EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack Untitled GreenSilver 1949 Existentialism Concerned
![EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack, Untitled (Green-Silver), 1949 EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack, Untitled (Green-Silver), 1949](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-1.jpg)
![Existentialism: • Concerned with the existential (living, concrete): Who am I? What does my Existentialism: • Concerned with the existential (living, concrete): Who am I? What does my](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-2.jpg)
![Existentialism (cont. ): • Most fashionable philosophy in Europe immediately following WWII. • Flourished Existentialism (cont. ): • Most fashionable philosophy in Europe immediately following WWII. • Flourished](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-3.jpg)
![Soren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) • Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. • Generally thought to be Soren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) • Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. • Generally thought to be](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-4.jpg)
![Kierkegaard (cont. ): • Most important human activity is decision-making: through our choices, we Kierkegaard (cont. ): • Most important human activity is decision-making: through our choices, we](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-5.jpg)
![Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -1900) • “God is dead. ” • Believed life is meaningless, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -1900) • “God is dead. ” • Believed life is meaningless,](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-6.jpg)
![Nietzsche (cont. ): • For Nietzsche what we should value is the “will to Nietzsche (cont. ): • For Nietzsche what we should value is the “will to](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-7.jpg)
![Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 -1980): • Born in Paris; internationally known philosopher, novelist, playwright. Awarded Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 -1980): • Born in Paris; internationally known philosopher, novelist, playwright. Awarded](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-8.jpg)
![Jean-Paul Sartre (cont. ): • WWII: Joined the French army in 1939. Captured and Jean-Paul Sartre (cont. ): • WWII: Joined the French army in 1939. Captured and](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-9.jpg)
![Albert Camus (1913 -1960) • Author of “existential” or “absurdist” novels: The Stranger (1942), Albert Camus (1913 -1960) • Author of “existential” or “absurdist” novels: The Stranger (1942),](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-10.jpg)
![Camus (cont. ): • Born in Algeria to working-class parents. Father was killed in Camus (cont. ): • Born in Algeria to working-class parents. Father was killed in](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-11.jpg)
![The Myth of Sisyphus • Camus’ 1942 essay which introduces the idea of the The Myth of Sisyphus • Camus’ 1942 essay which introduces the idea of the](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-12.jpg)
![The Plague (1947) • Novel set in North African city of Oran. • A The Plague (1947) • Novel set in North African city of Oran. • A](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-13.jpg)
- Slides: 13
![EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack Untitled GreenSilver 1949 EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack, Untitled (Green-Silver), 1949](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-1.jpg)
EXISTENTIALISM Jackson Pollack, Untitled (Green-Silver), 1949
![Existentialism Concerned with the existential living concrete Who am I What does my Existentialism: • Concerned with the existential (living, concrete): Who am I? What does my](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-2.jpg)
Existentialism: • Concerned with the existential (living, concrete): Who am I? What does my life mean? Why do I feel guilty? Why am I afraid? What am I to do? • Not a specific school of philosophy but any philosophy that says that meaning and choice as they affect individuals is what is most important. • Concerns: the meaning of the individual, freedom, living an authentic life, alienation, and mortality. • Inevitable in modern age? Postindustrial, highly specialized, technical, “sophisticated” society creates loss of individuality, pressure to conform, threat to human freedom: the massing of society.
![Existentialism cont Most fashionable philosophy in Europe immediately following WWII Flourished Existentialism (cont. ): • Most fashionable philosophy in Europe immediately following WWII. • Flourished](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-3.jpg)
Existentialism (cont. ): • Most fashionable philosophy in Europe immediately following WWII. • Flourished in universities, journalism, among intellectuals, in poems, novels, plays, films. • Major figures in 19 th century: Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche. • Major figures in 20 th century: Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre.
![Soren Kierkegaard 1813 1855 Born in Copenhagen Denmark Generally thought to be Soren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) • Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. • Generally thought to be](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-4.jpg)
Soren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) • Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. • Generally thought to be founder of existentialism. • Kierkegaard thought that the individual, the personal, the subjective aspects of human life are the most important.
![Kierkegaard cont Most important human activity is decisionmaking through our choices we Kierkegaard (cont. ): • Most important human activity is decision-making: through our choices, we](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-5.jpg)
Kierkegaard (cont. ): • Most important human activity is decision-making: through our choices, we create our lives and become ourselves. • Scientific objectivity is dangerous: reveals facts and truths but not the truth. Felt people were too dependent on experts to point out way to salvation or personal growth. • Authenticity results when an individual lives honestly and courageously in the moment without refuge in excuses, and without reliance on groups or institutions for meaning or purpose. • In-authenticity results when the nature and needs of the individual are ignored, denied or made less important than institutions, abstractions, or groups.
