AP+2014+Existentialism

 **HISTORICAL** (Andrea Boetthcher):



Existentialism is a philosophical movement that arose in the late 19th century. The predominant ideas of existentialism came from two 19th century philosophers named Friedrich Nietzche and Soren Kierkegaard (Corbett). Kierkegaard applied existentialist ideas primarily to his work - for instance, he believed the life of a philosopher was just as (if not more) important than the philosopher’s written works because of the tendency of a philosopher’s life and writings to contradict each other (McDonald). Nietzche, however, takes a much more religious approach to existentialism. Nietzche’s most famous existentialist idea was his proclamation that “God is dead” in reaction to the common belief of “a single, ultimate, judgmental authority who is privy to everyone's hidden and personally embarrassing secrets” (Wicks). These existentialist influenced modern thought substantially. The primary effect was on avant-garde artists who saw themselves on the fringe of social fashion, although it also influenced psychologists (the most famous being Sigmund Freud) (Wicks).

Works Cited: Corbett, Bob. “What is Existentialism?” Webster University Philosophy Department. Webster U, March 1985. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. McDonald, William. “Soren Kierkegaard.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford U, 27 Jul. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. Wicks, Robert. “Friedrich Nietzche.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford U, 29 April 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

**CULTURE** (Elizabeth Crooks):



The popular understanding in today’s society is that existence can be explained with either physiology or morality, but Existentialism banks on the idea that neither option nor their combination are sufficient (Stanford). Existentialism is a cultural and philosophical movement that has been changing the way people think about reality and uprooting the explanations in place for existence (Open Culture). While religion and physiology have reigned as the two primary sources of explanation for existence for many years, Existentialism disrupts this, “Categories of moral theory such as intention, blame, responsibility, character, duty, virtue, and the like do capture important aspects of the human condition, but neither moral thinking (governed by the norms of the good and the right) nor scientific thinking (governed by the norm of truth) suffices” (Stanford). This denial of the most common belief of the world, that reality and existence can be explained by faith or inquisitiveness, does not deny the ideas of either belief, but that they are not enough to explain existence or human nature. This is shown, "Existentialism does not deny the validity of the basic categories of physics, biology, psychology, and the other sciences (categories such as matter, causality, force, function, organism, development, motivation, and so on). It claims only that human beings cannot be fully understood in terms of them. Nor can such an understanding be gained by supplementing our scientific picture with a moral one" (Stanford). This focus on the incomplete representation of human nature and existence is what contradicts common culture; society depends on the idea that they are in control, when Existentialism insists that humans can not know enough to have any control, whatsoever.

 Another aspect of the influence on culture is the futility that the individual realizes. Many therapists cite existential anxiety when a patient complains "life has no meaning" or "there is no point" (Kierkegaard). Existential Anxiety is described, "Anxiety is being 'afraid' when there is nothing to fear. We struggle with something in the dark, but we don't know what it is" (Kierkegaard). This is very common among both adults and children, though many do not recognize the root of the problem. The unknown - not knowing if there is danger, reason, or meaning - is something that scares people. This fear leads to anxiety.

Works Cited:  "Anxiety---Existential Anxiety: Angst---an Index Page by JamesPark."Anxiety---Existential Anxiety: Angst---an Index Page by JamesPark. N.p., n.d.

Crowell, Steven, Crowell,. "Existentialism." Stanford University. Stanford University, 23 Aug. 2004.  11 Oct. 2013.

"Friedrich Nietzsche & Existentialism Explained to Five-Year-Olds (in Comical Video by Reddit)." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Open Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**AUDIENCE** (Jessica Blackburn):

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Existentialism may be one of the most difficult philosophies for an audience to grasp because of its mixed meanings. Comparing the positive and negative meanings of the philosophy can help the audience to determine which way to approach it. "...there are two kinds of existentialists... What they have in common is simply the fact that they believe that existence comes before essence – or, if you will, that we must begin from the subjective" (Sartre). These existentialists hold the same beliefs, except that the morals of each of the groups differ in the fact that one type is religious and one is atheistic. Religious existentialists believe in the "human nature" aspect of existentialism and atheistic existentialists believe in the concentration of essence. What must be determined by the audience is what existentialism means to them. "...atheistic existentialists take existential themes seriously...In religious existentialism there is always something to which tragedy and absurdity point." (Jones). The forms of existentialism are so different, yet similar at the same time, which causes the audience to end up forming their own definition. Depending on which form they pick, it is up to them what "values" to follow.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sartre, Jean-Paul. "Existentialism Is a Humanism, Jean-Paul Sarte 1946." World Publishing Company, Feb. 2005. Web. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 11 Oct. 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Jones, Kile. "All The Consequences Of This: Why Atheistic Existentialism is more Consistent than Religious <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Existentialism." Web. Jun. 2013

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">**AIM** (Michael Hauri):

media type="file" key="EX.mov" align="center" width="300" height="300"

Posting new YouTube Link soon.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anything can be accomplished with thought. The concept of existentialism is quite complex, however it has a single aim. Existentialism aims to set freedom in the human spirit. The concepts complexity aims to transform thought and causes one to look deeper than everyday actions. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Someone in the process of reading and understanding an existential philosopher ought to be in the grip of a mood which actually transforms his way of seeing the world and his place in it” (Peter Warmock <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). When one sees the world from a different perspective they can either change it for the better and choose to stop in development. Having the power to change and adapt one’s humanity with the freedom of choice gives a renowned and unheard of goal for life. This goal of investing in humanity pushes the limits of what can accomplished with human drive and will. “ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The aim of existential philosophy, then, is to develop a deeper and more complete understanding of this existence – the irreducible, indeniable totality that you, me and others are” ( Steven Cooper<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Existentialism <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> suggests a new sense of value in nature and that commonly known as moral normalities. This also leads to unlocking a true sense of nature and the development of true ideals. Ultimately <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Existentialism has a complex exterior, but can defined as true independence.