Walter Kaufmann, who translated (into English) the writings of many well-known philosophers, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Ortega, Camus, and Sartre, said that existentialism is a philosophy that is hard to define. The only things the so-called existentialist writers have in common, says Kaufmann, is "perfervid individualism". In other words, they think for themselves and don't accept any one school of thought (whether it be religious, academic, social, philosophical, or political).
Existentialism is a term used in philosophy (usually in describing thinkers from the 19th and 20th centuries) used to describe people and ways of thinking which are centered around the concept of existence and (usually) the individual's place in existence, including his or her thoughts, feelings, values, actions, motivations and responsibilities.
Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered the father of Existentialism, as a great proponent of subjectivity (individualist thought). Many other thinkers have subsequently been put into this category, such as Nietzsche, Kafka, and Dostoyevsky.
To be considered "an existentialist" would mean that one places great importance on answering questions concerning existence, like:
"Is life worth living?"
"What's valuable in life?"
"What is the best human life?"
"How ought I to act/live?"
Albert Camus claimed that the only question of real philosophical significance was "Is life worth living?," because without knowing the answer to this, all other questions simply seemed moot. I would consider this an existentialist statement.
Existentialism is a term applied to the work of a number of 19th and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, generally held that the focus of philosophical thought should be to deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and his or her emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts. The early 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, posthumously regarded as the father of existentialism,maintained that the individual is solely responsible for giving his or her own life meaning and for living that life passionately and sincerely, in spite of many existential obstacles and distractions including despair, angst, absurdity, alienation, and boredom.
Subsequent existentialist philosophers retain the emphasis on the individual, but differ, in varying degrees, on how one achieves and what constitutes a fulfilling life, what obstacles must be overcome, and what external and internal factors are involved, including the potential consequences of the existence or non-existence of God.Many existentialists have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophy, in both style and content, as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience. Existentialism became fashionable in the post-World War years as a way to reassert the importance of human individuality and freedom.
The classic existentialist belief is simple. Man was born and came to this earth with absolutely no purpose, and that anything important in man's life was something that they found, a purpose that was artificially created.
A good counter-part to this is a religious person. They believe that God put them on this earth with a purpose and a reason.
It is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Existentialism: to take responsibility of existence as if it were your own.
How To Be An Existentialist
Walter Kaufmann, who translated (into English) the writings of many well-known philosophers, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Ortega, Camus, and Sartre, said that existentialism is a philosophy that is hard to define. The only things the so-called existentialist writers have in common, says Kaufmann, is "perfervid individualism". In other words, they think for themselves and don't accept any one school of thought (whether it be religious, academic, social, philosophical, or political).
Existentialism is a term used in philosophy (usually in describing thinkers from the 19th and 20th centuries) used to describe people and ways of thinking which are centered around the concept of existence and (usually) the individual's place in existence, including his or her thoughts, feelings, values, actions, motivations and responsibilities.
Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered the father of Existentialism, as a great proponent of subjectivity (individualist thought). Many other thinkers have subsequently been put into this category, such as Nietzsche, Kafka, and Dostoyevsky.
To be considered "an existentialist" would mean that one places great importance on answering questions concerning existence, like:
"Is life worth living?"
"What's valuable in life?"
"What is the best human life?"
"How ought I to act/live?"
Albert Camus claimed that the only question of real philosophical significance was "Is life worth living?," because without knowing the answer to this, all other questions simply seemed moot. I would consider this an existentialist statement.
Existentialism is a term applied to the work of a number of 19th and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, generally held that the focus of philosophical thought should be to deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and his or her emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts. The early 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, posthumously regarded as the father of existentialism,maintained that the individual is solely responsible for giving his or her own life meaning and for living that life passionately and sincerely, in spite of many existential obstacles and distractions including despair, angst, absurdity, alienation, and boredom.
Subsequent existentialist philosophers retain the emphasis on the individual, but differ, in varying degrees, on how one achieves and what constitutes a fulfilling life, what obstacles must be overcome, and what external and internal factors are involved, including the potential consequences of the existence or non-existence of God.Many existentialists have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophy, in both style and content, as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience. Existentialism became fashionable in the post-World War years as a way to reassert the importance of human individuality and freedom.
The classic existentialist belief is simple. Man was born and came to this earth with absolutely no purpose, and that anything important in man's life was something that they found, a purpose that was artificially created.
A good counter-part to this is a religious person. They believe that God put them on this earth with a purpose and a reason.
It is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.
Gayness.
WHY DONT YOU GOOGLE IT ... THE DEFINITION