Existentialism in 10 Minutes

Summary

This transcript explores existentialism, a philosophy focused on the individual's quest for meaning in a world that seems devoid of inherent purpose. It delves into the thoughts of major existentialist figures such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus, highlighting their views on freedom, authenticity, and the human condition. Through concepts like Sartre's 'existence precedes essence' and Camus' 'absurd hero' of Sisyphus, the script illustrates how these thinkers grappled with the dilemmas of meaning, choice, and responsibility in life.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Existentialism is a philosophical approach that focuses on the individual's search for meaning in a world without inherent purpose.
• 🔍 An existential crisis involves re-examining life in the context of death and questioning life's meaning, purpose, or value.
• 📜 Existentialism is associated with several 19th and 20th century philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Albert Camus.
• 👤 Kierkegaard, the 'father of existentialism,' emphasized personal choice, commitment, and the need for authenticity in a subjective relationship with God.
• ❌ Nietzsche rejected religion and Christianity, announcing that 'God is dead' and advocating for a 'revaluation of all values' to create new ways of living.
• 📚 Dostoevsky explored existential themes through literature, notably in 'Notes from the Underground,' arguing for individual freedom and authenticity.
• 🧩 Sartre's famous maxim 'existence precedes essence' flips traditional essentialist philosophy, asserting that humans define themselves through actions, not pre-existing essences.
• 😨 Sartre and Heidegger discussed the concept of 'bad faith,' where people deny their freedom and responsibility, choosing inauthentic lives to avoid existential anxiety.
• ⚖️ Camus developed Absurdism, which highlights the conflict between the human search for meaning and the universe's inherent meaninglessness, exemplified in 'The Myth of Sisyphus.'
• 🎭 Existentialism emphasizes key themes like authenticity, freedom, individuality, subjectivity, and responsibility in the pursuit of a meaningful life.

Q & A

What is an existential crisis?

An existential crisis occurs when someone re-examines their life in the context of death, contemplating the meaning, purpose, or value of life.

What is existentialism and what does it emphasize?

Existentialism is a philosophy that explores the problem of human existence, emphasizing the individual's search for meaning in a world that seems inherently meaningless.

Which philosophers are commonly associated with existentialism?

Some key figures associated with existentialism include Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus.

How did Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche differ in their approach to existentialism?

Kierkegaard, a theist, emphasized a leap of faith toward Christianity and personal relationships with God, while Nietzsche, an atheist, declared that 'God is dead' and called for individuals to create their own values through a 'Revaluation of All Values.'

What role did Dostoevsky play in existentialism?

Although more of a novelist than a philosopher, Dostoevsky defined key existentialist ideas in works like 'Notes from the Underground,' which focuses on the importance of individual freedom and the rejection of ideological abstraction.

What is the famous existential maxim proposed by Jean-Paul Sartre, and what does it mean?

Sartre's maxim 'existence precedes essence' means that humans are not born with predetermined purposes. Instead, we create meaning and define ourselves through our actions.

How does Sartre’s concept of 'bad faith' relate to existentialism?

'Bad faith' is Sartre’s term for when individuals deny their freedom and responsibility by accepting convenient beliefs or roles that prevent them from living authentically.

What is Martin Heidegger’s idea of 'thrownness'?

Heidegger’s concept of 'thrownness' refers to the idea that humans are born arbitrarily into a given situation or facticity (family, culture, time in history) that they had no control over.

What is the key difference between Sartre and Heidegger’s views on existentialism?

While both focused on the nature of human existence, Sartre emphasized freedom and personal responsibility, while Heidegger distanced himself from Sartre’s views and focused more on the idea of 'being' and how facticity shapes individuals.

What is Albert Camus’ concept of the Absurd, and how does it relate to existentialism?

Camus' concept of the Absurd refers to the conflict between humanity's desire for meaning and the universe's indifference. Though considered existentialist, Camus rejected the term, emphasizing the impossibility of finding inherent meaning in life.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Meaning of Life and Existentialism

This paragraph introduces existentialism, a philosophical movement concerned with the individual's search for meaning in an inherently meaningless world. It highlights key existentialist figures such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and others. While many of these thinkers rejected the 'existentialist' label, they shared a common focus on the authenticity of individual human experience, challenging traditional academic philosophies. Kierkegaard is seen as the father of existentialism, emphasizing personal faith and subjectivity, while Dostoevsky's work explored individual freedom. Nietzsche, in contrast, rejected religion entirely, famously declaring 'God is dead' and advocating for the creation of new values through the figure of the 'Übermensch'.

