...Meaning and Existentialism in My Life - Existentialism is a phiosophy which revolves around the central belief that we create ourselves. External factors are not important. It is the way that we let external factors affect us that determines who we are. As individuals we all have the freedom to choose our own path and that is what life is all about. Along with the freedom of choice comes the responsibilty of one's actions which can make some people anxious but give others meaning to their lives. To overcome this anxiousness and accept responsibilty is to meet the challenges of life and to truly live it.... [tags: Existentialism, ] 675 words (1.9 pages) $14.95 [preview] Understanding Existentialism - Do we matter. Do we seek personal happiness in life. These are questions from existentialism. The dictionary defines existentialism as an individual’s experience filled with isolation in a hostile universe where a human being attempts to find true self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Hamlet is an existentialist character who believes that he is forced to avenge his father’s death and the hatred builds in his heart because of the many betrayals which direct him towards a senseless life and constant thoughts about suicide; this ultimately leads to his demise and he is left with naught.... [tags: Existentialism] 872 words (2.5 pages) $14.95 [preview] Life Value vs. Existentialism in Grendel - A main theme in John Gardner’s Grendel...
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...In the following essay I will examine the arguments for and against the idea that there is such a thing as a fixed and essential human nature. This is a debate which goes back to antiquity, to the time of Socrates and to his idea that a person must endeavor to know oneself. Thus founding the first philosophy, which was the study of man and of human nature. Firstly I will examine the argument for a fixed human nature in the form of the theory of argument from design and also determinism. Then I will proceed to examine the argument against a fixed human nature, in the theory of existentialism. Lastly I intend to show the evidence, as to why I conclude that there is no such thing as a fixed human nature, and that the theory of existentialism is the plausible argument. I will examine now, the idea that all humans have a fixed human nature. Plato and Aristotle were the first to concur on metaphysics as the first point of study. They differed to each other in so far as Plato had a dualistic approach and believed in a world outside of the changeable physical world, that we exist in. He thought this world, was just a world of appearances' another world known as the world of ideals or forms. Plato thought the only way we come to know the world of forms was through the intellect. Aristotle however was concerned only with the material world and what he could learn about through his senses. He rejected Plato's idea of an immaterial reality and was concerned only with this world as the...
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...An Exception to the Rule With how technology has embedded itself into the lives of american citizens, specifically millennials, people have begun to deeply consider its effects on society. One such effect is the constant availability of information, true or false. Accurate information can benefit and evolve a society whereas false information breeds hate and elongates struggle and grief. Communities based on beneficial information or tactics aid in the lives of millennials as well. With the way Millennials experience information and partake communities based on true information, elements of Kafka’s and Camus Existentialist writings can be adhered to daily life. Existentialism is a literary movement that focuses in on the individual as opposed...
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...Philosophical concepts By Mashell Chapeyama University of the People Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2010-2014) Truth and knowledge People have various ways in which they look at things. Some think in ways that are good and others in ways that are bad. Some people look at things differently from others. But who really knows what is true and what is real. Some people stay in the darkness for a long time without have the true knowledge. This essay explores how Socrates looked at things and his beliefs and perception as compared to how Voltaire looked at life. This is a summary of what was captured in Apology, allegory of the cave and the Good Brahmin. These stories have good implication on the essence of philosophy in life. What is philosophy and how should we consider it? In short, these essays talk about enlightenment, which is a process whereby a person comes to know the truth as opposed to being ignorant. Socrates’ views of life are shown in the stories of Apology and allegory of the Cave. The main one that shows Socrates’ ideas is that of the allegory of the caves, which will be explained briefly in this essay. In the allegory of the cave there is a tantalizing scenario. The scenario is as follows. It is shown in a state of things that a young person has been in. The scenario is like that of a person who was born and ever since his youth hood was placed in a cave. In this cave there is no light. This person is chained there in that he is not able...
