existentialism
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ExistentialismExistentialism
An attempt to address a life An attempt to address a life with no meaning.with no meaning.
ExistentialismExistentialism
Agrees with the major Agrees with the major assumptions of naturalismassumptions of naturalism
ONE EXCEPTION:ONE EXCEPTION:
HUMAN NATURE AND MAN’S HUMAN NATURE AND MAN’S REALTIONSHIP TO THE UNIVERSE REALTIONSHIP TO THE UNIVERSE
MAN HAS A FREE WILLMAN HAS A FREE WILL
Existentialism’s view of matter-Existentialism’s view of matter-physical world (prime reality) and how physical world (prime reality) and how
human’s perceive prime reality. human’s perceive prime reality.
Humans perceive the natural-material- Humans perceive the natural-material- world (prime reality) in two ways.world (prime reality) in two ways.
Objective Objective (rational, physical universe, (rational, physical universe, material world) material world)
SubjectiveSubjective (imagination, intuition, sense, (imagination, intuition, sense, non-rational)non-rational)
Existentialism views Existentialism views subjective realitysubjective reality as the as the SUPERIOR (or HIGHER) SUPERIOR (or HIGHER)
realityreality
ObjectiveObjectiveRealityReality
(controlled by natural laws(controlled by natural laws) ) Human beings perceive the Human beings perceive the
(material reality) universe through (material reality) universe through Intelligence- reason Intelligence- reason LogicLogicScienceScienceEmpiricismEmpiricism
Objective (material) Objective (material) reality is NOT under reality is NOT under
human controlhuman control
Subjective RealitySubjective Reality(under human control)(under human control)
Our perception of the universe (the Our perception of the universe (the world) in world) in non-rational waysnon-rational ways IntuitionIntuitionPerceptions Perceptions ImaginationImaginationEmotion- feelings Emotion- feelings ACTIONSACTIONS
Subjective reality Subjective reality addresses questions of addresses questions of
MeaningMeaningPurpose Purpose ValuesValues
How does the natural world How does the natural world (objective reality) appear to (objective reality) appear to
human beings?human beings?
Cold and Indifferent Cold and Indifferent ChaoticChaoticLonely Lonely AbsurdAbsurdHumans simply cannot control Humans simply cannot control
the physical worldthe physical world
To address this sense of To address this sense of despair, human beings despair, human beings must must REBELREBEL against the against the
ABSURDITY ABSURDITY of the of the objective universe by objective universe by
creating meaning creating meaning (subjective) through (subjective) through
human human ACTIONSACTIONS
How Existentialism addresses How Existentialism addresses nihilismnihilism
If life has no meaning, man If life has no meaning, man must create meaning for his lifemust create meaning for his life
People must make themselves People must make themselves who they who they want to bewant to be
Man defines his own existence Man defines his own existence through through his/her his/her actionsactions
Existentialism defined: Existentialism defined: “Existence (human “Existence (human action)action)
precedes essence (precedes essence (being).” being).” Jean Paul Sartre Jean Paul Sartre
-French Philosopher -French Philosopher
Major figures in Major figures in existentialismexistentialism
Jean Paul SartreJean Paul SartreFrench philosopher 20French philosopher 20thth century century
Albert Camus- French novelistAlbert Camus- French novelist
The FallThe Fall
Franz Kafka- Czech novelistFranz Kafka- Czech novelist
MetamorphosisMetamorphosis
“…“…life is like a box of life is like a box of chocolates…”chocolates…”