Introduction to Introduction to ExistentialismExistentialismLiterature and Philosophy

What is What is philosophyphilosophy??

What does it all mean?Why are we here?What should I do with my life?

Philosophers analyze, they pick apart, and then they try to come up with reasons for their beliefs and reasoned answers for their questions.

WARNING:EXISTENTIALISM DEALS WITH INTENSE

THEOLOGICAL (“RELIGIOUS STUDY”) AND ONTOLOGICAL (“STUDY OF BEING”) AS WELL AS EPISTEMOLOGICAL (“STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE”)

ISSUES. THIS CLASS IS NOT ENDORSING EXISTENTIALISM AS BEING ANYTHING MORE

THAN MERE THEORY. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING THE TENETS OF EXISTENTIALISM AND

RELATING THEM TO LITERATURE. EXISTENTIALISM CAN BE A WEE BIT DEPRESSING IT TENDS TO PROJECT A “LIFE-IS-MEANINGLESS,

GLASS-HALF-EMPTY” SORT OF VIEW ON THINGS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOVE IT YOU JUST HAVE

TO UNDERSTAND IT.

The Problem of MeaningThe Problem of MeaningHumans crave meaningA universe that makes senseCreate stories to make sense out of the universe; but when the universe doesn’t cooperate you feel like a stranger in the world

ANDREW WYETHANDREW WYETHChristina’s WorldChristina’s World (1948) (1948)

A complex philosophy

emphasizing the existence of the human

being, the lack of meaning

and purpose in life, and the

solitude of human

existence…

GEORGIO DE CHIRICOGEORGIO DE CHIRICOLove Song

It was during the Second World War,

when Europe found itself in a crisis faced with death

and destruction,

that the existential movement began to flourish,

popularized in France in the

1940s…

Two Different Types of Two Different Types of ExistentialistsExistentialistsGodly (Kierkegaard; Marcel and Maritain (Catholic); Tillich Godly (Kierkegaard; Marcel and Maritain (Catholic); Tillich

and Berdyaev (Protestant) and Buber (Jewish))and Berdyaev (Protestant) and Buber (Jewish))Believe God exists, but people are alienated from Him.Man is alienated from his God-like self, and the problem of his life is trying to close that gapfreedom involves accepting the responsibility for choice and committing to the choice

Ungodly (Sartre and Camus)Ungodly (Sartre and Camus)Do not believe God exists.“Because there is no God to give purpose to the universe, each man must accept individual responsibility for his own becoming.”In choosing for himself, he chooses for all men “the image of man as he ought to be.” He has to make good choices that others could follow

MARK ROTHKOMARK ROTHKOUntitledUntitled (1968) (1968)

Big Ideas of Big Ideas of ExistentialismExistentialism

Despite Despite encompassing a encompassing a huge range of huge range of philosophical, philosophical, religious, and religious, and

political ideologies, political ideologies, the underlying the underlying

concepts of concepts of existentialism are existentialism are

simple…simple…

Existence Precedes Existence Precedes EssenceEssence

Cogito ergo sum.Cogito ergo sum.

“Existence precedes essence” implies that the human being has no essence (no

essential self).

Existence Before Existence Before EssenceEssencePeople are born like a blank slate and create their essence or being through their unique experiences.

Tenant 1: AbsurdismTenant 1: Absurdism• The belief nothing can explain or

rationalize human existence. • There is no answer to “Why am I?”• Humans exist in a meaningless,

irrational universe and any search for order will bring them into direct conflict with this universe.

EDGAR DEGASEDGAR DEGAS““L’absinthe” (1876)L’absinthe” (1876)

#2:Alienation #2:Alienation or or

EstrangementEstrangement• From all other

humans• From human

institutions• From the past

• From the future• We only exist right now, right

here…

EDVARD MUNCHEDVARD MUNCHNight in Saint Night in Saint CloudCloud (1890) (1890)

Nothingness and Death

• Death hangs over all of us. Our awareness of it can bring freedom or anguish.

