Existentialism is humanism.

[Norwegian Cat]

Well, this topic should actually be in a philosophy section, but since there is no such section, I'll put it here.

I've read this book by Jean Paul Sartre (french existentialist pilosopher), "Existentialism is a humanism" ("L'existentialisme est un humanisme"). It's a short book where he repels the critics and misunderstandings of existentialism. He also explains it. I found it quite complicated, and I would like to know if anyone on this forum has read any of Sartre's works on existentialism.

He means, as I've understood it, that loneliness is only the condition that God has left you alone in the world, and that existentialism is based on that you have to belive that people can do whatever they want as long as they're responsible for their actions. Correct me if I have misunderstood this.

Discuss.

[Vera]

I love Philosophy but existentialism has always been something I'm not hugely keen on. Thus I haven't studied it much.

Otherwise I'd reply lengthily with my own views.

Sorry.

[Preocupado]

I'll reply to this in a couple days when i'm done with some reading i'm throught. Good topic!

[wheelchairman]

Sartre was a sell-out. Real revolutionaries prefer Franz Fanon and his book the Damned of the Earth. (La Damne de la Terre.)

[Norwegian Cat]

Sartre was a sell-out. Real revolutionaries prefer Franz Fanon and his book the Damned of the Earth. (La Damne de la Terre.)

That book is about the fight for independence and against the colonial powers, right? Have never read it before, sounds quite interesting, though.

But can you explain me existentialism the way you understood it?

[wheelchairman]

Existentialism is basically different from Existentialist to Existentialist. It starts out with Søren Kierkegaard and his semi-psychological stuff and moves on from their.

It's never interested me as a philosophy so I've never bothered to look much into it.

[Norwegian Cat]

Wikipedia says that "Kierkegaard's work is sometimes characterized as Christian existentialism (as opposed to the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre or the proto-existentialism of Friedrich Nietzsche, both being derived from a strongly atheistic foundation)."

Christian Existentialism:
"It relied on three major assumptions drawn from Kierkegaard's unique understanding of Christianity. The first was that the universe was fundamentally paradoxical, and that the greatest paradox of all was the transcendent union of God and man in the person of Christ. The second was that having a personal relationship with God superseded all set moralities, social structures and communal norms. The third was that following social conventions was essentially a personal aesthetic choice made by individuals."

What do you mean by saying that Sartre was a sell out?

[T-6005]

By that he means that he wasn't a true punk, obviously.

[wheelchairman]

Sartre agitated (talked about) revolutions, but he would never participate. This was the difference between him and Fanon, and why Fanon broke off contact.

[Iddy]

wow.. if only i hadn't shouted at my philosophy teacher and stormed out the class for good (he called me a liar) i would be able to join in. I actually have that book, was an exam text, but never read it.


Useless information, just ignore me. *tired*

[wheelchairman]

wow.. if only i hadn't shouted at my philosophy teacher and stormed out the class for good (he called me a liar) i would be able to join in. I actually have that book, was an exam text, but never read it.


Useless information, just ignore me. *tired*
That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Do you think I should be impressed?

I've never had a philosophy class in my life.

[Iddy]

I didn't say you should be impressed, i said ignore me

[wheelchairman]

Yes, you say ignore you at the end of the post where you describe how you "deifed" your philosophy teacher.

The tame punk mentality of defying those smarter than you is common here. If you wanted people to ignore you, you would never have made that post.

[Iddy]

Lol, jeez... You really shouldn't read into everything a person posts, least of all me (not when i'm in a waffly mood anyway). I post here like how i talk offline. right now, i'm shattered and a bit hyper. If we were having this conversation face to face i would have said the exact same thing.

You take things too seriously... :)

[Sin Studly]

Be kind to Iddy.

[Norwegian Cat]

While reading on existentialism in Wikipedia, I came over this article on "The Matrix". The talks between Neo and The Oracle have a lot to do with existentialism. The choices Neo must make depends only on his morality and on his point of viewing things. But whatever he chooses, he must always ask himself what would another person do in his case and how is this going to affect other people. Sartre explained that whatever the choice, it will always affect everyone.

Only that person can choose, nobody else can choose for him.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a100/nocat/neoandtheoracle.jpg

[Norwegian Cat]

Thank you so much for explaining it to me :)

[T-6005]

I'm French & have read this short book by Sartre, which is actually a lecture given by himself with argumentative questions asked him in the end. Although I totally disagree with Sartre's "doctrine", which I find highly subversive & too demanding for humankind, I know what it is about & respect its purport.

You misunderstood everything.

Sartre being an atheist, I dare surmise that he never stated or implied that God sent us on this earth to suffer doom, pain & misery. In his "opinion", there is no God, neither is there any purpose in our living, our EXISTING. Same goes for the whole of nature. There is no cause, no purpose, no direction, no fine. We are thrown, pitched into this world: "Nous sommes jetés dans ce monde". Hence we are fully responsible for all our actions, that is we cannot claim that we couuld have lived a great & mighty life, all glittering & sparkling, had we the opportunity. We are supposed (according to him) to be responsible for CREATING the opportunity (e.g. Racine wouldn't be Racine if he hadn't written his tragedies... ).

It's not thoughts or words that matter, tis solely action.

We are NOTHING but what we DO.

You need to stop sounding like some pompous Yale political theory professor. Honestly.

Vernacular would be fine.

[HornyPope]

Remember when Exisentialism was such a big theme of discussions back in the old BBS? Much cooler than abortions too, albeit a notch lower than jewbortions.

[sKratch]

I was waiting for you to pop your head in here.

[HornyPope]

Eh what's left to say anymore? I'm too lazy to type out a well-thought out reply because this will require work and editing and I won't settle for something half-assed because it's been such a while that i'm starting to forget what I read and i'm likely to fuck up.

[leavesonline]

Modern French philosophers teach us one very important lesson...
There's only so much wanking you can do before it starts to have an impact on your brain function...