05:06

🌍 Thrownness and Human Freedom

The second paragraph delves into Heidegger's concept of 'thrownness', where humans are arbitrarily born into specific circumstances—family, culture, and historical context. These circumstances, or 'facticities', shape our existence, and while they aren't chosen, they define much of our engagement with the world. Sartre, influenced by Heidegger, famously said, 'freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.' This freedom, while empowering, can also provoke dread as individuals realize the vast array of choices available to them, leading some to adopt 'bad faith', where they deny their freedom to avoid responsibility. Heidegger and Kierkegaard share similar ideas about people living inauthentic lives due to societal pressures, while Camus introduced the philosophy of absurdism, which examines the futile human quest for meaning in an indifferent universe.

Keywords

💡Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophy that explores the meaning and purpose of life in a world that seems devoid of inherent meaning. It emphasizes individual experience, freedom, and personal responsibility. In the video, it is linked to philosophers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre, who all explore human existence, authenticity, and how individuals navigate a seemingly indifferent universe.

💡Existential crisis

An existential crisis refers to a moment of deep reflection where one questions the meaning, purpose, or value of life, often provoked by the awareness of mortality. The video introduces this term early on to explain why individuals might re-examine their lives in the face of death, as existentialist philosophy directly deals with these moments of personal reflection.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity in existentialism refers to living in a way that is true to one's own values and self, rather than conforming to societal expectations or roles. The video mentions Kierkegaard's and Sartre's concerns with people living 'inauthentic lives' by conforming to external pressures, and the philosophical focus on being true to oneself.

💡Bad faith

Bad faith is a term coined by Sartre to describe self-deception, where people deny their own freedom and responsibility by conforming to societal roles. In the video, an example is given of a waiter who continues working in a job that doesn't fulfill him because it is easier to conform than to make difficult choices. It reflects how individuals sometimes avoid facing their freedom.

💡Absurdism

Absurdism is a philosophical perspective that highlights the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the chaotic, meaningless nature of the universe. Albert Camus, mentioned in the video, developed this concept, which is illustrated by the myth of Sisyphus—a symbol of the repetitive and meaningless tasks of life.

💡Theism vs. Atheism

Theism and atheism refer to belief in the existence of a god or gods (theism) and the rejection of such belief (atheism). In the video, Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky are described as theistic thinkers, while Nietzsche is atheistic. Their differing views on the existence of God shape their existential ideas, with Kierkegaard advocating for a leap of faith, while Nietzsche proclaimed 'God is dead'.

💡Ubermensch

The Ubermensch, or 'Overman,' is a concept introduced by Nietzsche, representing an individual who creates new values and overcomes the limitations of conventional morality. In the video, Nietzsche's vision of the Ubermensch is connected to his call for individuals to transcend the 'slave morality' of religion and embrace their creative potential.

💡Thrownness

Thrownness, a concept from Heidegger, describes the arbitrary circumstances into which individuals are born, such as family, culture, and historical context. The video explains that we are 'thrown' into a world that existed before us and will continue after us, and much of what we care about is influenced by these uncontrollable factors.

💡Freedom and Responsibility

Freedom and responsibility are central to existentialism, particularly in Sartre's philosophy. The video explains that Sartre views humans as 'condemned to be free'—they are born without a predetermined essence, so their actions define who they are. However, this freedom also comes with the burden of responsibility for one's choices.

💡Inauthenticity

Inauthenticity refers to living a life dictated by external influences rather than one's true self. Heidegger and Sartre both discuss inauthenticity in the video, with Heidegger emphasizing how people become 'Das Man'—they follow the crowd and live according to societal expectations rather than making personal, authentic choices.

Highlights

The question of the meaning of life often leads to an existential crisis, where individuals re-examine life in the context of death.

Existentialism is a philosophy focused on the individual in a seemingly meaningless world, emphasizing the creation of personal meaning.

Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche laid the foundation for 19th-century existentialism, despite their differing views on religion.

