I Am an Existentialist Essay - 1112 Words

I consider myself an existentialist. There are two basic approaches to this philosophy: either one rejoices in the freedom of the idea that a higher power is not imposing rules and purpose onto our existence, or, one sinks beneath the burden of responsibility that this bequeaths. Existentialists like Sartre, who can only see the bleak and meaningless aspects of living, have missed the opportunity that this philosophy gives to structure and guide their lives based on their own inner moral principles. I think that the inability to cope with inherent absence of meaning points to a dependence on the guidance of a higher power: in effect, a reluctance to take responsibility for oneself. I see existentialism as an incredibly liberating†¦show more content†¦I have a good friend who is a dark existentialist. Sometimes it seems that the only viewpoint he can see from is the far-out, detached, meaningless one. It must be cold for him out there, looking down at humanity. If he would on ly come closer to a few special things, decide on a goal, pursue a conviction, he would be much warmer. Our western society has developed into a place where connections are dangerous. How easy is it to take responsibility for ones actions when something as basic as buying a hamburger means sponsoring a production process that leads to deforestation, animal abuse, unsanitary working conditions, production of greenhouse gasses, and population exploitation? And thats just buying lunch! These confounding connections are what the dark existentialist seeks to escape by rejecting humanity. In my opinion, all he succeeds in doing is cutting himself off from hope. Instead, I choose to care about individuals known to me, and try to have an active global view. I also choose to relish the experiences offered by this existence and go out of my way to seek them. Caring about people can sometimes be hard; ethical dilemmas are built into relationships early on and surface later to cause upheaval and unhappiness. I just found this out with my parents. I love them dearly, but they are not willing to grant the freedom I want as long as I live under their roof. Of course, I could seize freedom, being of a legal adult age, but I know that I would beShow MoreRelatedEssay Existentialism1050 Words   |  5 Pages333} reacted against this tradition, insisting that the individuals highest good is to find his or her own unique vocation. In terms of moral choice, existentialists have argued that there is no objective, rational basis for decisions; they stress the importance of individualism in deciding questions of morality and truth. Most existentialists have held that rational clarity is desirable wherever possible but that lifes most important questions are not accessible to reason or science. 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Throughout TheRead MoreExplication Of The s Story Presentation, A Fellow Classmate Of Mine Claimed That Invisible 1701 Words   |  7 PagesTrueblood’s Story† presentation, a fellow classmate of mine claimed that Invisible was an Existentialist, and not to offend but frankly in my mind that was so wrong. There is no way to prove that Invisible was a practicing Existentialist. While I agree that Invisible is searching for himself and there are several overarching Existentialist themes present in the novel, I do not believe that you can call him an Existentialist. Philosophy is complicated. A school of thought cannot be determined for someone elseRead More Existentialism in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot945 Words   |  4 Pageswould constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then youve missed the whole point. 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I will generalize here as I try to look at Africa in a broad sense focusing using examples on different existential issues that affect the African continent. Existentialism comes through from a time of theRead MoreExistentialism and its Role Today1027 Words   |  5 PagesJean-Paul Sartre is a well-known existentialist writer who, in his article â€Å"Existentialism is a Humanism,† discusses in detail what existentialism is, â€Å"a doctrine that makes human life possible and also affirms that every truth and every action imply an environment and a human subjectivity† (Sartre 18). From this quote we can infer that, everything said and done is subject to proper judgment. Applying this to the BP Oil Spill, Sartre would say that an existentialist would belief that the decision