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Introduction to Existentialism

  • Existentialist thinkers have made significant contributions to philosophy and literature in Western civilization.

  • Defining existentialism can be challenging, and this lecture aims to clarify the concept.

Outline of the Lecture

  • History of Existentialism

  • Key Concerns of Existentialist Philosophy

  • Meaning of "Existence Precedes Essence"

  • Differences Between Existentialism and Nihilism

What Existentialism Is Not

  • Not a philosophical system or a set of doctrines.

  • Best classified as a philosophical movement.

Historical Context of Existentialism

  • 19th Century Europe: The roots of existentialism.

    • Founding Figures:

    • Søren Kierkegaard

    • Friedrich Nietzsche

    • Fyodor Dostoevsky (considered an original giant)

  • Prominence in 20th Century:

    • Especially noted after World War II.

    • Influential existentialists include:

    • Franz Kafka

    • Martin Heidegger

    • Albert Camus

    • Maurice Merleau-Ponty

    • Jean-Paul Sartre (the most famous existentialist)

Central Theme of Existentialism

  • Existentialist thinkers share a deep concern with the human condition.

  • Key questions include:

    • Why am I here?

    • What does it mean to be human?

    • How should I live my life?

The Existentialist Attitude

  • Recognizes the unresolvable confusion of the human world.

  • Resists the temptation to find clarity through familiar systems that claim definitive answers.

  • Begins with a disoriented individual facing confusion that cannot be easily accepted.

Rejection of Comprehensive Systems

  • Existentialists reject all-encompassing systems that provide absolute answers to the meaning and purpose of life.

  • Such systems include:

    • Religious (e.g., Christianity)

    • Philosophical

    • Scientific

  • These systems provide comfort by eliminating the burden of personal meaning creation, which existentialists advocate confronting.

Challenges of Facing the Human Condition

  • Existentialists stress the importance of individuals finding personal solutions to existential questions.

  • They argue that adhering too rigidly to absolute systems hampers one's growth into an authentic human being.

Problems with Divine Perspectives

  • The divine perspective often neglects the human experience:

    • Focus on abstract concepts (e.g., immortality, heaven, Plato's world of forms).

  • This neglects the immediate experiences of fear, anxiety, hope, and disappointment faced by individuals.

Mortality and Meaning

  • Facing mortality is crucial for existentialist thought.

  • Accepting the temporality of life empowers individuals to:

    • Reject conformism.

    • Take control of their own lives and values.

  • This acceptance leads to self-directed meaning-making throughout one’s life.

Existence Precedes Essence

  • This key idea was articulated by Jean-Paul Sartre in his 1945 lecture "Existentialism is a Humanism."

  • Definition of Essence:

    • Drawn from Aristotle, essence refers to the characteristics essential to a substance.

    • Aristotelian view: Every substance tends toward its essence; for example, an acorn tends toward becoming an oak tree.

  • Sartre's Reinterpretation:

    • Sartre, as an atheist, posits that humans are not created with an essence or purpose.

    • Humans exist first, and they define their essence through choices and actions.

Distinction Between Existentialism and Nihilism

  • Nihilism: The belief that life is meaningless and devoid of purpose.

  • While some existentialists may align with nihilism, it is not intrinsic to existentialism.

  • Many existentialists promote the idea that individuals can create their own subjective meanings:

    • This is a stark contrast to nihilism, which denies this possibility.

  • Nietzsche's Perspective on Nihilism:

    • Viewed as a disease.

    • Encouraged individuals to "become who you are," emphasizing personal meaning rather than adherence to external systems.

Conclusion of the Lecture

  • The path of creating personal meaning is fraught with difficulties, but it is integral to individual authenticity.

  • Nietzsche’s Warning:

    • "Injustice and filth they throw after the lonely one; but my brother, if you would be a star, you must not shine less for them because of that."

    • Caution against societal norms: "Beware of the good and the just; they like to crucify those who invent their own virtue for themselves. They hate the lonely one."