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...Philosophical concepts By Mashell Chapeyama University of the People Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2010-2014) Truth and knowledge People have various ways in which they look at things. Some think in ways that are good and others in ways that are bad. Some people look at things differently from others. But who really knows what is true and what is real. Some people stay in the darkness for a long time without have the true knowledge. This essay explores how Socrates looked at things and his beliefs and perception as compared to how Voltaire looked at life. This is a summary of what was captured in Apology, allegory of the cave and the Good Brahmin. These stories have good implication on the essence of philosophy in life. What is philosophy and how should we consider it? In short, these essays talk about enlightenment, which is a process whereby a person comes to know the truth as opposed to being ignorant. Socrates’ views of life are shown in the stories of Apology and allegory of the Cave. The main one that shows Socrates’ ideas is that of the allegory of the caves, which will be explained briefly in this essay. In the allegory of the cave there is a tantalizing scenario. The scenario is as follows. It is shown in a state of things that a young person has been in. The scenario is like that of a person who was born and ever since his youth hood was placed in a cave. In this cave there is no light. This person is chained there in that he is not able...
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...choose to do. This world is, at its heart, chaotic and unpredictable. This is the world of the existentialist. They ask those big life questions. The ones we all want to know and are all trying to find out. If you went into almost any philosophy class today you might hear the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Nothing makes humans more curious than to determine what their purpose is. This is something humans begin contemplating at a very young age. Children are asked what they want to be when they grow up; they play dress up and use their imaginations to create themselves a purpose in life. It is a natural human instinct to want a purpose in life. Most humans see it unnatural to reject the path that is safe and familiar. People who live alternative lifestyles are often looked down upon. Human beings live to find their purpose. It is up to us to wonder what purpose of our lives are and define what it means in our everyday lives. Marcel, Sartre, Heidegger and Camus, all touched on what they felt “meaning in life” is and give us varying instructions on how to attain happiness in life. There are many different views that deal with existentialism and the nature of man. One of...
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...Existential Case Study of George Costanza A Conceptualization and Treatment Plan Abstract An existential case study of G.C. was developed to address his maladaptive behaviors caused from strong generalized anxiety, relational, and employment concerns. The treatment was prompted by his employer who wanted to make sure G.C. could work professionally. A brief introduction of G.C. is followed by an introduction to Existential therapy and its theory and principles. Existential psychotherapy, with a focus on growth and development, is an approach that primarily utilizes the therapeutic relationship and has no specific methodology. Four givens or major concerns in Existentialism are identified and three target areas are determined. Several Existential approaches are used to reach experiential goals for the client. The addition of spirituality to the treatment modality is considered for its utility, compatibility, and possible incompatibility. Empirical evidence is used to support the treatment choices and the rational for the sequence of changes. The anticipated progress and results are considered with possible challenges to the process. Existential Case Study of George Costanza A Conceptualization and Treatment Plan A gentleman with strong generalized anxiety issues was referred by his employer for counseling. It was decided that the most effective approach would be Existential psychotherapy because of its flexibility and efficacy with all of the issues. In addition, the client’s...
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...As Bernard Rosenberg once said, “Man is a biodegradable but nonrecyclable animal blessed with opposable thumbs capable of grasping at straws.” (Bernard Rosenberg. p. 96) Human Nature consists of an evolving body and an immaterial mind that has an essence which is the result of a highly complex brain; Both the body and mind die, however, while living, they make their own choices and create their own outcomes because of their immaterial mind; The memory and body are what makes a person who they are and without either of them, the same person does not exist; We make our own choices but without others, we would be unable to define ourselves. The Dualist view of human nature is similar to these ideas. Dualism is the “view that human beings are immaterial minds within material bodies.” (Velasquez. p. 105) The man that ran this show was René Descartes (1596-1650). He claimed that if we can conceive of one thing without the other, than they are not the same thing. He used this notion to state that the self and the body are different. From this, it can be reasoned that there is a soul, which endures. Human nature accepts the idea of an immaterial mind and a material body because of the fact that they can be viewed as separate things. In the words of Descartes, body is: …all that which can be defined by a specific shape: something which can be confined in a certain place, and which can fill a given space in such a way that every other body will be excluded from it; which can be perceived...
