard?

The father of modern existentialism and the champion of a radical form of fideism

What does Kierkegaard content about society?

He says it is crushing individuals, diluting their personal identity, robbing them of passion, and replacing them with people who have “forgotten what it means to exist” and live as authentic human beings

What does Kierkegaard assert about religion and reason?

He says that belief in Christian doctrine is absurd, with the belief only being supported by probabilities and uncertainties → the attempt to make religion conform to reason are doomed to fail

What is the paradox of Christian belief according to Kierkegaard?

Christian belief is absurd, but only an absurd belief can be truly believed → to believe passionately is impossible of other concepts, it is only achieved by the leap of faith required to believe absurd subjective certainties

What does Kierkegaard think about subjective truth?

It is an objectively uncertain belief held in “passionate inwardness” and is the only truth that can show what really matters in life and how that life can be lived → “the highest truth available for an existing person”

How does Kierkegaard explain objective and subjective truths in relation to belief?

What is believed has to do with objective truth and how it is believed has to do with subjective truth

How does subjective truth become objective truth according to Kierkegaard?

He says that once the subjective truth, the how of faith, is present, then the what of objectivity will also be present → brought along by subjective truth