In Barry's Chapter 3, we read about the Existentials. Who were/are they and what do they believe? Do you find their position attractive? Why or why not? Do their works help you understand death better? Explain.
"We live authentically, according to Kierkegaard, when we face the anxiety of human existence, and allow it to propel us to greater self-awareness, growth, and responsible action; to deeper, more meaningful and moral relationships with others; and ultimately to a relationship with the Infinite, the Divine, or God" (Barry, p 58). We are first introduced to the Existentials in Barry's Chapter 3 by mention of Sartre's "atheistic existentialism." These words are a harsh way to introduce the idea. Sartre formulated his own ideas from studying Existentials such as Kierkegaard and Heideggar. The opening quote above from Barry shows us that Kierkegaard most certainly was not an atheist. While Heideggar was not religious, these two philosophers shared very similar broad ideas. They write of distinct (from other animals) human awareness and the importance of authenticity. On the topic of death specifically, I understand them to say we have this unique ability to recognize that death is coming one day and to prepare for that inevitability. When we become caught in the day-to-day inauthentic distractions of this existence, we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to be psychologically prepared. I believe Kierkegaard would say we are also missing out on the spiritual preparation for death. These philosophers can only speak on the subject because we live in a long-standing culture of death denial. I believe the only way to die peacefully is to confront our mortality. It has recently been revealed to me what it looks like for someone to be truly ready for their death, of having complete non-attachment to anything they could possibly experience if allowed more time in this physical realm. In the same instance, I have seen what it looks like for others who are clinging to the "thing-ness" of this world with all their might, and want to maintain this existence at any cost. Think about this for a minute. Which one of these scenarios sounds more comfortable to you? Which is a more peaceful way to die? Personally, I think greater self-awareness, deeper relationships, and tranquility as death approaches are all appealing states of being. The idea that death is inevitable is so avoided in our society. I feel that truly accepting this fact and living as we are in our last days (as some existential thought suggests) brings us out of fear and into love. When we are unafraid to die, we have more room to love ourselves, our fellow humans, and God. The Existentials can help us all understand death a bit better.
Existentialism is a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. Occurred in the late 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences,shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual. While the supreme value of existentialist thought is commonly acknowledged to be freedom, its primary virtue is authenticity. I agree with this view. Its kind of the opposite of Confucianism. I don't believe in destinies so Existentialism is a great philosophical view for me. I believe that your progress and advancement is completely on you and the willful acts you do. You make your own destiny. I don't think this view helps any with my outlook on death. Basically, you should live your life to fullest, accomplish all that you can, because you make your own destiny.
The existentialism is a philosophical phenomenon that was used to explain individuals reason for existence and to help guide the way of understanding death. European philosophers used this in there understanding and explaining of the philosophical thinking of humans and there existence. Exentials believed that humans were free to make decisions on their own and were their own guide to creating a meaningful life. Also that individuals had free range to make the choices to allow themselves to grow in the world. After the previous class on confusionism and understanding the idea of destiny at the end of life and coming to find I do not agree with the idea of destiny, I feel this is a great view to have. I agree it is you as a person that must make yourself grow and progress in the world. I believe you chose the life you want to live and will ultimatly chose how your life will continue after death based on the actions and choices you make while living. I think this goes with my belief more of the idea that God gives you all the tools you need to live a meaningful life and you make the choices to how you want that life to be, and how you want it to be after life. I don't know if I makes me understand death better, but it helps me not fear death as much.
Existentialism is based on the idea that humans are concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. People are searching to find out who they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. I find their views positive because they are very similar to my viewpoints. I think that we create our lives based on the decisions we make. I do not think that there is a set path for us, I think we create our paths in life. This did not help me understand death any better just because I have always believed that we progress through life through our own decisions.
Existentialism is based in findings ones self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibilities. It is rooted in one finding out who they are throughout their life through the choices they make, the things they do and their beliefs. An existentialist believes that one should make choices and accept the consequences without the input of law, ethnic rules, or traditions. Decisions made by existentialists are made with great stress and consider all consequences. Existentialism also teaches on the ideas that society is unnatural and religious tradition and secular rules are based on personal whim.
