"You can think about death as much as you like, but it doesn't get you any further, and you go on with your daily activities, no matter how stupid and unimportant they may be.”

Existentialism Do Now: What is a human being? i.e. what is the human essence?

REASON rationalism is: "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" –r–reason, rationality, and logic the ability of the human mind to predict effects as based upon presumed causes “REASON" is a basis for a arguments, therefore used synonymously with the word "cause". –“–“Everything happens for a reason” –“–“This happened because…” –T–This makes sense…

Empiricism a theory of knowledge emphasizing the role of experience in the formation of ideas –H–Hypothesis and Theory The concept of experience generally refers to know-how Philosophers label knowledge based on experience as "empirical knowledge" –A–Actions based on previous outcomes

Existentialism Existentialism is : a philosophical movement in which individual human beings are understood as having full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives.philosophical movement Existence precedes essence –man defines his reality

What is Human Essence? Human essence = how we behave Religious Beliefs = Human essence is soul Existentialism: Human essence is that we exist

Existence Precedes Essence humanity may exist, but humanity's existence does not mean anything rejects religious beliefs that a human has an essence (the soul) and that human existence has inherent meaning. –"–"one is not born a man/woman, but becomes one".

“Throwness” –humans are "thrown" into existence without choice –humans have no definitions of themselves –Humans at first are nothing “deep anxiety of human existence” –feeling there is no purpose, nothing, at human core. –to counter this nothingness, embrace existence existentialism – origin of the name

What’s the Anxiety? Someone who believes in reality is called a "realist“ Someone who believes in deity is a “deist” Someone who believes only in existence, and seeks to find meaning in his or her life solely by embracing existence, is an existentialist.

Reason is a defense against angst where do people find meaning? people make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what’s rational The rejection of reason as the source of meaning is existentialist thought feelings of anxiety and dread due to freedom and awareness of death.

rationality is a defense mechanism humans use to counter existential anxiety: –t–their fear of being in the world. –"–"If I can believe that I am rational and everyone else is rational then I have nothing to fear and no reason to feel anxious about being free." "bad faith" –a–an attempt by the self to impose structure on a world of phenomena — "the other" –E–Existentialist notion against God.

"Conquer yourself, not the world." Descartes

Existentialist Graffiti I am hoping very soon to have something to hope for. Nothing really matters except a few things that really don't matter very much. The reasons for my existence have not yet been established... but investigation is continuing. Slowly but surely, I'm getting nowhere. My life has a superb cast, but I can't figure out the plot. Live life as you may-you'll never live through it. L I F E has a big "I F" in the middle of it. No, life isn't what I wanted-haven't you got anything else? I need you to help me enjoy my loneliness.

What is Not Existential? There is no one answer to what existentialism IS Understand what existentialism IS NOT, so that we can discuss what it includes. Existentialism does not support any of the following: –T–The good life is one of wealth, pleasure, or honor. –S–Social approval and social structure trump the individual. –A–Accept what is and that is enough in life. –S–Science can and will make everything better. –P–People are good by nature, ruined by society or external forces.

Mankind vs. Existentialists Existentialism requires the active acceptance of our nature. The feel humans: We spend our lives wanting more and more. Once we realize the futility of wordly desire, we try to accept what we have. We turn to philosophy or religion to accept less. We want to detach from our worldly needs — but we cannot do so. It is the human condition to desire. To want. To seek more, even when that “more” is “more of less.” It is a desire to prove something to ourselves, as well as others.

Existentialists view of us… The existentialists (feel) … Mock the notion of a fully satisfying life. Life is marked by irreparable loss. Humans aspire toward goods of the world Mankind challenges itself to improve, yet perfection is not possible. Religions present rules, yet believers know they cannot live by all of those rules. The “sin-free” life is beyond human nature.

Existentialism vs… Philosophy and religion exist to answer “why?” when we want an excuse for human nature. Maybe science will explain away sociopaths and even mere anger someday. Society treats depression, anxiety, mania, and all “disorders” with pills. Alienation, despair, and anguish may vanish. If they do, what of existentialism? Do humans need their pain? Is suffering what makes us stronger, as Nietzsche suspected?

Famous Existentialists… If something worth living for is worth dying for, what about something not worth dying for? (Camus)Camus Did man create God to have a reason to live? (Dostoevsky)Dostoevsky Does society make women and men different or do we choose our roles? (Beauvoir)Beauvoir Would living forever add meaning to life? (Heidegger)Heidegger How do you really act in private? (Sartre)Sartre Without love, without people, what is a person? (Kafka)Kafka

Existentialism is Living Mankind defines itself through the act of living. Mankind exists, then the individual spends a lifetime changing his or her essence. Without life there can be no meaning; the search for meaning in existentialism is the search for self… –which is why there is existential psychotherapy. (Imagine a therapist telling people life has no meaning!) In other words, we define ourselves by living; suicide would indicate you have chosen to have no meaning. Existentialism is about being a saint without God; being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society.

Existentialism is not dark. It is not depressing. Existentialism is about life. Existentialists believe in living — and in fighting for life. The Believe: Mankind has free will. Life is a series of choices, creating stress. Few decisions are without any negative consequences. Some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. Individuals trust that what they are doing is right, but they can be entirely wrong. They commit themselves to the unknown, and the decision can often be an agonizing problem.

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The basic problem is that humans are not good, sharing, generous creatures. Children are what we remain our entire lives… greedy, manipulative, brats. Some people disguise it better than others.

Camus was an absurdist, suggesting existentialism was more methodology than philosophy. Camus called existentialism “philosophical suicide” if used to ponder life. Considering Camus’ fascination with death, that’s quite a statement.Camus I call the existential attitude philosophical suicide. How else to start from the world’s lack of meaning and end up by finding a meaning and a depth to it? - Albert Camus as paraphrased; Introducing Existentialism; Appignanesi, p. 36