The Concept of Absurdity in Existentialism

The Concept of Absurdity in Existentialism PDF Author: Vijaya Kumar
Publisher: Sobia
ISBN: 9781805453734
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book

Book Description
Absurdity 'is a metaphysical term to distinguish thought from reality, meaning from things, word from the subject and consciousness from the world. Existential philosophy is the profound explicit manifestation of an existential attitude that begins with a sense of disorientation and confiision in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world. An important component of existentialist philosophy is the portrayal o f existence as being fundamentally irrational. Whereas most philosophers have attempted to build philosophical systems that produce a rational account of reality, existentialists have focused upon the subjective, irrational character of human existence. As a consequence of the diversity of these sources, existentialist doctrines focus on several aspects of existence. The absurdity of our lives comes from the idea that there is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. This meaninglessness also accounts for the 'unfairness' of the world. Humanity must live in a world that is and will forever be hostile or indifferent towards them. The universe will never truly care for humanity the way we seem to want it to. The Absurd refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any. In this context absurd does not mean 'logically impossible, ' but rather 'humanly impossible.' It means the discrepancy between the man's aspirations and his possibilities; the lack of any ultimate external justification of man and his projects^

The Concept of Absurdity in Existentialism

The Concept of Absurdity in Existentialism PDF Author: Vijaya Kumar
Publisher: Sobia
ISBN: 9781805453734
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book

Book Description
Absurdity 'is a metaphysical term to distinguish thought from reality, meaning from things, word from the subject and consciousness from the world. Existential philosophy is the profound explicit manifestation of an existential attitude that begins with a sense of disorientation and confiision in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world. An important component of existentialist philosophy is the portrayal o f existence as being fundamentally irrational. Whereas most philosophers have attempted to build philosophical systems that produce a rational account of reality, existentialists have focused upon the subjective, irrational character of human existence. As a consequence of the diversity of these sources, existentialist doctrines focus on several aspects of existence. The absurdity of our lives comes from the idea that there is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. This meaninglessness also accounts for the 'unfairness' of the world. Humanity must live in a world that is and will forever be hostile or indifferent towards them. The universe will never truly care for humanity the way we seem to want it to. The Absurd refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any. In this context absurd does not mean 'logically impossible, ' but rather 'humanly impossible.' It means the discrepancy between the man's aspirations and his possibilities; the lack of any ultimate external justification of man and his projects^

The Psychoanalysis of the Absurd

The Psychoanalysis of the Absurd PDF Author: Mark Leffert
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 100008177X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 213

Get Book

Book Description
The Psychoanalysis of the Absurd offers an interdisciplinary study of Existentialism and Phenomenology and their importance to the clinical work of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. The concept of Absurdity, developed by Camus, has never been applied to the therapeutic situation or directly contrasted with its antithesis; the search for personal meaning. The book begins with narrative accounts of the historical development of Psychoanalysis, Existentialism and Phenomenology in 20th century Europe. The focus here is on fin de siècle Vienna and Paris between the Wars as the principal incubators of the two disciplines. Accompanied by composite case illustrations, Leffert then explores his own development of the Psychoanalysis of the Absurd, drawing on the work of Camus, Heidegger and Sartre. Absurdity is first discussed in relation to the Bio-Psycho-Social Self and Dasein is posited as a bridge concept, with personal meaning as the antithesis to Absurdity, before being discussed in relation to the world and how it impinges on self. A final chapter attempts to tie together particular issues raised by the book: Subjective well-being, Meaning, thrownness, Absurdity, Death and Death Anxiety and how we have become technologically enhanced human beings. Existential psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have, until now, largely gone their own way: the goal of this book is to fold them back into Contemporary Psychoanalysis. Establishing that the concept of Absurdity is of singular clinical importance to both diagnosis and therapeutic action, this book will be of great interest to clinicians, philosophers, and interdisciplinary scientists.

The Myth of Sisyphus And Other Essays

The Myth of Sisyphus And Other Essays PDF Author: Albert Camus
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307827828
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book

Book Description
One of the most influential works of this century, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide; the question of living or not living in a universe devoid of order or meaning. With lyric eloquence, Albert Camus brilliantly posits a way out of despair, reaffirming the value of personal existence, and the possibility of life lived with dignity and authenticity.

