essay on existentialism within 150 to 200 words with idioms and quotes. take your time
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Essay # .
Introduction to Existentialism:
A modern and distinct philosophy, existentialism spearheaded a reactionary movement against the impersonal outlook of the then industrial age, scientism, positivism, methods of traditional Western philosophy and all mass and totalitarian movements.
It opposes all those currents of time which want to crush the individuality of man.
In other words, this philosophy places a high premium upon the man the centre of attraction of the society. Moreover, existentialism stands as a reaction against abstractions, rationalizations and universalities that clouded the western firmament.
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Fundamentally, it is an attitude and outlook which emphasizes human existence rather than man in the abstract. It impels man to be aware of his or her existence in its essential freedom. It asserts existence precedes essence in place of essence precedes existence-a frame of reference of all the philosophers right from Plato down to Descartes.
It is an attempt to penetrate into the innermost core of human existence in a concrete and clear manner. The core of this philosophy is man vis-a-vis modern advanced technological society beset with a plethora of problems and crises.
Marcel considers it as a philosophy to act as a counselor in crisis. The two German words ‘exsistet’ justifies the etymological meaning of existentialism which conveys ‘stand out’ or emerges out of problems of life of man.
The leading exponents of existentialism are Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), a Danish philosopher, Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers, German philosophers, Gabriel Marcel and Jean u1 Sartre, French philosophers and a host of others like Schelling, Nietsche, Pascal, Hussrell, etc..
Essay # Basics of Existentialism:
i. Existence Precedes Essence:
Existentialism puts emphases upon existence of man first-the inner, immediate experience f self- awareness. Existence refers to something given here and now-the state of being actual within space and time. It implies not what a thing is rather that it is. What a thing is we call its essence; that it is we call its existence. Further, existence comes first, then he defines himself or determines his essence.
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Sartre explains it as first of all man exists, turns up, appears on the scene, and only afterwards defines himself. Man is nothing other than what he makes himself. Therefore, man, instead of waiting to realize what is given to him, should conceive himself as a free, responsible, spring and striving becoming.
As such, essence is a result of this becoming process. Thus, existentialists believe that reality is a state of becoming and individual alone creates values.
ii. Emphasis on Subjectivity:
Existentialists consider objectivity as the enemy of man’s life as it tends to give the man a secondary place. It goes against all attempts to ignore the uniqueness of his subjective experience. Truth or value is revealed in the subjective experience of living. Man experiences the truth within him. Thus, subjective awareness is the unit of existentialist philosophy.
iii. Emphasis on Freedom and Responsibility:
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Existentialists believe that man is the cynosure of the universe and nothing else is equal to ‘man’. The fundamental thing of a man’s personality is the necessity of unfettered and unbridled freedom. It discards anything which stunts