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Existentialism is a philosophical movement that is generally considered a study that pursues meaning in existence and seeks value for the existing individual. Existentialism, unlike other fields of philosophy, does not treat the individual as a concept, and values individual subjectivity over objectivity. As a result, questions regarding the meaning of life and subjective experience are seen as being of paramount importance, above all other scientific and philosophical pursuits. Existentialism often is associated with anxiety, dread, awareness of death, and freedom. Famous existentialists include Sartre, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Camus, and Heidegger.
Existentialism emphasizes action, freedom, and decision as fundamental to human existence and is fundamentally opposed to the rationalist tradition and to positivism. That is, it argues against definitions of human beings either as primarily rational, knowing beings who relate to reality primarily as an object of knowledge, or for whom action can or ought to be regulated by rational principles, or as beings who can be defined in terms of their behavior as it looks to or is studied by others. More generally it rejects all of the Western rationalist definitions of being in terms of a rational principle or essence or as the most general feature that all existing things share in common. Existentialism tends to view human beings as subjects in an indifferent, objective, often ambiguous, and "absurd" universe in which meaning is not provided by the natural order, but rather can be created, however provisionally and unstably, by human beings' actions and interpretations.
Although there are certain common tendencies among existentialist thinkers, there are major differences and disagreements among them, and not all of them even affiliate themselves with or accept the validity of the term "existentialism". In German, the phrase Existenzphilosophie (philosophy of existence) is also used.
More on [ Existentialism ]
Saw A Serious Man. Best film I have seen so far this year. In a weird way it felt like Coen Bros. doing existential Phillip Roth.
bb6640 (Michael Silvera) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:00:30 -0000
Saw A Serious Man. Best film I have seen so far this year. In a weird way it felt like Coen Bros. doing existential Phillip Roth.
Ten hours without tweeting... that's a record for me. Minor existential crisis worthy, even. :3
notjohnny (Not Johnny) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:33:04 -0000
Ten hours without tweeting... that's a record for me. Minor existential crisis worthy, even. :3
what to do now? this is more an existential question really....
Roinfish (Jonathan Fisher) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:25:34 -0000
what to do now? this is more an existential question really....
@thedramagirl all of my most existential thoughts are often inspired by cheesy 80s sequels starring Jason Bateman...
bobfreelander (bobfreelander) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:23:33 -0000
@thedramagirl all of my most existential thoughts are often inspired by cheesy 80s sequels starring Jason Bateman...
@thedramagirl I meant it in the most existential way possible.
bobfreelander (bobfreelander) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:16:28 -0000
@thedramagirl I meant it in the most existential way possible.
great conversation with @kosmundo about teaser trailers, purple pride, grasshoppers, and the best type of existential angst
matiasramos (Matias Ramos) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:38:54 -0000
great conversation with @kosmundo about teaser trailers, purple pride, grasshoppers, and the best type of existential angst
Existential Phenomenological Psychology - Victor Daniel's E-P Psychology primer. Includes basic glossaries, lectures, and links concerning existentialism, phenomenology, and their approach toward psychology.
Existential Psychotherapy - Information and links.
Meta Description: [ Existential Psychotherapy & counselling information, Society for Existential analysis contact info, links ]
Existentialism and Abraham H. Maslow - Katharena Eiermann's tribute to Existential psychologist Abraham H. Maslow. Includes biography, essays, articles, photo, and links to related existential psychology sites on the WWW.
Meta Description: [ Katharena Eiermann's tribute to existentialism and Abraham Maslow. Site includes biography, essays, articles, photos, quotes and links to related sites on the WWW. ]
International Network on Personal Meaning - The premier site on meaning of life, personal meaning, existential therapy, logotherapy, and meaning research. It contains bibliography, articles, and reflections related to meaning of life and existential issues.
Meta Description: [ The INPM is dedicated to advancing health, spirituality, peace and human fulfillment through research, education and applied psychology with a focus on the universal human quest for meaning and purpose. ]
Medard Boss - A brief personal history and synopsis of Boss' distinctly Heidiggerian theories.
Perspectives - Existential theory of personality, including an outline of seven common personal perspectives on the world and a number of phenomenological sketches.
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Phenomenology and Psychotherapy - Downloadable articles about existential and phenomenological psychotherapy/psychology.
Rollo May - A personal history and brief introduction to May's existential personality theories.
The Maslow Reading Room - The complete Politics 3 paper compiled by SRI after Maslow's death, along with connections to other Maslow materials.
Meta Description: [ Nidus Systems Portal ]
The Unofficial R.D. Laing Website - Biography, bibliography, quotes by and about R.D., links to articles, book reviews and interviews. Includes a discussion forum.
Meta Description: [ An international society dedicated to furthering discussion, research and scholarship in the philosophy and practice of Ronald David Laing. ]
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