1a. Define the term existentialism
- What does it mean to be concerned with existence?
- Why does the existentialist think reason cannot solve life's problems?
- What are the main problems existentialist is concerned about?
Humans have sophisticated intellect, emotion, and consciousness. These characteristics lead us to question our very
existence as "being" in the world. Using our rational capacities (
reason) alone cannot help us understand some aspects of l, such as the existence of the
divine (higher spiritual entities), the abstract concepts of mortality and
suffering, and the role that
meaning and purpose play in our lives. Existentialists are interested in many problems that people face, like what it means to "become" a person with an identity, culture, meaning, and purpose. They also study concepts like free will, freedom, fear, anxiety, absurdity, and death within the context of existence. Existentialists focus not only on individual experience but also on social connections and relationships.
To review, see
Existentialism and
What Is Existentialism?.
1b. Identify the key thinkers associated with the existentialist movement
- Name the main philosophers we associate with existentialism.
- What is the existentialist movement?
- What are the key concepts of existentialism?
We associate
existentialism with the philosophers Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881), Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), Martin Heidegger 1889–1976), Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980), Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986), W.E.B Du Bois (1868–1963) and Albert Camus (1913–1960). Not only is existentialism a philosophy, but it is also considered a movement involving other disciplines, including literature and media, that involved philosophers, writers, musicians, and other artists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Existentialism is a way of thinking about life and death, culture and identity, freedom, moral responsibility, free will, meaning, purpose, nihilism, religion and spirituality, and authenticity, among other concepts.
To review, see
Key Existentialist Figures.
Unit 1 Vocabulary
Be sure you understand these terms as you study for the final exam. Try to think of the reason why each term is included.
- divine
- existence
- existentialism
- meaning
- reason
- suffering