Existentialism is not confined to philosophy; it extends into literature, with Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Notes from the Underground' being a key work.

Dostoevsky's existentialism emphasizes individual freedom and argues against living inauthentically according to abstract ideologies.

Kierkegaard, regarded as the father of existentialism, focused on the importance of personal choice, subjectivity, and commitment, critiquing societal religious norms.

Kierkegaard's solution to existential angst is a 'leap of faith' toward Christianity, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.

Nietzsche, in contrast, declared that 'God is dead' and criticized Christianity as promoting a 'slave morality' that hinders individual greatness.

Nietzsche introduced the concept of the 'Ubermensch,' calling for a revaluation of values to empower individuals to create their own meaning.

Jean-Paul Sartre popularized existentialism, arguing that 'existence precedes essence,' meaning individuals create their essence through actions.

Sartre's concept of 'bad faith' describes the denial of one's freedom and responsibility, often leading to inauthentic living.

Martin Heidegger's idea of 'thrownness' refers to the arbitrary conditions into which individuals are born, shaping their existence and choices.

Albert Camus developed Absurdism, highlighting the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the universe's indifference.

Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus' uses the imagery of endlessly rolling a boulder uphill to illustrate the futility of the human condition.

Existentialism emphasizes key concepts such as authenticity, individuality, subjectivity, freedom, and responsibility in the search for life's meaning.

Transcripts

What is the meaning of life? It is likely that you have asked yourself this question before,

this is known as an existential crisis.

A state in which you re-examine your life in the context of death and are impacted

by the contemplation of the meaning, purpose, or value of life.

Existentialism is a philosophy that explores this problem of human existence,

with an emphasis on the individual who starts in an apparently meaningless world,

and who seeks to create meaning in a world without inherent meaning.

Existentialism is most commonly associated with several 19th and 20th century philosophers:

Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Martin Heidegger, Jean Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus.

However, many of these thinkers never used the term “existentialist” to describe themselves,

some of them even rejected the label, while others accepted it.

What they did share is a common template. Many of them regarded traditional systematic or academic

philosophies too abstract and remote from concrete human experience and focused on the authenticity of the individual.

Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of existentialism, who along with Nietzsche,

provided the basic foundations of 19th century Existentialism.

Dostoevsky is a key figure as well, although he was a novelist more than a philosopher,

he was one of the first to properly define key existentialist ideas. Walter Kaufmann declares:

“It is as if Kierkegaard had stepped right out of Dostoevsky’s pen."

Thus, Existentialism is not just about philosophy, but also combines together into novels, literature, and poetry.

Notes from the Underground is one of the most important works of existentialist literature, where Dostoevsky attempts to

justify the existence of individual freedom as a necessary part of humankind.

He argues that the abstraction of ideologies has no basis in what one actually is

and that makes a person live an inauthentic life.

One of Dostoevsky’s existential messages is that the purpose of life is to act properly by being authentic to yourself.

Kierkegaard’s work focused on the individual as well, highlighting the importance of subjectivity,

personal choice, and commitment. Although he was a Christian, he was very critical of Christendom,

which was represented by the Danish Established Church, who made people live falsely religious lives.

People became so absorbed in the crowd that they became mere numbers of a herd.

When religion is integrated into society, the social scene becomes the religious scene, and for that reason, religion had died.

Kierkegaard suggests that the only way out of existential angst is to take a leap of faith towards Christianity,

emphasising a personal relationship with God, the subjective truth of the individual.

It is the ultimate irrational experience, which is the most rational thing to do.

Nietzsche, on the other hand, was completely disillusioned with religion, announcing that God is Dead.

He calls Christianity a slave morality, which resents the virtues of the powerful and promotes turning the other cheek.

He wanted to create life affirming individuals, calling for a master morality, which does not intend to oppress others,

but rather create new values and ways of life, through a Revaluation of All Values,

giving way to the figure of the Ubermensch, thus man becomes God.

It is interesting to see the profound doctrinal differences between the thinkers, even while sharing a common template.

Dostoevsky and Kierkegaard were theistic thinkers, while Nietzsche was atheistic.

The term existentialism was actually coined in the mid-1940s by Christian Existentialist Gabriel Marcel,

who focused on the modern individual’s struggle in a technologically dehumanising society.