Existentialism For Dummies

Existentialism For Dummies PDF Author: Christopher Panza
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470436891
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Get Book

Book Description
Have you ever wondered what the phrase “God is dead” means? You’ll find out in Existentialism For Dummies, a handy guide to Nietzsche, Sartre, and Kierkegaard’s favorite philosophy. See how existentialist ideas have influenced everything from film and literature to world events and discover whether or not existentialism is still relevant today. You’ll find an introduction to existentialism and understand how it fits into the history of philosophy. This insightful guide will expose you to existentialism’s ideas about the absurdity of life and the ways that existentialism guides politics, solidarity, and respect for others. There’s even a section on religious existentialism. You’ll be able to reviewkey existential themes and writings. Find out how to: Trace the influence of existentialism Distinguish each philosopher’s specific ideas Explain what it means to say that “God is dead” See culture through an existentialist lens Understand the existentialist notion of time, finitude, and death Navigate the absurdity of life Master the art of individuality Complete with lists of the ten greatest existential films, ten great existential aphorisms, and ten common misconceptions about existentialism, Existentialism For Dummies is your one-stop guide to a very influential school of thought.

The Philosophy of Existentialism

The Philosophy of Existentialism PDF Author: Jean-Paul Sartre
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 456

Get Book

Book Description
Essays. Bibliography: p. 423-431.

Camus and Sartre

Camus and Sartre PDF Author: Ronald Aronson
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226027968
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 312

Get Book

Book Description
Until now it has been impossible to read the full story of the relationship between Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Their dramatic rupture at the height of the Cold War, like that conflict itself, demanded those caught in its wake to take sides rather than to appreciate its tragic complexity. Now, using newly available sources, Ronald Aronson offers the first book-length account of the twentieth century's most famous friendship and its end. Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre first met in 1943, during the German occupation of France. The two became fast friends. Intellectual as well as political allies, they grew famous overnight after Paris was liberated. As playwrights, novelists, philosophers, journalists, and editors, the two seemed to be everywhere and in command of every medium in post-war France. East-West tensions would put a strain on their friendship, however, as they evolved in opposing directions and began to disagree over philosophy, the responsibilities of intellectuals, and what sorts of political changes were necessary or possible. As Camus, then Sartre adopted the mantle of public spokesperson for his side, a historic showdown seemed inevitable. Sartre embraced violence as a path to change and Camus sharply opposed it, leading to a bitter and very public falling out in 1952. They never spoke again, although they continued to disagree, in code, until Camus's death in 1960. In a remarkably nuanced and balanced account, Aronson chronicles this riveting story while demonstrating how Camus and Sartre developed first in connection with and then against each other, each keeping the other in his sights long after their break. Combining biography and intellectual history, philosophical and political passion, Camus and Sartre will fascinate anyone interested in these great writers or the world-historical issues that tore them apart.

From Rationalism to Existentialism

From Rationalism to Existentialism PDF Author: Robert C. Solomon
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780742512412
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 368

Get Book

Book Description
In this enduring text, renowned philosopher Robert C. Solomon provides students with a detailed introduction to modern existentialism. He reveals how this philosophy not only connects with, but derives from, the thought of traditional philosophers through the works of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty. Thus, existentialism emerges from the school of rational thought as a logical evolution of respected philosophy.

The Rebel

The Rebel PDF Author: Albert Camus
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307827836
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Get Book

Book Description
By one of the most profoundly influential thinkers of our century, The Rebel is a classic essay on revolution that resonates as an ardent, eloquent, and supremely rational voice of conscience for our tumultuous times. For Albert Camus, the urge to revolt is one of the "essential dimensions" of human nature, manifested in man's timeless Promethean struggle against the conditions of his existence, as well as the popular uprisings against established orders throughout history. And yet, with an eye toward the French Revolution and its regicides and deicides, he shows how inevitably the course of revolution leads to tyranny. Translated from the French by Anthony Bower.

Sartre and Camus

Sartre and Camus PDF Author: Jean-Paul Sartre
Publisher: Humanities Press International
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 312

Get Book

Book Description
In a series of highly publicized articles in 1952, Jean-Paul Sartre engaged Albert Camus in a bitter public confrontation over the ideas Camus articulated in his renowned work, . This volume contains English translations of the five texts constituting this famous philosophical quarrel. It also features a biographical and critical introduction plus two essays by contemporary scholars reflecting on the cultural and philosophical significance of this confrontation.

Fear and Trembling

Fear and Trembling PDF Author: Soren Kierkegaard
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1625584024
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 103

Get Book

Book Description
In our time nobody is content to stop with faith but wants to go further. It would perhaps be rash to ask where these people are going, but it is surely a sign of breeding and culture for me to assume that everybody has faith, for otherwise it would be queer for them to be . . . going further. In those old days it was different, then faith was a task for a whole lifetime, because it was assumed that dexterity in faith is not acquired in a few days or weeks. When the tried oldster drew near to his last hour, having fought the good fight and kept the faith, his heart was still young enough not to have forgotten that fear and trembling which chastened the youth, which the man indeed held in check, but which no man quite outgrows. . . except as he might succeed at the earliest opportunity in going further. Where these revered figures arrived, that is the point where everybody in our day begins to go further.