“Existentialism”

Submitted by:
Althea T. Garcia

Submitted to:
Mr. Aljon Paner
 I. Content

Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of free individual

choice, regardless of the power of other people to influence and coerce our desires,
beliefs, and decisions. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and
try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on
the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or
explanation at the core of existence. An example of existentialism would be when a
person makes a decision about their life, follows through or does not follow through on
that decision and begins to create their essence. The idea of existentialism is a person
will create their essence over their lifetime and will be finished or fully formed. In
existentialism, the existence comes first and the essence comes second.

One's search for truth might be based on one's attitude or outlook. Take for
instance, existentialism. Unlike phenomenology, existentialism not primarily a
philosophical method. Neither is it exactly a set of doctrine but more of an outlook or
attitude supported by diverse doctrines center on certain common themes. These
themes include:
 the human condition or the relation of the individual to the world;
 the human response to that condition;
 being, especially the difference between the being of person (which
"existence") and the being of other kinds of things;
 human freedom;
 the significance (and unavoidability) of choice and decision in the
absence of certainty and
 the concreteness and subjectivity of life as lived, against abstractions and
false objectifications.

Existentialism is often thought to be anti-religious; nevertheless, there has been strong

current of Christian existentialism beginning with the 19th century Danish philosopher
Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard insisted that the authentic self was the personally chosen
self, as opposed to public or "herd" identity. Existentialism’s relationship to
phenomenology is a matter of some controversy.

Existentialism, with Sartre, a French Philosopher, emphasizes the importance of free

individual choice, regardless of the power of other people to influence and coerce our
desires, beliefs, and decisions. One can be shy or assertive, but such behavior is
always a choice and one can always resolve to change. One can be Asian or
American, but it is an open question how one will make oneself, how these will be
made into handicaps or an advantage.

II. Discussions
 Existentialism on freedom is that we search for one's truth might base on one's
attitude and for by searching one's truth that means of using critical thinking is a
rational choice. Also everyone's behavior is always a choice and one can always
resolve to change. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try
to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. An example of
existentialism would be when a person makes a decision about their life, follows
through or does not follow through on that decision and begins to create their
essence. The idea of existentialism is a person will create their essence over their
lifetime and will be finished or fully formed. In existentialism, the existence comes first
and the essence comes second.

III. Reflections

Ever had one of those surreal times where you recognize something for what it
truly is? Our brains deftly sift through all the incoming signals to give the world some
perspective even though we are constantly experiencing sensory overload. When you
concentrate intently on one thing, it may start to seem from a new angle. The chair
serves as the standard illustration. A back, made of metal, wood, or cloth, and four
posts. It is a pointless object until we give it a use by sitting on it or connecting it to
our prior experiences. When utilized and recognized as a chair, the object acquires
its characteristics as a chair. It is a meaningless object until we attach purpose to it
by actually sitting on it or associating it with past experience. The object exists and
only takes on the essence of chair once it is recognized and used as such. This
concept is one of the central tenets of a branch of philosophy known as existentialism.
Jean Paul Sartre is one of my favorite existentialists. He developed the idea that
"Existence precedes Essence". For humans this means that we are born without
purpose, we exist first, grow to perceive ourselves and then go onto to define our own
essence as a person. This clashes with some religious and philosophical belief (See
Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle) that we are all born with a purpose. Existentialists
purport that we create our own destiny. Ultimately we are responsible for the
decisions we make, we have the final say in our actions and choices. Sartre siding
Existentialists are proponents of the concept of free will. We are charged to determine
what we wish for ourselves, even if we don't obtain that we are still free to choose
how we behave in any given circumstance. Here is where the difficulty arises for us
as sentient beings. As we become aware of this responsibility for shaping our own
lives we can experience a feeling called angst. An anxiety, uncertainty and hesitancy
brought on by the realization that the consequences of our actions are directly linked
back to us as individuals. We simultaneously see both the power to influence our life
and that of others. If someone becomes more introspective with this idea they may
come to see that how we choose to live is "the most ideal way" we can think of- well
we may justify that to ourselves. Here's the crux of the matter though, by projecting
out own "ideal" example out into the world we are setting an example for others. "This
is how I choose to live my life, here is my model for you all." The consequences, good
or bad, are our responsibility. We can choose the light or dark path, and even change
direction at any time. We are setting an example for all mankind by our words, actions
and inactions. No wonder the word angst is used to describe this human freedom and
responsibility.

A great example of angst that comes with discovering the level of freedom humans
can own can commonly be re-created. Standing on the edge of a high cliff edge (or
bungee-jump as I found out), there may be a momentary realization that you fear
falling off but also understand that you are in control of not stepping off the cliff. That
control is yours, there is no other force that can hold you back but your own freedom
to choose. Existentialists do not believe we have a priori human "natures". Instead
we use our own consciousness to interpret our own lives and create meaning. We
can choose to speak or act in a given way even if it is wholly incongruous with our
situation. When we choose a particular action we should do it with "authenticity" and
take responsibility. Decision for the existentialist is subjective in nature as opposed
to being purely rational. By constructing our personal wishes internally and acting
them out in a truthful, authentic manner we give life meaning and we derive motivation
for living