I'm interested in this but don't know a great deal. Thanks.
2007-03-10 23:20:39 · 9 answers · asked by flowerpot 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
"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.
2007-03-11 03:11:19 · answer #1 · answered by anthonypaullloyd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Existentialism is a philosophical movement in which individual human beings are understood as having full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives.
2007-03-11 09:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by sheilanmanny12 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Existentialism is a philosophy of existence , an irrationaltrend in bourgeoosis philosophy which appeared in the 20 th centuryin an attempt to create a new world outlook corresponding to the frame of mind of bourgeois intellectuals . It is subdivided into the religious and the aesthetic . Please read JEAN PAUL SARTRE , MARCEL , JASPERS , CAMUS for detailed studies .
2007-03-11 10:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by subra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch a film called 'Waking Life'. It breaks it down a little.
Existentialism is a very confusing topic, and some would argue it's completely useless and has no basis on anything. Others would argue that it's extremely important! It is a fairly new topic and has only really been kicking around quite recently.
2007-03-11 08:52:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't tell you-- you must experience it for yourself.
Actually, existentialism can be summed up as the belief that thought is meaningless and only experience matters.
2007-03-11 07:27:52 · answer #5 · answered by mjb63114 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cogito ergo sum, confusus!!!
2007-03-13 08:24:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd tell you .... but why bother... it's all meaningless anyway.
2007-03-11 07:57:55 · answer #7 · answered by rumplestiltskin12357 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i exist so i am real? but so do others. are they real?.......
don't know really.
2007-03-11 09:06:23 · answer #8 · answered by no name 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism
This will help.
2007-03-11 07:23:22 · answer #9 · answered by ♥shushin♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