• “Nothingness is our inherent lack of self. We are in constant pursuit of a self. Nothingness is the creative well-spring from which all human possibilities can be realized.” –Jean-Paul Sartre

#3: Nothingness and #3: Nothingness and DeathDeath

#4: Freedom: Choice and #4: Freedom: Choice and CommitmentCommitment

• Humans have freedom to choose• Each individual makes choices that

create his or her own nature• Because we choose, we must accept

risk and responsibility for wherever our commitments take us

• “A human being is absolutely free and absolutely responsible. Anguish is the result.” –Jean-Paul Sartre

MAN RAYLes Larmes (Tears)

Dread and AnxietyDread and Anxiety

#5: Dread and Anxiety#5: Dread and Anxiety• Anxiety stems from our understanding

and recognition of the total freedom of choice that confronts us every moment, and the individual’s confrontation with nothingness.

The Big Names of The Big Names of ExistentialismExistentialismKierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heidegger

Some Famous

Existentialists• Søren Kierkegaard

(1813-1855)• Friedrich

Nietzsche (1844-1900)

• Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

• Albert Camus (1913-1960)

““A woman is not A woman is not born…she is born…she is

created.”created.”de Beauvoir’s most famous de Beauvoir’s most famous

text is text is The Second Sex The Second Sex (1949), which some claim (1949), which some claim

is the basis for current is the basis for current gender studies…gender studies…

Nihilism is Nihilism is the state of the state of belief in belief in nothingnothing

“When you ain’t got nothin’, you got nothing to lose.” (Bob Dylan)

A nihilist refuses to see this possibility. For the nihilist, when you ain’t got nothin’, you got nothing to win

Existential LiteratureExistential LiteratureThree people to know: Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80), Albert Camus (1913-60) and Simone de Beauvoir (1908-86)

Albert Camus: Albert Camus: The Smiling SisyphusThe Smiling Sisyphus

• Born Nov. 7, 1913 in Mondovi, French Born Nov. 7, 1913 in Mondovi, French AlgeriaAlgeria

• Father dies in 1914 during World War I, Father dies in 1914 during World War I, only story Albert knows is that his father only story Albert knows is that his father became violently ill at a public execution.became violently ill at a public execution.

• Mother was illiterate, partially deaf, and Mother was illiterate, partially deaf, and afflicted with a speech disorder – very afflicted with a speech disorder – very poor.poor.

• Attended elementary in a school close to Attended elementary in a school close to a Moslem community and saw first-hand a Moslem community and saw first-hand the idea of the “outsider” he would later the idea of the “outsider” he would later develop.develop.

Significant EventsSignificant Events• High school: developed a lifetime love for High school: developed a lifetime love for

literature, theater, and film.literature, theater, and film.

• Also enjoyed soccer for sport and the life Also enjoyed soccer for sport and the life lessons it taught himlessons it taught him

“ “I learned . . . that a ball never arrives from a I learned . . . that a ball never arrives from a direction you expected it. That helped me later in direction you expected it. That helped me later in life, especially in mainland France, where nobody life, especially in mainland France, where nobody

plays straight.” plays straight.”

Significant EventsSignificant Events• Briefly joined the Communist Party but was

disillusioned by the mindless, even absurd, work he was assigned to do.

• In the 1940’s his writing began to attract international attention.

• In 1957, he was awarded the Nobel Prize. He was grateful, but he felt he had not yet achieved the fame such an award indicated.

Significant EventsSignificant Events

On January 4, 1960, Camus died tragically in On January 4, 1960, Camus died tragically in a car accident.a car accident.

Camus publishes this non-fiction work a year Camus publishes this non-fiction work a year after completing after completing The Stranger. The Stranger. In this In this retelling of the myth of Sisyphus, he retelling of the myth of Sisyphus, he embodies his concept of the Absurd.embodies his concept of the Absurd.The story concludes with Camus’ pivotal The story concludes with Camus’ pivotal philosophical statement:philosophical statement:““The struggle itself toward the heights is The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”imagine Sisyphus happy.”To understand his point, we must To understand his point, we must understand the themes that his writing understand the themes that his writing explores. explores.