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...Philosophers sometimes view the idea of human freedom of action as the real problem of free will, but this classification is one of the main misunderstandings in both subject matters. The misunderstanding between freedom and free will may have begun as early as the time when Thomas Hobbes and David Hume, argued their cases to support the theory of the modern concept of compatibilism. From both Hobbes’ and Hume’s perspective, to be free to act on one's will is basically to be free of external restrictions, limitations, constraints, and controls. From their perspective, the absence any external constraint gives makes the agent freedom to do as he or she wills, even if the person’s will itself is determined (or predetermined) by causal laws of nature. Factors That Affect Personal Development Take a moment to consider all of the genetic and environmental factors that have shaped who you are today, and you will quickly become overwhelmed. From gender, race, and socioeconomic background—to family dynamics, education, and genetics—there are millions of factors that have converged to make you who you are. Most people believe that humans are responsible for their own actions and that they all have the opportunity to make the right choices. But when you consider how large a role race, gender, wealth, and family upbringing all play in shaping an individual, can you truly believe that everyone has the same opportunities? Furthermore, are there some conditions under which people cannot...
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...Postmodernism * Postmodernism: 1945-? * “Postmodernism named a shift in art, architecture,and literature away from the austere formalism and the sometimes sanctified tenor of modernism, often employing pastiche and transgressing the boundary between high and low art.” * “It also described a turn in literary theory and philosophy toward a focus on language itself, exposing the constructed news of what we had assumed were natural categories. In a word, postmodernism was meta.” * “Like ideas of the modern and the postmodern, the contemporary brings up the question of whether it simply designates a new style or more deeply captures the state of society and the feeling of our era. Key elements seem to run throughout discussions, especially the speed up of time and the reveling effects of globalization. If postmodernism was self-conscious about language, the contemporary is hyperconscious of time.” * Also referred to as contemporary literature, which is perceived as being “hyperconscious of time.” (The Sound and the Fury) * “Globalization is why many theorists set the starting date of the contemporary at 1989, because the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of dividing the world between the capitalist West and the communist East. That is why postmodernism is no longer adequate.” * “That is a chief difference from previous eras, even the postmodern. Postmodernism might have responded to media like TV, but the contemporary arose with the advent of personal...
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...existence if one does not realize that acknowledging one's existence precedes every other meaningful quest in life (Descartes & Weissman, 1996, p. 3). The three modes of being also suggestively point to the fact that, amidst our increasingly controlled and regulated universe, there exist free will amongst each individual provided they acknowledge that their existence comes before their individual essence. This challenges earlier notions of viewing the human condition as a single entity in isolation of its social context. Sartre acknowledges that human existence is intertwined and embedded in social the contexts one happens to exist in. The three modes of being are thus used to explain this dynamic existence in a sense that Sartre establishes the foundations of existentialism from them. Being-in-itself and being-for-itself are the primary modes of being that describes human consciousness. Being-for-others is a dynamic dimension used to explain our acknowledgment that we exist in a world with others and describes our varied approaches towards how we choose to encounter the 'others' in the world. The primary modes of being and the interpersonal dimension of being together provide for the concept of radical dualism that Sartre uses to explore the dynamics of existence (Sartre, 1956, p. 330-333). The existence of others constantly bombards an individual both in mind and body as he/she lives in the world. Radical dualism as described by Sartre evinces the fact that human beings have...