Marcel later came to reject the label he himself had coined, to dissociate himself from figures such as

fellow French Existentialist Jean Paul Sartre,

preferring the term Christian Socratic in honour of Kierkegaard’s work with Socratic irony.

Sartre adopted the existentialist label and greatly helped popularise existentialist thought.

He proposes the famous maxim: “existence precedes essence”.

Ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle believed that essence precedes existence.

Every human being is born with an essence, that is what gives us the properties of being a human being.

This is known as Essentialism.

Sartre flips this around and tells us that we are a blank canvas, that we create and make ourselves through what we do,

and thus existence precedes essence. In this way, our life is a work of art.

However, this freedom also becomes a slightly horrifying realisation:

"Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does."

Martin Heidegger is another important existentialist who talks about the idea of “thrownness”,

that we are all thrown into the world, arbitrarily born into a given family, within a given culture and at a given moment in human history,

these “givens” are facticities. The task we decide to be constantly engaged in and care about have very little to do with us,

they are sort of decided for us by the particular facticity that we were born into.

We are thrown with neither prior knowledge nor individual opinion into a world that was there before

and will remain there after we are gone.

Sartre would tell us that “freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.”

He was very influenced by Heidegger’s masterpiece Being and Time,

publishing his own book titled Being and Nothingness. However, Heidegger distances himself

from Sartre’s existentialism due to major differences in their ideas.

Once you realise that you are completely free, the responsibility that follows and

the infinite possibilities that are open to you, creates a sort of dread.

It leads many people to adopt what Sartre calls Bad Faith, a way of denying the fundamental nature of our freedom

and responsibility and accepting something as true, that might not be convincing,

but that is convenient and easy for us to believe in.

He gives the example of a waiter who does not enjoy his job but goes to work every day and

assumes the roles of a waiter, without feeling fulfilled. And when he thinks of applying to a different job,

and all the difficult questions that would come along with that sort of life choice,

he convinces himself that it’d be better to just remain a waiter.

This is similar to Kierkegaard’s idea that “anxiety is the dizziness of freedom”.

One may possess the ability to freely act, but if one never uses it and thinks about an endless sea of possibilities,

one is effectively not capable of freely acting. One gets lost in the “infinite”, as Kierkegaard puts it,

and lives a totally unimaginative everyday life.

The other part is getting lost in the “finite”. That is, not considering enough possibilities and just mindlessly

going around the demands of culture and social expectations.

People live a complete lie; they live because of what everyone tells them that’s what one does.

This can be a scary realisation as most people are not aware of this, they see everything they do as their own choice.

Similarly, Heidegger tells us that inauthenticity occurs when we embody only our facticity (the reality we have been thrown into)

and our fallenness (falling into tasks that other people tell us to do).

One becomes Das Man “The-they”, surrendering one’s existence to a formless entity,

instead of choosing to do something that we want, we do it because “that is what they do”.

Albert Camus was an acquaintance of Sartre. However, the disagreements between them emerged quickly and they eventually split.

Camus is considered to be an existentialist, even though he firmly rejected the term throughout his life.

He contributed to the rise of the philosophy known as Absurdism. Camus describes the Absurd as:

“the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life, and the human inability to find any meaning

in a purposeless, meaningless or chaotic and irrational universe”.

Man seeks for meaning, only to receive the “unreasonable silence” of the universe in response.

Camus states: “I do not believe in God and I am not an atheist.”

This reflects the notion of the Absurd. The search of the possibility of the existence of God is humanly impossible,

but this also entails that the proof that God does not exist is impossible too.

The Myth of Sisyphus is a fierce expression of the Absurd. Sisyphus is the absurd hero condemned to a lifetime of

rolling a large boulder up a hill, only to reach the top and have the boulder roll back down to the bottom for him to start all over again, for eternity.

This incredibly vivid imagery is an allegory of the human condition,

of our futile search for meaning in an indifferent and meaningless universe,

while working on the same mundane tasks, we all have to push our own boulders, only to watch it roll back down.

Although all this only scratches the surface of existentialism, it can serve as a guide

to explore its diverse thinkers, with core ideas such as authenticity,

individuality, subjectivity, freedom and responsibility,

in order to understand and pursue the meaning of your life.