Existentialism

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…”