...Existentialism can be defined as a philosophical and literary tendency that typically displays a dismal of abstract theories that seek to disguise the untidiness of actual human lives and emphasizes the subjective realties of individual existence, individual freedom, and individual choice. Runaway by Kanye West is a great example of this philosophical theory and many connections can be made to his work and the work of Soren Kierkegaard, Franz Kafka, and Albert Camus. These four artists apply existentialist themes in their literature and even their private lives. The two themes that I found preeminent in these artists work are isolation and death. The four artists have a very philosophical cohesion between them. They all have a sense of isolationism in their works which makes their creations so unique. In Runaway by Kanye West, a phoenix falls to earth like a meteor and doesn’t know where she has ended up. The phoenix attempts to fit in with our society but she doesn’t know how to act in front of all these people so she is isolated. When the phoenix is at Kanye West’s dinner party, she sees a turkey that is about to be served for dinner and she is shocked and shrieks obnoxiously in front of all the guests and they look at her very differently and isolate her. In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa is portrayed as a bug and people look at him very differently. Gregor is isolated in his home and can’t leave because he doesn’t want his parents to look bad. “During the day...
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...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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...Paper – Existential Theory Existential Theory There are numerous counseling theories available to explain human behavior. Unlike many other theories, Existentialism explains human behavior through a person’s response to existence. “Existential psychotherapy is a dynamic approach to therapy which focuses on concerns that are rooted in the individual’s existence (Yalom, 1980, p. 5). Existentialism seeks to give meaning to questions humans ask such as: What does it all mean? Why am I here? What should I do with my life? Existential theorists believe in the uniqueness of human beings, and that each is responsible for choosing his or her own fate. This paper will summarize the structure of personality and function of personality as they apply to Existential Theory. Further discussion of the factors of environment, healthy functions, and unhealthy functions as they relate to client problem sources will be addressed. Existentialism does not have one father, or school of thought, per se. There are several philosophers who have contributed to the Existential Theory. Those philosophers include Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Gabriel Marcel, Victor Frankl, and Irvin Yalom. While these are not the only contributors to Existentialism as a therapy, these philosophers are central to the meaning of Existentialism. Structure of Personality Existentialists believe humans are born with free will (choice of lifestyle), responsibility for our own destinies, uniqueness...
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...Jean-Paul Sartre and Existentialism Jean-Paul Sartre . . . the name is one of the most popular in modern philosophy. But who was he? What did he write and what were his works about? What was his role with regard to Existentialism? What is Existentialism, really? What life influences affected the person as whom he became famous? How would Sartre assess various social topics that we face today? What are the problems with Sartre's view of Existentialism and existence in general? These are the questions addressed in the following pages of this brief dissertation.His life Upon reviewing several sources, it is apparent that Sartre was a very disorganized and inconsistent individual. Sartre was obsessed with his intellect to the point of abandon of all else in his life - personal hygiene, honesty, organization, thoroughness, and more. It seems that he felt he was of superior intelligence in comparison to all others who surrounded him. He was not necessarily a great and original thinker, but rather a superb media sensation of sorts. Rather than developing Existentialist thought, he merely promoted it to amazing popularity through his eccentric lifestyle. Although he is best known for his association with Existentialism, it is interesting to note that he denounced its principles later in life and adopted Marxism, which he also later denounced. Jean-Paul-Charles-Aymard Sartre was born in Paris on June 21, 1905, the only child of Anne-Marie Schweitzer Sartre and Jean-Baptiste Sartre. Anne-Marie...
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...Existentialism Existentialism research papers discuss the existential movement that influenced much of the world in the 20th Century. According to the New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Existentialism is a 20th Century movement that involved literature and philosophy. The main component of existentialism rests in the belief that people are entirely free and responsible for the choices they make. Existentialism By the middle of the 20th century, writers and philosophers had encountered a human society that had gone past the brink of hell and back. With the two World Wars having ravaged Europe, life itself seemed morally bankrupt. Jean-Paul Sartre, the great French existentialist, basically denied any moral code, yet held the individual solely responsible for his or her actions. This ideal was prolific by many intellectuals of the day, as faith in institutions was abandoned in light of the destruction and war across the globe. In many respects, this is one of the most unsettling philosophies in existence. The unsettling aspect of existentialism is that if there is to be no universal moral code, then individuals are free to make their own decisions about right and wrong, regardless of civil statues and the rights of others. Granted, we are all responsible for the choices we make. If we choose to kill, for example, we must accept the repercussions. However, knowledge of consequences and a willingness to establish one’s own moral code are two different things. Human...