THE MYTH OF SISYPHUSTHE MYTH OF SISYPHUS

L’ÉtrangerL’Étranger ((The StrangerThe Stranger or or The Outsider)The Outsider)Written by Albert Camus in 1942 Written by Albert Camus in 1942 (who did not sail the ocean blue)(who did not sail the ocean blue)

Albert CamusAlbert CamusThe StrangerThe Stranger

A tale of absurdity, A tale of absurdity, death, and coming to death, and coming to grips with the meaning grips with the meaning of one’s existence.of one’s existence.No single work by any No single work by any existentialist has existentialist has reached more people reached more people directlydirectlyThe Nobel Prize for The Nobel Prize for literature in 1957literature in 1957

Themes of Albert CamusThemes of Albert Camus The Absurd Revolt The Outsider Guilt and Innocence Christianity vs.

Paganism Individual vs. History

and Mass Culture Suicide The Death Penalty

Camus’ Absurd WorldCamus’ Absurd World

The world of values is never predictable nor controllable.

RevoltRevolt“A spirit of opposition against any perceived unfairness, oppression, or indignity in the human condition.”

This idea runs counter to existentialism as it proposes This idea runs counter to existentialism as it proposes that there is a common good that is more important that there is a common good that is more important than one’s destiny. True revolt is performed out of than one’s destiny. True revolt is performed out of compassion for others.compassion for others.

The OutsiderThe Outsider““The `stranger’ or the outsider The `stranger’ or the outsider observes everything, even his observes everything, even his own behavior, from an outside own behavior, from an outside perspective.”perspective.”

Camus lived most of his life Camus lived most of his life being being inin various groups various groups without being without being ofof them. This them. This view requires a “zero-degree” view requires a “zero-degree” objectivity about everything. objectivity about everything. Camus had this with friends Camus had this with friends and community.and community.

Guilt and Guilt and Innocence Innocence Paganism vs. ChristianityPaganism vs. Christianity

There is no clear answer There is no clear answer to this in to this in The StrangerThe Stranger. . The reader must decide The reader must decide if the character is legally if the character is legally innocent of the murder innocent of the murder he is charged with or if he is charged with or if he is technically guilty? he is technically guilty?

It is the struggle between It is the struggle between universal guilt (original universal guilt (original sin) and universal sin) and universal innocence (pagan innocence (pagan primitivism)primitivism)

Camus respects the Camus respects the Christianity even uses Christianity even uses many Christian symbols many Christian symbols in his writing, but he in his writing, but he maintains Pagan world maintains Pagan world views. views.

““I I continue to continue to believe that this believe that this

world has no world has no supernatural supernatural

meaning . . . But I meaning . . . But I know that something know that something

in this world has in this world has meaning – man.”meaning – man.”

Individual vs. Individual vs. History and Mass CultureHistory and Mass CultureModern life has an Modern life has an alienating and alienating and dehumanizing effect of dehumanizing effect of man. We live in an age man. We live in an age that is becoming more that is becoming more impersonal everyday. If impersonal everyday. If anything, modern man anything, modern man lives the drudgery of lives the drudgery of Sisyphus in Sisyphus in meaningless jobs with meaningless jobs with mind-numbing mind-numbing repetitions.repetitions.

SuicideSuicide Death Death

PenaltyPenaltyThis, for Camus, This, for Camus, is the is the fundamental fundamental issue for moral issue for moral philosophy as it philosophy as it represents the represents the only possible only possible response to the response to the Absurd. In the Absurd. In the end, the morally end, the morally valid response is valid response is to continue to continue living.living.

Camus opposes Camus opposes the death the death penalty in all of penalty in all of his writings. He his writings. He considered it considered it “the most “the most premeditated of premeditated of murders” murders” because it because it causes the causes the victim to suffer victim to suffer his death every his death every day until it day until it happens.happens.

Although Camus was Although Camus was personally committed to personally committed to values such as individualism, values such as individualism, free choice, inner strength, free choice, inner strength, authenticity, personal authenticity, personal responsibility, and self responsibility, and self determination, he repeatedly determination, he repeatedly denied that he was an denied that he was an existentialist.existentialist.Although he embraced many Although he embraced many of the ideas, he believed that of the ideas, he believed that for one to be considered for one to be considered anything one must commit anything one must commit themselves totally to that themselves totally to that doctrine, he was unwilling to doctrine, he was unwilling to do this.do this.

EXISTENTIALISM?EXISTENTIALISM?