in easy to grasp terms, what is existentialism?

Answer 1

i think it means when you put your self first in life. Basically, you are number one and other people come second to yourself.

Answer 2

It is a form of moral philosophy...ie trying to sort out ethics..or what is right and wrong.
As a group, the existentialists use lots of examples to illustrate dilemmas and the end result is that one should follow ones instincts rather than try and adopt some form of absolute moral code....and what is right for one person may not be right for another, this does not sound much but it has to be taken as part of a long discussion lasting 300+ years which tries to find an answer to the big"Free Will vs. Determinism" question that was touched on in the film, Matrix 1.

Answer 3

Existentialism relates to the dilemma of life.
"What is the meaning of life as an individual entity" is an Existentialist question.
To an Existentialist, if our world, universe has no meaning (if their is no god) then a person must make choices or design meaning into their lives, IE, doing charity work, art, travelling, music, (positive attributes) or drug addiction, materialism etc etc (negative attributes) of the existential dilemma of life.
For Existentialists, existence precedes essence.
An individual has no self identity other than that involved in the act of choosing and that all philosophies must be concerned only with the human predicament and inner states as alienation, anxiety, inauthenticity, dread, sense of nothingness, and the fear of death.
The individual has complete freedom of will, so individuals cannot help but make choices in their lives.
So in other words, "we are are own saviours". or jailers as the case maybe.

Answer 4

this is the idea that guy is unique between creation in that guy receives to outline himself. A canine is only a canine. A cat is only a cat. yet a human newborn can change into all styles of issues: a priest, a pilot, an engineer, a father, a citizen, etc... All of those roles serve to outline us. Existentialism seems at humanity and society from this element: the actual reality we are very maleable and performance the potential to outline ourselves. Jean-Paul Sartre famously positioned it this way: existence precedes essence. What he meant by potential of this is that for a human, basically being born (existence), change into no longer the entire tale. A human newborn can ought to outline him/herself for the time of their lives. And in uncomplicated words after being born will they income an essence.

Answer 5

Existentialism is about re-defining yourself in an increasingly absurd world as defined for you by the traditions of science, philosophy and religion; you cannot help but feel alien to it. Others cannot tell you who or what you are, or what your existence should mean to you. Only you can determine what you can be for yourself, as opposed to what others want you to be. For this you must look at yourself not through the eyes of others, but from yourself, from the inside out – from within the acute reality of your own cognitive and spiritual existence. But this is no easy task – it means assuming responsibility for all your actions as you attempt to recreate yourself from the subjective contents of your stream of consciousness. It will require courage – the courage to invent oneself without being plugged into a god, a scientific assumption or the beliefs of society at large for confirmation that you are doing the right thing. It may lead to anguish and despair, for to decide for oneself is to decide for the whole of human reality, for this is your reality also.

Answer 6

As someone wrote "existence preceeds essence"
Understand that phrase and you'll understand existentialism, albeit not completley.

We exist before there is any essence, or soul, or preconceived notion of our identity. Its a naturalistic way or viewing humanity.

Read Sarte for more indepth answers...

Answer 7

It is a rejection of all forms of religion and faith systems, and can be considered as an approach to life and social conduct which places choice and action under the direct control and responsibility of the individual. To an existentialist there is no reward of heaven or threat of hell - life is a navigation through suffering using free will.

Answer 8

Basically it is the study of the existence of things using philosophy.
So when Descartes said "I think therefore I am" he was making an existentialist statement.
Another example would be the film "The Matrix" which suggests we are all computer simulations, that is an existentialist idea because it relates to if we exist and how we see reality.

Answer 9

"Existence precedes essence" (at least for humans).

The "essence" of a thing being its defining characteristic: what it is "about". A cigarette lighter's essence is making a flame, a car's essence is being driven, a dog's essence is wagging its tail and barking.

What is man's "essence"? The existentialists deny that he has one, or more precisely say that he must define his own. What's given to him is his existence - but nothing to guide him in how to use it, what to do, what essence to create.

Others follow what they claim is their nature (hey, I'm a guy - we do that sort of thing). The existentialist position removes this nice cosy possibility of going with the flow of your nature, your position in society, the dictates of the church, the pressure of your peers etc etc.

Like it or not you have decided to do what you do and there is no way of getting around that - in Sartre's words you are "doomed to be free". You have to make your own meaning of life, your own decisions and your own morality.

Answer 10

Quite depressing theory which says that because contemporary society must face a world where there is no God anymore, we are alone. Therefore there is no single moral imperative anymore, there is nothing that you can believe in, people are lost. It is a theory of existance in a world without God. For reference whatch "Waiting for Godo" S. Becket or read Kamue.

Answer 11

It's a revolt against traditional philosophy (in it's simplest form).