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...Notes on Existentialism Compiled for PSY 345 (Fall 2004) Existentialism provides a moving account of the agony of being in the world. The spirit of existentialism has a long history in philosophy. But it became a major movement in the second half of the 20th century. Existentialism is not a systematic body of thought like Marxism or psychoanalysis. Instead, it is more like an umbrella under which a very wide range of thinkers struggled with questions about the meaning of life. Much of the appeal and popularity of Existentialism is due to the sense of confusion, the crisis, and the feeling of rejection and rootlessness that Europeans felt during World War II and its aftermath. Existentialism’s focus on each person’s role in creating meaning in their life was a major influence on the Phenomenological and Humanistic traditions in psychology and on the “human potential” movement that emerged from them. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) said, “Conquer yourself rather than the world.”. To modern existentialists this means that the World itself has no real meaning or purpose. It is not the unfolding expression of Human Destiny or a Divine plan, or even a set of natural laws. The only meaning is that which we create by acts of will. To have a meaningful life we have to act. But we should act without hope. Acting is meaningful but it doesn’t create meaning that lasts beyond the acts themselves or beyond our own lifetime. You are what you do – while you are doing it – and then nothing. (Very...
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...Existentialism I was exposed to Existentialism in previous courses, but when I was introduced to the concepts I do not think I truly understood them. The concepts were always presented in such an ornate fashion that the whole theory baffled me. As a result, I resorted to thinking that existentialism was futile in therapy and too elusive to the average client or those who were not the overly intellectual type. In addition, I presumed that existential therapy lived in the state of “why,” and the therapy would just be a nonstop questioning session of why things are they way they are. My assumption was that the style of therapy seemed so passive. People come to therapy because they desire some type of change, and a questioning session just did not seem to aim for change. However, Frankl and Yalom presented the themes and concepts in such a way that I was able to truly grasp the concept and recognize the relevance for therapy. In particular, the existential theme of meaning resonated with me. Individuals often seek therapy when they are in distress. Initially, I thought that people came to therapy as a result of something that has or has not occurred in their life. I realize now that it is not the actual event that causes distress, but rather the event causes people to lose their sense of being. Consequently, people do not know who to be or how to be. I understand now why people in an existential crisis are constantly in questioning mode. They are in questioning mode because they...
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...Existentialism I sit here. There is only the interminable noise of the fountain. There is light coming in from the window that helps me see the room I’m sitting in. The things I see are the everyday things I call home. The words in my head are my thoughts that go from this, to that. I am a warm, well-fed, well-loved human endowed with good observation skills because of a well-nurtured brain. All is well in my world but still – something pulls and nags at me. An undefinable discontentment and anxious aloneness which no amount of reasoning with myself abates. Is this the human condition? Never to be content and safe deep in what we think of as the soul, when all outward influences are comfortable? Death and the fear of it are maybe what rule this quest for understanding the soul. All the philosophies and sciences are maybe created to help the aching soul to find some peace. These are my thoughts on why movements like Existentialism and sciences like psychology developed. Or maybe these thinkers were too well fed with too much time to think. To Be or Not to Be that is the question. All the way back to somewhere between 1564 and 1616 (Shakespeare’s lifetime) Hamlet struggled with this existential question. Sartre, Camus and Fanon were not the first thinkers to wonder, what it is all about. Severe conflict and chaos in one’s environment can give rise to feelings of loss of control over one’s life and destiny. I moved to France with my Mom, Dad and brother Andrew...
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...It is clear to the audience that No Exit and Waiting For Godot serve as existentialist warnings. Sartre and Beckett, two men full of knowledge, suggest that many people live existentialist life styles; however, the two artists do not recommend this life style. Characters from both works demonstrate non-existentialist lives. They rely on each other, allow their behavior to alter based on other people and acknowledge that they are letting other people control their lives. In No Exit by Sartre, many characters display non-existentialist characteristics. To begin, Garcin does not leave the room when the door finally opens. Rather than decide for himself that he is not a coward, he begs Estelle to tell him that he is courageous. Without Estelle’s guidance, Garcin worries about his existence. To ensure that she actually exists, Estelle is in need of a materialistic object, a mirror. Worrying about how others see her, Estelle feels more comfortable with the mirror. Stripped of this materialistic object, she questions her existence entirely. That these characters were not were living their lives existentially is intertwined in the play. If Garcin and Estelle were living their lives existentially, they would have made decisions on their own. Garcin would have left the room without needing to be told that he is courageous. Estelle would have made judgment about herself without needing the mirror. In Waiting For Godot by Beckett, two men are waiting for Godot, a man that may or...
