General Knowledge and Overview of the Theory of Existentialism - Research Paper Example

Running head: existentialism 30th September General knowledge and overview of the theory The theory of existentialism is the work of late philosophers from 19th and 20th century who had doctrinal differences. Different philosophers had different perceptions on the existentialism. Belief on thinking of philosopher depends on human ideas, individual linger in mind or else the subject rather than thinking subject. This is based on the acting, the individual perception relating to the subject and the feelings. The attitude of individual is the one that characterize existentialism where the philosopher will have to distinguish the confusion of existentialism. Kierkegaard is the first philosopher who in his work has stated it clearly that each and every individual has the duty to give life that has a meaning and living according to one emotions. This is the reason why philosophers base their arguments on the nature of human being since they have different problems. Thus, their problems can only be addressed through nature of human being. Existentialism is regarded as a movement if philosophy is not considered; this is based on the fact that existentialist are more known in the philosophical movements. Existentialism is influential outside philosophy for example in arts and other theories (Solomon, 2004). ).Existentialism movements are counted to be having loose movements since though the individuals are recognized in their different works, they do not have a lot of impact on philosophy but their ideas are important. The challenge is that existentialism as used by philosopher, it tends to be ambiguous even to existentialist for example Sartre was asked about existentialism and said that he has no idea of it. This makes other immerging existentialists to ignore and even degrade philosophical positions and thus bring other ideas that tend to be harming the work that was done early than doing well to it. This is the reason why they consider existentialism as a philosophical movement which uses different doctrines that involves individual existence in known world. This means that their problems are known and they must be willing to carry their responsibility on free will. Their knowledge depending on their problem is not considered as a plight but must carry the responsibility being either good or bad. History of the theory In the 19th century, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche were the first philosophers who contributed on existentialism theory. Though they justified their intentions on existentialism, they did not seem to support existentialism around the 20th century. In their work, the two existentialists did corporate mathematics and science but they believed on experience of individual which was subjective. This meant that the truth which was supposed to be the objective of their study was not embraced. The two existentialists were interested with struggle of human being on how life has become meaningless and how one can use other alternatives to escape to boredom or other problem. This was similar like in the case of Pascal who used the same ideas to show the existence of human beings. Values and beliefs are traditional customs that individual should be free to choose the right or the one feels he or she is not comfortable with. This meant that each and every individual can choose from different beliefs and thus different ideological ideas of those who have the freedom. This is the reason why Kierkegaard finally concluded that every human being to live according to what he or she thinks. In the 20th century, other philosophers had to explore the work which was done by other existentialist for example Miguel who was a Spanish, had to come up with a theory that explained life of flesh in combination with bones. In his work Miguel opposes well organized work of philosophers but accepts human being thirst for faith. In 1914 Gasset wrote that individual existence should be together with sold form all in his entire life. A German philosopher by the name martin Buber is among the list of philosophers on their contribution of human existence where he believed that for existence man must be with a man. This explained how individuals could settle their problems together in dialogue and thus he termed it as a sphere between the two. Gabriel Marcel a French contributed on existence of individuals who becomes aliens since they want to have harmony in their life. They are open to other individuals in the area they fled to and God, this indicated that an individual can die for the sake of others to exist. Jaspers in 1930s concluded that Kierkegaard and Nietzsche had the main ideas on existence of individuals. Key individuals and their contribution to the theory Soren Kierkegaard as key contributor to the theory (1813-1855) Kierkegaard was a religious philosopher, psychologist and a known critic. He is known as the father of existentialism. Kierkegaard who was born in Copenhagen came from a wealthy family. This made him to contribute on intellectual interests and this made him to isolate from other individuals. Kierkegaard is known for writing fictional work which brings tension between truth and existential truth. For example there is a fiction on how to seduce girls where logicians have their truth while some individuals have personal truth concerning the same. Kierkegaard is also known due to truth notions where he explained them in religious way for example in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve lived harmony in the garden but when they were expelled from the garden new possibilities for them were opened. Based on the new possibilities, opened anxieties arose and thus Adam had to take some actions since there was another route of things. In this kind of situation then tension had to be there. Since humans resemble God then they can do what they want in their will. Kierkegaard is still known for his work like fear and trembling where it is explained biblically. On the story of Isaac and Abraham where Abraham had to obey God since it is a belief to Christian to obey God. On the other hand law requires one to respect life of others and still biblically. This causes fear and trembling in the story where horror events occur finally price and rewards are given if one obeys the rules. Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) In his work, Martin indicates that existentialism is humanism meaning that the position in which a man can be to do certain action shows his humanity. Heidegger terms this as anxiety and crowd. Anxiety will make man to be saved since it comes from terror (Heidegger, 2000). This anxiety brings on existence that will make the crowd to realize. Jean Paul Sartre (1905 -1980) In his philosophical ideas jean consciousness are determined by mind, soul and brain. He states that consciousness is nothing since it is directed to things. In the love theme he states that those loved are lovable in this theme lovableness is not an image to someone but it is one of the features of her since consciousness has been directed to her (Sartre, 2003). Human existences are termed as for- itself and things are in-itself the reason behind this is based on perception that love is neither a thing nor subject in the law of things. The effect of the theory on modern psychology The intellectual life of existentialism philosophers has been swept away by the time since it is almost 50 years when they contributed to their work in philosophy. This has an effect to philosophy since from that time only few philosophers are concerned with those traditional approaches. To the psychologist existentialism ideas are great to them. The existentialism gives a new and improved form on the traditional psychological discoveries. Existential philosophy gives modern psychologist a notion that existence comes before essence. The modern psychologists are always in the real world trying to intermingle with the patients so that they will be conversant with the reality of what is happening in everyday routine. It is true that human beings have evolved from 19th century to 21st century. In the 19th century, they were being viewed as taxonomic mental states this meant that human being were classified as stones or plants. Currently individuals are living creatures and thus likely to change according to the environment in which they adapt. The modern psychologist deal with human being in their daily to day work unlike the philosophers took assumptions on individuals. Philosophers misunderstood the nature of human beings on how they are related with others and on their acts. Due to this the modern psychologists have dealt with human being now and then on healthy issues, arts among others. Existentialism has an effect to modern psychology since in the late 19th century expressionism was not there but at the beginning of 20th century movement of expressionism was allowed. After the First World War terrible experiences existed and thus it was this period that representation of individual was allowed thus having an influence to the modern psychology. References Heidegger, M. (2000). Introduction to Metaphysics. New Heaven: Yale University Press. Sartre, P. (2003). Being and Nothingness. London: Rutledge. Solomon, C. (2004). Existentialism. New York: Oxford University Press. Read More