Shawn+T

1. Modernism is the movement of modern writing, and philosophy. Modernism can be defined as literature and works that have left the old styles of writing in favor of a new form that is unique to the 20th century. I don’t have enough knowledge on Modernism to actually define it by myself without researching. “Some commentators approach Modernism as an overall socially progressive trend of thought, that affirms the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of practical experimentation, scientific knowledge or technology.” The quote is saying that by leaving the old traditions of writing and whatever else, you can create a unique trend of thought that can be seen as reshaping, creating, and improving on those old traditions. It also says that it “affirms the power of human beings” to do these things. I believe this brings up the modernistic quality of questioning the existence of an all-powerful Creator. Also it says “with the aid of practical experimentation, scientific knowledge or technology.” I believe this to mean we as humans are always creating the new ways that we think by using the newest technology and what have you to either prove or disprove that something is right. This helps me believe that my definition at the top of the page is correct. - Shawn Taylor

2. Existentialism means that existence is greater than essence. “The idea that no general, non-formal account of what it means to be human can be given, since that meaning is decided in and through existing itself” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). This quote is explaining that no one can really define what it means to be human since the only way to find out is by existing. Therefore, everyone has his or her own meaning to human life. This means that people have to exist before they take on meaning. People have to experience existence before coming to any conclusion on what existing is. This also means that people should put their existing person over their meaningful person. This is because people cannot have meaning if they do not exist. So for existentialism, people cannot mean anything without existing first. That is why existence is greater than essence. -Shawn Taylor