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... The Aspects of Existentialism Do we matter to the world? Are we really looking for happiness in the world? Well, existentialism plays a role in our daily routine whether we realize it or not. If you ever think in a way which life often seems pointless. For example, if you ever question what is our purpose in the world? or what are we supposed to do on earth? These are all existential questions that are asked every day. From my understanding of existentialism is making your own choices and later on having to dwell on the presumptions of that choice that you made. In such as Orwell having to dwell on the choice that he made of shooting the elephant. According to his essay, “existentialism” Sartre explains the beliefs and conditions of existentialism. The most important beliefs that Sartre had was that there is no human nature. “If existence really does precede essence, there is no explaining things away by reference to a fixed and given human nature.” (Sartre 1131.) He also believed that God does not exist. “On the other hand, if God does not exist, we find no values or commands to turn to which legitimize our conduct. (Sartre 1131.) Meaning, we are the ones to blame for our own actions and choices that we make, if God doesn’t exist were not able to put our blame on him. George Orwell is a writer that I think is an existentialist. In his essay “Shooting an Elephant” I believe that Orwell was existentialism. His central choice that...
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...EXISTENTIALISM IN THE STRANGER Albert Camus born in Mondovi, Algeria, in 1913, spent his early years in Algiers. He completed a doctorate in philosophy, then worked at various jobs, establishing his own theatrical company in the 1930s. At the age of 24 Camus became severely ill, a victim of tuberculosis. During four years of recovery, he formulated his existential philosophies and began his writing career. Most of Camus’ works are representative of the philosophy of existentialism. His well-known fictional piece is “The Stranger”. Meursault, the narrator of The Stranger, is an existential anti-hero. Locked into the routine of daily existence, his life is a shapeless void without ideas, preferences, goals, or emotions. Like a robot, Meursault responds to everything automatically, neither feeling nor caring. When he is offered a job transfer to Paris, Meursault says he does not care where he works; yet he does not go because moving would be too much trouble. His mother’s death is met with similar lack of response: he feels no despair or grief. Occasionally, Meursault lacks motivation to do anything, so he spends the day sitting at his bedroom window, smoking cigarettes more out of habit than desire. Meursault utilizes all of the six existential themes: Freedom, Contingency, Individuality, Existence, Reflection, and Nihilism. The first existential theme is freedom. Freedom means that whatever happened prior to now does not influence what your next choice in life will be,...
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...these needs. As an atheist, Sartre argues the idea that moral standards can—and do—exist without a god; they exist within humanity through trial and error. Within “Existentialism is a Humanism”, Sartre defends atheistic existentialism by showing the true humanity within the philosophy through a few principles: responsibility, anguish, forlornness, and despair. To begin with, the most basic principal behind existentialism is that humans do not have an essence, only...
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...Sartre’s literary work No Exit and analysis from Being and Nothingness. Components of Existential Philosophy This paper will firstly discuss the major existential principle of existence preceding essence. This notion is discussed by Sartre’s (1946) lecture “Existentialism is Humanism”. This central theme existence preceding essence is the backbone for most existential thought and that is why it is discussed and understood thoroughly from the beginning of this paper. This leads to the existential thought, absurdity of life. Life being absurd is a component of the existential human condition and this is discussed using The Myth of Sisyphus as a beacon of how absurdity applies to life and happiness. This was written and discussed by Camus in his work The Myth of Sisyphus. Lastly this paper will discuss how others impact the individual or human relationships, discussed by Sartre. His thesis regarding others interactions are that it is Hell. This is the central theme in his play No Exit, and unpacking this existential thought this paper will use his work Being and Nothingness. Human Condition Existence comes before essence; this is a main theme found in existential philosophy. Sartre (1946) states in his lecture “Existentialism is Humanism”, the theme existence precedes essence, is an ideal that all existential philosophers hold true. To understand the existential claim that existence precedes essence it is beneficial to define the opposite, “essence...
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...Sartre explains in his essay that there have been many charges against existentialism. For example, he mentions that existentialism has been charged with the problem of welcoming individuals to remain in, what Sartre describes, as a desperate quietism (9). As Sartre mentions, existentialism has come under fire from multiple groups. The previously mentioned charge comes from the communists, but other groups, such as the Christians, lay charges against existentialism as well. What seems to be one of the main goals of Sartre with this essay is to address these charges against existentialism. The basic charge, as he puts it is that existentialism has a focus on the dark side of human life (10). However, what Sartre wants to get across is that the...
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...Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the belief that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe (philosophybasics.com). For Marjane Satrapi developing a sense of individuality in a very irrational universe has been a persisting battle that even she admits that she still struggles with today. Having grown up under the harsh religious regime of Iran, individuality was marked highly unattainable and was even punishable by law. Despite the oppression Marjane has been faced with for the majority of her life, she has learned to gain control over her individuality, guided by her strong existentialist views and she...
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