Existentialism focuses on individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. Existentialism believes that individuals are free and have to make decisions for themselves. Furthermore, I can agree with this viewpoint because I think people create their own paths through the choices that we make. Ultimately, life is what you make of it and the choices you make can affect it. it also didn't really change my outlook on death.
Existentialism is the 20th century philosophy that is centered on the analysis of existence and the way we find ourselves in the world. It states that we are born and spend our lifetime trying to find what we want to become. Existentialism talks about human free will how life choices come with stress and consequences and how life choices are rational but also that things in life are irrational. In Barry’s chapter 3 he talks about philosophical, religion and political ideas thorough Sarte and atheist and Kierkegaard a religious philosopher. Each of them agrees that human life is not complete and in no way satisfying because the lack of control we each have in our lives. Either suffering or losing someone shows the lack of power and control we have as humans. They also agree that life has meaning and we search for it though out our lifetime. One point that they make is that society has a way of imposing on life either by beliefs, values, or government regulations that have to be followed. Furthermore because of the amount of power people hold in society it destroys any individual idea each of us could have. As individuals, this more or less puts us beneath someone in power and we become object. Existentialism stresses that a person’s opinion and judgement is how we determine what we believe. I think this does help me to understand death a little better. It makes me think about how I was raised as a child and if I were born to a different family would I still believe in the same religion as I do now.
Existentialism is a philosophy that hold its focus on individual existence. According to this philosophy, we spend our lives from the time we are born trying to figure out what kind of person we want to become- It is how we define our meaning of life based off free will, choice, and responsibilities. This philosophy is one that I find myself agreeing with. I do not believe in destiny or our lives being pre-determined. I believe that the choices we make and paths we follow are what shapes our lives and creates our future. I don’t really think this made me understand death better or changed my view, but it did make me think of death in a little bit of a different way.
"We live authentically, according to Kierkegaard, when we face the anxiety of human existence, and allow it to propel us to greater self-awareness, growth, and responsible action; to deeper, more meaningful and moral relationships with others; and ultimately to a relationship with the Infinite, the Divine, or God" (Barry, p 58).
ReplyDeleteWe are first introduced to the Existentials in Barry's Chapter 3 by mention of Sartre's "atheistic existentialism." These words are a harsh way to introduce the idea. Sartre formulated his own ideas from studying Existentials such as Kierkegaard and Heideggar. The opening quote above from Barry shows us that Kierkegaard most certainly was not an atheist. While Heideggar was not religious, these two philosophers shared very similar broad ideas. They write of distinct (from other animals) human awareness and the importance of authenticity. On the topic of death specifically, I understand them to say we have this unique ability to recognize that death is coming one day and to prepare for that inevitability. When we become caught in the day-to-day inauthentic distractions of this existence, we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to be psychologically prepared. I believe Kierkegaard would say we are also missing out on the spiritual preparation for death. These philosophers can only speak on the subject because we live in a long-standing culture of death denial. I believe the only way to die peacefully is to confront our mortality.
It has recently been revealed to me what it looks like for someone to be truly ready for their death, of having complete non-attachment to anything they could possibly experience if allowed more time in this physical realm. In the same instance, I have seen what it looks like for others who are clinging to the "thing-ness" of this world with all their might, and want to maintain this existence at any cost. Think about this for a minute. Which one of these scenarios sounds more comfortable to you? Which is a more peaceful way to die? Personally, I think greater self-awareness, deeper relationships, and tranquility as death approaches are all appealing states of being. The idea that death is inevitable is so avoided in our society. I feel that truly accepting this fact and living as we are in our last days (as some existential thought suggests) brings us out of fear and into love. When we are unafraid to die, we have more room to love ourselves, our fellow humans, and God. The Existentials can help us all understand death a bit better.
