How would you define 'existentialism'?

Question

Do you see it as a proper philosophical school, or a loose conglomeration of vaguely related ideas concerning meaning and mortality? Also, do you think it is essentially dead in the water these days or can (or should) ever be revived?

Answer 1

Jean Paul Sartre defined existentialim as the philosophy that posits existance before essence. The most easy-to-understand definition is found in his book, 'Existentialism and Human Emotions.' Basically, you exist, then define your essence. Other philosophies try to explain man's existance as a result of his essence, e.g, Descartes' "I think, therefore I am." Sartre said, "I
am, therefore I think." Existentialism is not a depressing philosophy, per se. The idea is that, since you exist first and then define your nature, you cannot rely on a God or religion to advise you on what to do. Even if God exists, man CHOOSES what actions to take in this life. Man defines himself. Sartre also belived that God was man's invention to assuage his anxieties about the essentially undefined nature of life: "I don't know the meaning of life, I didn't choose to be born, this is a stressful idea, so I'll invent a God to give meaning to it all." Existentialism is an optimistic philosophy when understood as the philosophy that recognizes man's freedom of choice and freedom to define life on his own terms.

Answer 2

"Very simple meaning". Guess what? You lucked out. You own words are part of the definition. The whole definition goes like this.................What is the very simple meaning of ____________? You, or anyone else, get to fill in the blank. A shorter definition is just........Why_________? Guess what, again? When you, and everyone else, were 3 to 4 years old, you were an expert in existentialism. That's because we walked around all day asking why? why? why? why? It drove our parents nuts, but we soon grew out of it and then had to be taught to ask why, again, when we went to school. Those who created existentialism insisted that everything be kept in simple terms everyone could understand.

Answer 3

Simply put, Existentialism claims that life in itself has no actual, absolute purpose, only the purpose that we impose upon it in order to give ourselves a "false" sense of fulfillment. This false sense isn't necessarily bad but it is critical in order to prevent us from lapsing into a debilitating emptiness.

Someone might work their entire lives trying to cure cancer and never find an answer. In Existentialist philosophy we have to believe that this person, nonetheless, had a fulfilling life because they created purpose for it. Achieving the presumed end isn't necessary. In fact, it might - and often is - incidental.

My modern example is the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate. Individuals on both side of the debate might truly believe in their cause or they might only want to belong to a group - that part of the debate is incidental. What really matters - and the true reason for such passion - is the sense, the illusion, that they are fighting for something important. Again, they might actually and truly be fighting for something important but it's what it does for them personally that truly motivates.

Answer 4

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
ex·is·ten·tial·ism /ˌɛgzɪˈstɛnʃəˌlɪzəm, ˌɛksɪ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[eg-zi-sten-shuh-liz-uhm, ek-si-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Philosophy. a philosophical attitude associated esp. with Heidegger, Jaspers, Marcel, and Sartre, and opposed to rationalism and empiricism, that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices.


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[Origin: 1940–45; < G Existentialismus (1919); see existential, -ism]

—Related forms
ex·is·ten·tial·ist, adjective, noun
ex·is·ten·tial·is·tic, adjective
ex·is·ten·tial·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source ex·is·ten·tial·ism (ěg'zĭ-stěn'shə-lĭz'əm, ěk'sĭ-) Pronunciation Key
n. A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.

ex'is·ten'tial·ist adj. & n.

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WordNet - Cite This Source existentialism

noun
(philosophy) a 20th-century philosophical movement chiefly in Europe; assumes that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves

WordNet® 2.1, © 2005 Princeton University
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source
existentialism


A movement in twentieth-century literature and philosophy, with some forerunners in earlier centuries. Existentialism stresses that people are entirely free and therefore responsible for what they make of themselves. With this responsibility comes a profound anguish or dread. Søren Kierkegaard and Feodor Dostoevsky in the nineteenth century, and Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus in the twentieth century, were existentialist writers.

Answer 5

I find existentialism interesting. the idea that life's meaning is only what you make of it is the most realist approach ever attempted. We are responsible for all of our own actions and thoughts, our responsibility to be moral beings to improve ourselves and all. It gives us the power without concern for a higher ever watchful being. Philosophical thought for me.

Answer 6

Personally, I see it as walking around on earth in a bleak and meaningless hell. I am reminded of Holmes statement to Watson--"And who is the better for....it?" Rhetorical question with the implied answer of "no one".

Answer 7

Personally I see it as bankrupt philosophically.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 8

Like Seinfeld, it's a show about nothing.