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Existentialism=

Fri= day, April 25, 2008

10:= 37 AM

Existentialism topics:

  • Aims of
    • Don't like the definit= ions of man, do not like people trying to define metaphysics.
  • Individualism
  • Hominocentricity=
    • Centered around man.  From the point of view of man, n= ot from view with man as a social animal, not from a religious view, not from= a biological view.
  • The Death of God=
    • Most existentialists a= re atheistic, though there are Christians that are interested in the ideas.  Some of the things  come from Kierkegaard, actually-= a Christian himself.
    • Sartre: "We are f= orlorn and abandoned".
    • Forlornness and abandonment:  They are left = without their God to lead them, and help them make their moral choices.
  • Situationalism
    • Morals are dependant o= n the situation.
  • Freedom
  • Value invention<= /li>
    • Without a God, you nee= d to make up your values as you go along.
    • Example:  Sartre: Young man comes to him, = has two choice: To stay home and care for his mom, or fight in the French resistance.  Asks Sartre wha= t he should do.  Sartre says that there's nothing that he should do, but that he has to decide for himself.<= /li>
  • Essence and existence
    • All objects in the wor= ld fall under an 'essence' or a definition.
    • Essence comes before existence.  Except with man.=
      • For Sartre, we are not= objects in the world= .  In man, existence comes = bef= ore the essence.  The choices that you make decid= e what you are.
      • You are your choices,= a continual work in progress.
    • The values that man ma= kes exist before the essence comes.  We invented Democracy, then it took upon itself its own essence.<= /li>
  • Responsibility
    • "In choosing, I am responsible.  When I choose = to make myself into what I am, I am choosing for all men.  A person must take responsibility."
    • When someone makes a c= hoice, he must make it so that he would have someone else do it too, if in t= he same situation.   (I decide= what it is like to be a human being, when I choose).
    • Gives rise to three ki= nds of people:
      • Cowards
        • "It wasn't my fault.  That's how I was made.  It's how I was brou= ght up.  Or I'm just following= along with what I'm supposed to be doing."
        • Someone who will not= admit that he is actually free.
        • He will not define himself, and thinks that he is defined by others.
      • Stinkers
        • Slightly different f= rom a coward.  Says "Yes, i= t's my choice, I am choosing for myself.  But my choices aren't for anyone but myself."
        • Reject the idea that= they are 'choosing for all men'.
      • Authentic people
        • In other words, existentialists.
        • One who accepts that= they are free, and chooses with the knowledge that they are choosing for mankind.
  • Antisubstance
    • Why shouldn't I commit suicide, if all of this is dread, anxiety, and all these 'fun' terms = that existentialists use to describe the world?
  • Ambiguity
  • Problems with

 

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