Existentialism of the Twentieth Century: Philosophy died...

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Philosophy died...

...when the Thirty ostracised Socrates.

Barbabecca: I mean, philosophy really deals with all aspects. It's not really something in itself, just a way of looking at things
Barbabecca: an approach
Barbabecca: or the approach to an approach
Barbabecca: that's what humans never get
Barbabecca: it's frustrating to discuss things like that
Luka: as i see
Barbabecca: if they only see their perspective without realising that it is a perspective because they take it for granted
Barbabecca: it's so frustrating!!!!!
Barbabecca: why dont people get it??
Barbabecca: humans are sooo HUMAN sometimes!

1 comment:

Stephan PachecoJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:24 PM
Friends, I invite you to witness Modern American Existentialism in The Manifest Utopia Series, by Philosopher Stephan Pacheco. The root of the examination is Freedom.
http://www.amazon.com/Stephan-Pacheco/e/BOO2OKPOR8
Be honest with yourself. Strive to be Genuine and not emulating. Be exactly who you want to be. How many thoughts to Free yourself? How many to Free us All?
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Vignette - Soren Kierkegaard

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

Often regarded as the father of existentialism, although he never used the term himself, Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, a devout Christian, and critic of the Hegelian philosophy of the time. He regarded human beings as individuals which all have a purpose in life. He thought it was necessary to consider one's own existence as part of a philosophical reflection. He claimed that objective facts that are rational and always true therefore do not affect the life of the individual. He believed that “truth” is something that is subjective and individual. A general description of the human is therefore impossible and not relevant because all that really matters is the “existence” of a person, and what affects this human personally. To Kierkegaard, religion was also a very personal matter, and since it cannot be approached in an academic manner, we must believe, or not believe, but ultimately, it is a personal matter. Contradicting the traditional philosophical approach to the search for truth that has, since Descartes, consisted of rationality, Kierkegaard says that rationality is meaningless because since we know for sure that these things are true, they do not affect us because they are true for everyone.

Vignette - Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger(1889 – 1976)

This twentieth century German philosopher asked himself the basic question as to why we exist. The fact that anything existed, as opposed to not existing, was what concerned him most. His philosophy was largely about simple ‘Being’. He rejected the term ‘existentialist’ because he was more interested in why things are, rather than why humans specifically exist, instead of just ‘being’ like objects, plants and animals. His philosophy was only concerned with the existence of humankind, in order to understand the ‘being’ of things. His most important work, “Being and Time” was published in 1927.

Vignette - Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 – 1980)

This French philosopher was a key figure in twentieth century existentialism. He was the person that first coined the term ‘existentialism’, although he named many people existentialists who never claimed to be that. He claimed that human beings were ‘condemned to be free’, that while we are all by nature free, that means that we have to take responsibility for our lives. He also criticized humans for their hypocrisy – everyone wanted to be free yet so many people did not want to take responsibility for their actions. He collaborated with a feminist existentialist, Simone de Beauvoir for very long, and was also friends with Albert Camus until they fell out. He is a symbol of existentialism in the twentieth century. Some of his most important works included his lecture, "Existentialism is a Humanism" which was later published as a book.

Good Books to Read on Existentialism(or if you're bored, to read anyway)

1. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.
My favourite book in the world, written from a childish view but very informative. It follows a girl who takes a philosphy course from an unknown man and discovers that her existence is unreal, but manages to find a way out to the "real'' world.
2. Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
A book Mr. Slough lent me (but I'm keeping it muhahaha) about an Austrian psychologist's experience in the Nazi Concentration Camps, his analysis of the people in it, his incredible optimism and will to go on, and his revolutionary theory, logotherapy.
3. Reality, Man and Existence
Sorry, I can't say anything about this book as I haven't read it. Mr. Slough gave it to me as well and I decided that it is quite sexist(the title...where do the women come in?)

Existentialism of the Twentieth Century