Existentialism

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Existentialism

• The abridged version!

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The History of Existentialism

• Chief spokesman Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus,
  Simon de Beauvoir
• All French writers involved in the Resistance
  during Nazi occupied France in WWII.
• Found strength in the human spirit under the
  worst situations

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Major Themes of Existentialism

• Existence Before Essence a man lives (has
  existence) rather than is (has being or essence).
  He must find his essence.
• Every mans experience of life is unique, and
  different from anyone elses and can be
  understood only in terms each persons
  involvement in life.

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Existentialist question Who am I?

• Reason alone cannot deal with the depths of human
  life (life is absurd).
• Focus almost exclusively on the individual, not
  on social responsibility towards society or state
• Believe that life is difficult, and there is no
  objective, but the individual must create value
  by living it (find their essence!)
• Existential choices and values are primarily
  demonstrated in ACT. (our actions define us)

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More Existentialist Themes

• Alienation from God, from nature, from other
  people and from ones own true self.
• Freedom freedom means human autonomy
  (independence). Freedom for societal rules,
  conformity, religion, government etc

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