1. Existentialism
The Courage to Be

2. Existentialism As a philosophical movement Existentialism emphasizes-
Individual existence
Personal freedom
Authentic choice

3. Existentialism Ontology (the study of the nature of being)
Reality is subjective, Truth is relative
Epistemology (beliefs about the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge)
We learn by making authentic choices
Anxiety comes with the total freedom of choice
To refuse to choose authentically is to live in “bad faith.”
Axiology (beliefs about ethics, religion, values)
no universal, rational judgment between right and wrong.
To do good is to act in good faith
To do bad is to act in bad faith

4. Philosophers described as Existentialists
Soren Kierkegaard
Friedrich Nietzsche
Jean-PaulSartre

5. Soren Kierkegaard Religious Existentialism
Kierkegaard stressed the ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation
An individual must live a totally committed life, which is only understood by the individual
He advocated a “leap of faith” into Christianity
Although Christianity is incomprehensible, it is the only commitment that will save an individual from complete and utter despair.

6. Friedrich Nietzsche Atheistic Existentialism
God is Dead
All external authority blinds the individual to authentic choice
The Judeo-Christian moral code keeps the individual from assuming full responsibility for his or her decisions
The Scientific assumption of an orderly universe is a useful fiction that hides the meaninglessness of existence

8. John-Paul Sartre Existentialism as a Philosophy
He wrote the first work that attempted to make Existentialism into a coherent philosophy in 1943
It was written in response to the absurdity of World War II
He argued that humans beings need a rational basis for their lives so they developed systematic philosophies
but this is impossible to achieve. The human life is a “futile passion”.

9. John-Paul Sartre “existence precedes essence”
We exist first and then we need to create our essential being
Existential dread- “the cry in the night”
By refusing to accept full responsibility for who we are and the decisions we make, we act in bad faith

10. Living an Authentic Life
Authentic existence (essence) can only be achieved by those who actively seek to discover purposefulness for their existence
This happens by making independent choices and assuming responsibility for consequences
It is not a natural flow; is easily stifled by outside influences

11. Obstacles to Authenticity
1) Unawareness
Awareness can be stifled through conformity during the formative years
Students not allowed to make choices are denied the opportunity to accept responsibility for their choices
2) Fear
Individual fear of accepting the burden of responsibility
To refuse to choose is to make a choice