Existentialism

1045 Words3 Pages

Existentialism

Existentialism refers to the philosophical movement or tendency of the

nineteenth and twentyth centuries. Because of the diversity of positions associated

with existentialism, a precise definition is impossible; however, it suggests one major

theme: a stress on individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual

freedom, and choice {3}. Existentialism also refers to a family of philosophies

devoted to an interpretation of human existence in the world that stresses its

concreteness and its problematic character. Existentialism is often seen as an

irrationlist revolt against tradiational phylosphy. Although this may be true to a

certain point, existentialism has played a key role in the way people look at the world.

Existentialism, for several reasons, rejects epistemology and the attempt to

ground human knowledge. First of all,existenalist believe, human beings are not

solely or even primarily knowers. They also care, desire, manipulate, and, above all,

choose and act. Secondly, the self or ego, required by some if not all epistemological

doctrines, is not a basic feature of the prereflective experience. It emerges from one's

experience of other people. The cognizing ego presupposes rather than infers or

constitutes the existence of external objects. In other words, you are not born with an

ego, or thought of ones self, but it is created through experiences with other people.

Finally, man is not a detached observer of the world, but in the world. He exists in a

special sense in which objects suck as stones and trees do not; he is open to the world

and to objects in it. There is no distinct realm of consciousness, on the basis of which

a person might infer, reason why pr...

... middle of paper ...

...hn Barth, and Arthur Miller{3}.

Ever since the introduction of existentialism it has played a very important role

in the way people think. It may seem depressing and almost pointless at times, but that is

what makes it so inturging. Existentalism can been seen in books, plays, and movies

alike. Some of the greatest minds in history were existentialist.

Bibliography:

Works Cited

1) Existentialism. 3 May 2000. 2 April 2001

2) Kaufmann, Walter. Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Satre. Cleveland: The

World Publishing Company, 1956.

3) Kolumbus. 21 Jan. 1999. Kolumbus. 2 April 2001

4) Lavine, T.Z. From Socrates to Sartre: the Philosophic Quest. New York: Bantam

Books, 1984.

5) Neo-Tech. 15 June 2000. Neo-Tech. 2 April 2001

6) University of Florida. 9 March 2001. University of Florida. 2 April 2001

More about Existentialism

Open Document