Existentialism

In The BeginningPlato and Aristotle believed everything has an essence.

Core properties that make a thing what it is. Without it, it would be a different thing.

Finding meaning/purpose in life.

Many believed, and still do believe, our essence is assigned to us before we’re even born. Late 1800s, some philosophers started to question that notion.

Jean Paul SartreWhat if we exist first, and it’s up to us to find meaning and purpose?

“Existence precedes essence.” The Absurd: The search for answers in an answerless world. Existentialism became very popular during and after WWII.

Sartre believed we had a painfully shocking amount of freedom as humans.

Authorities do exist and you can choose to listen to them, but they are really just people like everyone else.

Important for humans to live authentically. Accepting your freedom in face of the absurd.

If you just phone it in and live a path cleared for you by someone else, you have bad faith. Refusing to accept the absurd. The world and your life can have meaning, only if you choose to assign meaning to these things.

War or Mama?One of Sartre’s students was faced with a dilemma.

Go enlist in the military during wartime to fight for his nation.

Or Take care of his elderly mother who needed his help.

Small part of a much larger event that would affect millions. Huge part in 1 person’s life.

What would you choose?