Existentialism

The Courage to Be

Existentialism

As a philosophical movement Existentialism emphasizes- Individual existence Personal freedom Authentic choice

Existentialism Ontology

Reality is subjective, Truth is relative Epistemology

We learn by making authentic choices Anxiety comes with the total freedom of choice

To refuse to choose authentically is to live in “bad faith.”

Axiology no universal, rational judgment between right and wrong.

To do good is to act in good faith To do bad is to act in bad faith

Philosophers described as Existentialists

Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855

Friedrich Nietzsche 1843-1900

Jean-PaulSartre 1905-1980

Soren KierkegaardReligious Existentialism Kierkegaard stressed the ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation An individual must live a totally committed life, which is only understood by the individual

He advocated a “leap of faith” into Christianity

Although Christianity is incomprehensible, it is the only commitment that will save an individual from complete and utter despair.

Friedrich NietzscheAtheistic Existentialism

God is Dead All external authority blinds the individual to authentic choice

The Judeo-Christian moral code keeps the individual from assuming full responsibility for his or her decisions

The Scientific assumption of an orderly universe is a useful fiction that hides the meaninglessness of existence

John-Paul SartreExistentialism as a Philosophy

He wrote the first work that attempted to make Existentialism into a coherent philosophy in 1943

It was written in response to the absurdity of World War II

He argued that humans beings need a rational basis for their lives so they developed systematic philosophies

but this is impossible to achieve. The human life is a “futile passion”.

John-Paul Sartre“existence precedes essence”

We exist first and then we need to create our essential being

Existential dread- “the cry in the night”

By refusing to accept full responsibility for who we are and the decisions we make, we act in bad faith

Living an Authentic Life

Authentic existence (essence) can only be achieved by those who actively seek to discover purposefulness for their existence

This happens by making independent choices and assuming responsibility for consequences

It is not a natural flow; is easily stifled by outside influences

Obstacles to Authenticity

1) Unawareness Awareness can be stifled through conformity during the formative years

Students not allowed to make choices are denied the opportunity to accept responsibility for their choices

2) Fear Individual fear of accepting the burden of responsibility

To refuse to choose is to make a choice

Implications for Education

The learner should feel valued as an individual and encouraged to develop his or her personal style and creativity.

Existentialist educators are generally against the concept of teaching as showing, guiding, or directing

Rather, the teacher should ‘prize’ the learner and make the learner feel worthwhile.

Teacher Contamination

Teachers who fail to recognize that reality is experienced subjectively will likely impose on their students an external reality, one contaminated by personal and societal biases -Gary Hunter

Encouraging the Pursuit of Authenticity

Teachers must celebrate student authenticity and what existentialists call “the courage to be”

Teachers should help students internalize the world and make it their own

Teachers must strive to reach each student individually, although each comes from different backgrounds and experiences

Cultivating Creativity

Allow students to make their own choices about individual projects

Suggest projects that encourage the imagination\

Put student work on display for other students and teachers to see

Addressing the “courage to be” Make students responsible for completing their work on time- use contracts

Have students decide classroom rules with the understanding they will be responsible for following them

Let students choose personal ways to express themselves

Why Should We Encourage Students to Follow Lead Authentic Lives?

“How many times have we read or heard about successful writers, athletes, musicians, or artists who rejected attempts by parents, teachers, counselors, and peers to dictate and control their destinies by insisting that they pursue a more conventional line of work? What would the destinies of these successful people have been had they succumbed to these external influences?” (Hunter).