![Friedrich Nietzsche 1844 1900 God is dead Believed life is meaningless Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -1900) • “God is dead. ” • Believed life is meaningless,](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-6.jpg)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 -1900) • “God is dead. ” • Believed life is meaningless, full of suffering and striving; the universe is indifferent to human suffering; still, he believed life is all there is and that we should live life to the fullest and get all we can out of it. • Question for Nietzsche: How do we live a full life in a godless, meaningless world? • Because there is no God, the morals and values that we attribute to God are instead human creations; therefore, we are free to choose whatever values it is in our interests to have.
![Nietzsche cont For Nietzsche what we should value is the will to Nietzsche (cont. ): • For Nietzsche what we should value is the “will to](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-7.jpg)
Nietzsche (cont. ): • For Nietzsche what we should value is the “will to power” or the drive to reach our full potential. The human being who reaches his full potential is a super-human-being or “superman. ” • Accepting this value will lead to great human achievement and allow the gifted self-fulfillment and personal happiness. Although it may lead to conflicts, these should be welcomed as should the destruction of the weak.
![JeanPaul Sartre 1905 1980 Born in Paris internationally known philosopher novelist playwright Awarded Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 -1980): • Born in Paris; internationally known philosopher, novelist, playwright. Awarded](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-8.jpg)
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 -1980): • Born in Paris; internationally known philosopher, novelist, playwright. Awarded Nobel Prize in literature in 1964; turned it down. • Existence precedes essence: We have no “given nature; ” we become who we are through freedom of choice and moral responsibility. • We are born into existence that has no divine purpose; life is often absurd or horrible and the only true values are the ones we create for ourselves. • “Bad faith”: when people are too terrified to face the freedom and responsibility of choice and revert to old existing norms and rules (religious). • “Commitment”: Choosing and living in accord with the choice.
![JeanPaul Sartre cont WWII Joined the French army in 1939 Captured and Jean-Paul Sartre (cont. ): • WWII: Joined the French army in 1939. Captured and](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-9.jpg)
Jean-Paul Sartre (cont. ): • WWII: Joined the French army in 1939. Captured and imprisoned by Germans for nine months. Released for poor health; contributed to Sartre’s belief that evil is not an abstraction; it is real and concrete. • Any attempt to rationalize or deny evil fails: an ordered universe governed by a loving, powerful God is not possible; the universe is indifferent to us. Science is not a certainty given that concentration camps were both “scientific” and “rationally ordered. ” Even the order of Nature is a delusion; nature does not care about us. • Belief in these ideas are attempts to evade the awesomeness of choice.
![Albert Camus 1913 1960 Author of existential or absurdist novels The Stranger 1942 Albert Camus (1913 -1960) • Author of “existential” or “absurdist” novels: The Stranger (1942),](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-10.jpg)
Albert Camus (1913 -1960) • Author of “existential” or “absurdist” novels: The Stranger (1942), The Plague(1947), The Fall(1956). • Coined description “absurd”: the situation in which human beings demand that their lives should have significance in an indifferent universe which is itself totally without meaning or purpose. • Believed we must respond to the absurd by refusing to give into the despair caused by the realization of life’s meaningless; instead, we must rebel against our cosmic circumstances by choosing to live life to the fullest.
![Camus cont Born in Algeria to workingclass parents Father was killed in Camus (cont. ): • Born in Algeria to working-class parents. Father was killed in](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-11.jpg)
Camus (cont. ): • Born in Algeria to working-class parents. Father was killed in WWI. • Studied at the University of Algeria until diagnosed with tuberculosis. Later completed studies. • Joined French Communist Party in 1935 to fight inequities he saw in treatment of native Algerians and French colonists. Later criticized communism, which led to break with Sartre. • In Paris during WWII, joined French Resistance cell called Combat; wrote for underground publication. • Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. • died in car accident in 1960.
![The Myth of Sisyphus Camus 1942 essay which introduces the idea of the The Myth of Sisyphus • Camus’ 1942 essay which introduces the idea of the](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-12.jpg)
The Myth of Sisyphus • Camus’ 1942 essay which introduces the idea of the absurd. • The myth: As punishment from the gods for trickery, Sisyphus was forced to roll a huge boulder up a steep hill, but just before he reached the top, the rock would roll back down the hill, forcing him to begin again. • The punishment is both frustrating and pointless; to Camus, life is similarly absurd in that it, too, is pointless. • In the essay, he offers his solution to this situation.
![The Plague 1947 Novel set in North African city of Oran A The Plague (1947) • Novel set in North African city of Oran. • A](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h/9ca38d1ae3b711670c02e72f47a88cbd/image-13.jpg)
The Plague (1947) • Novel set in North African city of Oran. • A plague hits the city, which is eventually quarantined. • Thought to be based on cholera epidemic that hit Oran in 1849. • Existential themes presented in novel. Represents humanity’s response to the “absurd. ” • Also read as metaphorical treatment of French Resistance to Nazi Occupation in WWII.