Existentialism is a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. Occurred in the late 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences,shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual. While the supreme value of existentialist thought is commonly acknowledged to be freedom, its primary virtue is authenticity. I agree with this view. Its kind of the opposite of Confucianism. I don't believe in destinies so Existentialism is a great philosophical view for me. I believe that your progress and advancement is completely on you and the willful acts you do. You make your own destiny. I don't think this view helps any with my outlook on death. Basically, you should live your life to fullest, accomplish all that you can, because you make your own destiny.
ReplyDeleteThe existentialism is a philosophical phenomenon that was used to explain individuals reason for existence and to help guide the way of understanding death. European philosophers used this in there understanding and explaining of the philosophical thinking of humans and there existence. Exentials believed that humans were free to make decisions on their own and were their own guide to creating a meaningful life. Also that individuals had free range to make the choices to allow themselves to grow in the world. After the previous class on confusionism and understanding the idea of destiny at the end of life and coming to find I do not agree with the idea of destiny, I feel this is a great view to have. I agree it is you as a person that must make yourself grow and progress in the world. I believe you chose the life you want to live and will ultimatly chose how your life will continue after death based on the actions and choices you make while living. I think this goes with my belief more of the idea that God gives you all the tools you need to live a meaningful life and you make the choices to how you want that life to be, and how you want it to be after life. I don't know if I makes me understand death better, but it helps me not fear death as much.
ReplyDeleteExistentialism is based on the idea that humans are concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. People are searching to find out who they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. I find their views positive because they are very similar to my viewpoints. I think that we create our lives based on the decisions we make. I do not think that there is a set path for us, I think we create our paths in life. This did not help me understand death any better just because I have always believed that we progress through life through our own decisions.
ReplyDeleteExistentialism is based in findings ones self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibilities. It is rooted in one finding out who they are throughout their life through the choices they make, the things they do and their beliefs. An existentialist believes that one should make choices and accept the consequences without the input of law, ethnic rules, or traditions. Decisions made by existentialists are made with great stress and consider all consequences. Existentialism also teaches on the ideas that society is unnatural and religious tradition and secular rules are based on personal whim.
ReplyDeleteExistentialism focuses on individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. Existentialism believes that individuals are free and have to make decisions for themselves. Furthermore, I can agree with this viewpoint because I think people create their own paths through the choices that we make. Ultimately, life is what you make of it and the choices you make can affect it. it also didn't really change my outlook on death.
ReplyDeleteExistentialism is the 20th century philosophy that is centered on the analysis of existence and the way we find ourselves in the world. It states that we are born and spend our lifetime trying to find what we want to become. Existentialism talks about human free will how life choices come with stress and consequences and how life choices are rational but also that things in life are irrational. In Barry’s chapter 3 he talks about philosophical, religion and political ideas thorough Sarte and atheist and Kierkegaard a religious philosopher. Each of them agrees that human life is not complete and in no way satisfying because the lack of control we each have in our lives. Either suffering or losing someone shows the lack of power and control we have as humans. They also agree that life has meaning and we search for it though out our lifetime. One point that they make is that society has a way of imposing on life either by beliefs, values, or government regulations that have to be followed. Furthermore because of the amount of power people hold in society it destroys any individual idea each of us could have. As individuals, this more or less puts us beneath someone in power and we become object. Existentialism stresses that a person’s opinion and judgement is how we determine what we believe. I think this does help me to understand death a little better. It makes me think about how I was raised as a child and if I were born to a different family would I still believe in the same religion as I do now.
ReplyDeleteExistentialism is a philosophy that hold its focus on individual existence. According to this philosophy, we spend our lives from the time we are born trying to figure out what kind of person we want to become- It is how we define our meaning of life based off free will, choice, and responsibilities. This philosophy is one that I find myself agreeing with. I do not believe in destiny or our lives being pre-determined. I believe that the choices we make and paths we follow are what shapes our lives and creates our future. I don’t really think this made me understand death better or changed my view, but it did make me think of death in a little bit of a different way.
ReplyDelete