Existentialism

Introduction

Existentialism is a philosophy of the 20th century which focused on the analysis of existence and the way in which human exist in the world. The idea is that humans exist first and then each individual spends a lifetime changing their essence or nature. In simple terms existentialism can be define as a philosophy of human being in search of themselves. It defines the meaning of life through free will, choice and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are trying to find who and what they are throughout their lives, as they make decisions based on their experiences, beliefs, and perspectives. And personal choices become unique without the need for an objective truth. An existentialist believes that a person should be required to make decisions and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions.

The history of contemporary philosophy shows that there is a perpetual internal fight among the group of philosophers who are given the label of existentialists. Hoidegger says he cares only for ontology, and he disavows Sartre; Sartre disavows himself when proclaiming himself a Marxist in his last book; Sartre and Merleau-Ponty who were, as long as Merleau-Ponty lived, good friends, disagreed on philosophical as well as political issues (Heidegger, pp 25-185). Nevertheless, the contention is that to speak of Existentialism means something, but that every one of the so-called Existentialists reads now his own path in his own direction.

Existentialism - Impact on Society

The existentialist ideas emerged at a time in society where a great despair prevailed then the Great Depression and World War II. There was a spirit of optimism in society that was destroyed by the First World War and the mid-century calamities. This despair has been articulated by existentialist philosophers well into the 70's, and remains today as a popular way of thinking and reasoning (with the freedom to choose the moral system and preferred lifestyle of each person).

An existentialist might be a religious moralist, an agnostic relativist, or an amoral atheist. Kierkegaard, a religious philosopher, Nietzsche, an anti-Christian, Sartre and Camus, an atheist, are recognized for their work and writings on existentialism. Sartre is noted for attracting more international attention to existentialism in the twentieth century (Kierkegaard, pp 120-185).

Analysis of Existentialism Literature

Life is a Passion in bleakness. There is no place for hope and none for despair. What Camus allows us in "The Myth of Sisyphus" is the shocking and bracing awareness of our naked dignity. Perhaps it was the Algerian summer and desert, perhaps the despair and disintegration of morale consequent to the Nazi occupation of France that conditioned this stark picture of existence. Whatever the specific climate for such a work, it appeals to the universal human qualities of genuineness, sincerity, and reason. For Camus "there is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide." Whether suicide is a valid escape, whether life has a meaning, whether within the limits of nihilism it is possible to find the means to proceed beyond, ...