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...Analyze how humanistic theory affects individual personalities. Maslow felt if you reached this level of self-actualization, you have reached the highest of all levels of human psychological development. You had developed a strong sense of self with the ability to have control of your feelings, the internal self (self-esteem) even when others around you reject or put you down, and in extreme cases even turn their backs on you. You are independent of others to satisfy your feeling of love or self-esteem they are independent or separate, becoming independent from a lower level where they first originated. Rogers stated: “Not everyone becomes a psychologically healthy person. Rather, most people experience conditions of worth, incongruence, defensiveness, and disorganization” (Feist, Feist & Roberts, 2013 p.302). The basic theory is based on self-reliance, people are capable of doing what is needed to motivate and accomplish their own personal goals from within themselves, where no outside motivation is needed. Based on freedom and being responsible, you have the freedom to choose your actions, as long as you also claim responsibility for those same actions. (Being accountable for own actions) By opening this new door in psychology, it has allowed researchers to examine the questions we ask ourselves, such as: Who am I? Is life worth living? Does it have a meaning? What is my purpose here? We are responsible for who we are and who we have become, not our parents or guardians...
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...Philosophy of the Human Spring Term 2012 Prof. Meyer Suggested Paper Topics Write a 5-7 page paper double spaced with one inch margins in Times font on one of the following questions, or a topic of your own design. Papers are due by April 30 at midnight for electronic submission. Temple plagiarism policies apply to this assignment. 1. What does Sartre mean by existentialism, and how does an individual's freedom to act in the world appear to affect the chances of being able to lead a meaningful life? Why might it be important to be able to act in a way that is meaningful, and that allows people to lead a life that is in keeping with their own character? How well do you think the European world after the second world war accommodated the striving for freedom among its inhabitants? What happens when our absolute freedom is put to use in social or political contexts, and how enthusiastically have those contexts responded to the presence of free human action and thought since the time of Sartre’s writing in your view? 2. Why does nationality matter according to Fanon, and under what conditions do we see it manifested in the human world according to his account? What kinds of culture, character, identity, and consciousness emerge from the presence of nationality, and what kinds of struggle does Fanon believe allow for the development of nationality in people's lived experience? Do intellectuals perform a different role when they participate in such forms...
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...wedding brides. Evolutionally, humans view the sun, the most basic source of food and thus survival, as a crucial source of light, warmth, and protection. With darkness comes coldness and a fear of the unknown. In the dark, man is reminded of how alone and insignificant a life is in the vast universe. Ernest Hemingway often employs darkness in his works to convey the meaningless of existence that looms over man. Not totally void of optimism, his stories also present rays of hope that reach the reader often through literal descriptions of light. Such is the case in Hemingway’s short story, “A Clean, Well-lighted Place,” which focuses on two waiters at a café. The young waiter impatiently hurries along the last customer, an old man drinking alone, while the older waiter sympathizes with the perceptibly forlorn man. What appears to be a tale of despair and loneliness actually offers hope and strength through a quiet hero. Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-lighted Place” focuses on the nothingness of existence and invokes in the reader a grim realization of the inevitable loneliness of life. However, hope accrues through a growing sense of solidarity among humans and the everyday heroism of the older waiter as he battles the nihilism that could easily consume him. The first conversation between the waiters subtly introduces the concept of “nothing” that permeates throughout the story. A plethora of critics state this “nothing” as existentialism, which critic Abby Werlock avers...
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...In his essay Existentialism is Humanism Sartre develops an atheistic moral system. In this paper, I will examine the moral system that Sartre presents. I will attempt to provide the most plausible interpretation of this morality and determine if this moral system can work in a society. I will conclude that there are several problems with Sartre’s account of morality that make it inadequate. And I will try to provide a possible solution to these problems. In order to understand Sartre’s account of morality we should first examine the basis upon which it is developed. Sartre develops his account of morality from a perspective of what he calls a “consistently atheistic” existentialism. The “consistently atheistic” existentialism maintains that God does not exist. This means that there can be no universal moral values, but it also means, and this is very important for Sartre’s account that man’s existence comes before man’s essence. If God does not exist then there can be no universal moral values because such values, at least in the European morality, come from the “commandments of God”. We use these commandments to define good and evil, and upon these two opposing concepts we base our morality. Furthermore if God does not exist then man was not created according to a divine plan, his essence was not defined a priori, and therefore there is no such a thing as “Human nature”. Sartre defines his phrase “existence precedes essence” as applied to man...
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