When all of my philosophical debates boil down, i always end up being an existentialist. It seems as if everything that i say always leads up into some arguement in which i must be an existentialist to prove my idea(s) true. Does this make me an existentialist? I have somer ather odd views on humanity which are to the contrary of what an existentialist would represent.
Are any of you guys existentialists? what are your views?
You sound the same as me... existentialism is useful as a way of explaining many of my beliefs... but if it came down to, say, ticking next to the existentialist box on some form or other, I don't think I could do it... I prefer to think that every view I have is my own, whether someone has thought of it before or not.
Explain your interpretation of what existentialism is, and who are the main philosophers behind it.
Ramble on...
in your own words please
Ramble on...
Hehe....I don't know what the heck it is and I've never heard of it. A nice google search uncovered that URL....
My favorite philosopher til this date is Rene Descartes. Meditations on First Philosophy ownz...
If you go to his homepage, you'll see a note saying "Again, all articles blatantly ripped off from Encarta".
Ramble on...
i view existentialism as "we are here for no reason, but we are here. We exist just because we do. THings are the way they are just because they are. The universe doesn't cater to us: the universe would be the same without us. We are an insignificant speck of dust. No-one/thing cares that we exist"
>If you go to his homepage, you'll see a note saying "Again, all articles blatantly ripped off from Encarta".<
LOL, like that disclaimer will keep the lawsuits away...
>i view existentialism as "we are here for no reason, but we are here. We exist just because we do. THings are the way they are just because they are. The universe doesn't cater to us: the universe would be the same without us. We are an insignificant speck of dust. No-one/thing cares that we exist"<
Then, if you're a existentialist, you might want to seek low self-esteem therapy...
You sound more like a nihilist.
Ramble on...
I like the basic idea behind existentialism... there is no meaning for our existence so stop looking for one and just enjoy the fact that we are here.
So simple... and yet so hedonistic...
> you sound more like a nihilist
NO WAY! nihilists believe in the destruction of everything that threatens them even in the smallest sense. This view leads to complete annihiliation of the human race.
>Then, if you're a existentialist, you might want to seek low self-esteem therapy...
It has nothing to do with self-esteem. It's all about the reality of things that should be realized no matter how much it hurts you.
God is flattery.
It's actually so much easier to believe you are part of an
oversal plan than to think of yourself as a random object
which must constantly choose to move east or west, north or
south, for the sole purpose of proving to yourself that you are
an independent thinker. The American indians believed in the
sanctity of living in harmony with all the elements around them.
Japanese philosophers, I think would refer to this as "wa,"
which means exactly the same thing. So, we have a choice to
choose on one side or flow, and on the other, a choice to ride the tide or fight it. The answer probably contains a little of each--that is, knowing when it's better to go with the flow, which leads to say, a homebound destination, or to oppsose a swift and sure current that you know ends in a precipitate drop into nothingness
and destruction.
I believe in the order of the universe and freedom to challenge
that order--up to a point.
rick barclay
No. Wait. Don't hang up!
This is America calling!
>It has nothing to do with self-esteem.<
Jeez, I was just tryin' to make a funny
