There are many things that make up an existentialism summary. We will briefly discuss its four main aspects: Intentionality, Meaninglessness, Imprecision, and Narrative fiction. Once we have a grasp of these topics, we will be able to better understand the philosophy and its implications for our lives. Read on to find out more! Listed below are some of its major characteristics:
Narrative fiction
There is a direct connection between existentialism and narrative fiction. Both are driven by the idea of choices and their consequences. In a nutshell, existential character development is about making decisions based on the consequences of those choices. However, this type of character is not the same as a literary or deep character. In fact, existentialism and good storytelling go hand-in-hand.
Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, for example, is often regarded as the model of Dostoyevsky. Gogol’s story contains many parallels to the latter’s Notes from Underground. While the two narrators are similar in style and approach, they are not anchored to a central character. Instead, they explore their inner lives and suppressed desires.
One example of existentialism in literature is Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea, which is said to be “steeped in Existential ideas.” In postmodern times, existentialist literature has become increasingly popular, including novels such as Fight Club and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. But how do these two perspectives work together? Here are some examples. If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating concept, you should read Sartre’s Nausea.
Existential philosophy emerged in the late 19th century, and was widely popularized by such notable philosophers as Nietzsche and Soren Kierkegaard. While existentialism is very diverse in its classification, it is largely rooted in the struggle of man to define his existence. Nevertheless, it is possible to apply existential principles to fiction. That’s why existentialist fiction can be considered a genre of its own.
Intentionality
Brentano draws up a research programme based on three main theses: intentionality, the fact that something is intentional, and the non-existence of that object. He argues that the first thesis cannot be rejected because it presumes the existence of something to judge and believe in. Similarly, the second thesis requires the existence of an object to be intentional in order to be considered intentional. Ultimately, this conclusion will undermine Brentano’s first thesis.
Intentionality plays a crucial role in the affairs of the mind. Brentano has regarded intentionality as a necessary condition of mentality, and claims that non-mental phenomena exhibit intentionality as a result of human intention. Although the intentionality of non-mental phenomena is derived from the mind that produces them, the intentionality of those phenomena is disputed. For example, the meaning of a word depends on the intention of the speaker, and a painting only has subject matter when its creator intends it to be a piece of art.
Intentionality is a key concept in existentialism. When we believe that an object is intentional, we are expressing a higher-order intention. For instance, we may be aware of someone else’s beliefs without knowing them directly. If we have this intention, we are acting consciously and intentionally. However, we may be unaware of it when we have only a general idea of its contents. So, we should avoid this mistake.
Intentionality is also central to discussions of the nature of mind. The issue of intentionality arises in the context of ontological and metaphysical questions about mental states. These questions include the relationship between intentionality and physicality, as well as the relation between mental states and the state of affairs in the world. This is why it is crucial to define intentionality, and to recognize the difference between the two. There is no definite answer to this question and a number of competing answers will lead to conflicting conclusions.
Meaninglessness
As the nihilistic ethos grows, people are starting to question the idea of meaninglessness. In their pursuit of meaninglessness, people are increasingly seeking a new kind of freedom – one that will allow them to achieve their full potential. But is existentialism a new kind of liberation? Let’s take a look at the relationship between existentialists and antifoundationalists.
The main theme of existential literature is that life is merely a transitory void. The genre owes much to classical Greek and Renaissance literature, but is distinct from Christian philosophy. Some existentialists argue that the idea of meaningless existence is based on a fear that a person’s life is too short, which will lead them to endanger themselves and others. Others, however, argue that life is too short to waste and should be embraced instead of pushed away.
The existence of meaninglessness can be defined as a ‘pervasive sense of emptiness’ that has no direction or purpose. As such, this sense of meaninglessness can be a central issue for psychotherapy. Existential approaches to therapy focus on trying to resolve the problem of meaninglessness, through the use of such techniques as existential psychotherapy, logotherapy, or the will to meaning. And if existentialism has its merits, then meaningless is a very real problem that can be solved through therapy.
The first decisive revolt against the meaninglessness of life is the choice to live. For those seeking meaning in life, this is the most crucial decision they will make in their lifetime. By making the decision to live, they are establishing life as the only good, and ultimately giving it a meaning. It is a radical step for any individual and makes a profound difference in the lives of the people who choose it. And it is the fundamental act of a human being.
Imprecision
Throughout its history, existential philosophy has questioned the notion that moral norms are timeless. Existentialism rejects this notion because freedom is always socially situated and the choices we make are necessarily based on our context. This perspective is particularly relevant today. Moreover, existential philosophy is in direct confrontation with more recent movements, such as posthumanism and deconstructionism. Socratic irony, Augustine, Pascal, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche are among the many examples of existentialist thinking.
The bibliography presents a representative selection of existentialist literature. The first section contains books cited in the text, while the second section contains supplementary readings by the figures whose work is referred to in the article. In addition, the bibliography lists classical readings on existentialism, as well as contemporary studies that address existentialist issues. Although the bibliography does not aim to be comprehensive, it contains detailed bibliographies of major existentialists.
The historical, political, and social dimensions of existence are also implicated in existentialist thinking. The twentieth century era marked the emergence of existential thought as a reaction to the collapse of the European social and political structure. The political, social, and historical contexts must be taken into account, because the nature of existence itself is rooted in time and space. Therefore, authenticity is not dependent on a particular substantive view of history or theory. Therefore, existentialists should read historical narratives less as scientific accounts of the past, and more as articulations of the context in which they occur.
Another example of existential politics is Heidegger’s engagement in National Socialism. However, this engagement is highly controversial, and depends on the ability to tell time. In the end, he grew suspicious of existential politics and substituted the notion of authenticity with “releasement”, “engagement”, and waiting. Heidegger believed that existential politics were a symptom of deeper problems than politics. In this regard, his philosophy has been influenced by the work of Edmund Husserl, Max Stirner, Karl Jaspers, and Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Humanism
Though they share some key differences, Humanism and Existentialism are complementary in that both emphasize the importance of humanity and human freedom. Unlike the more religious philosophy of existentialism, Humanism places importance on the individual, and both views share the view that the human experience is ultimately based on free will. Both have their benefits, but neither philosophies will eliminate the need for humanistic values.
Although Heidegger’s existentialism rejects Sartre’s humanism, they both have important points in common. Heidegger places human beings above everything else, and the essence of their existence is in their Dasein. He believes that without Dasein, there can be no meaning or purpose to life. Thus, there can be no humanism without existentialism. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
In addition to the positive aspects of humanism, the humanist/existential view also stresses the importance of healthy relationships. Abraham Maslow thought that a loving family or mate is essential for human success. Carl Rogers believed that positive regard from other people promotes psychological growth. The positive regard that one receives from others is essential for psychological growth and success toward self-actualization. In short, both perspectives are compatible.
Existentialism has a number of similarities with Christian philosophies. For example, it promotes a view of the human person as an integral whole, including the mind. It also emphasizes the sphere between the mind and body, which are crucial for human self-definition. Moreover, it examines the quest for authentic selfhood. The two philosophical movements are complementary and should be studied together.