Existentialism :: essays research papers

existential philosophy has been defined as a philosophical movement or tendency, stress individual existence, freedom and choice that influences many diverse writers in the nineteenth and 20th centuries. The philosophical term existential philosophy came from Jean Paul Sartre, a French philosopher. He combined the theories of a select few German philosophers, the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, the metaphysics of G.W.F. Hegel and Martin Heidegger, and the social conjecture of Karl Marx. This philosophy became a worldwide movement. One phenomenon of this theory is its proliferation. Since its creation it has remained a part of contemporary thought. One explanation for this is its pertinence to contemporary life and society. It foc go fors on the utter existence of man itself.harmonize to Sartre, a true existentialist believes there is no God and then man becomes alone with only ourselves as a guide to do the decisions that define our existence. Our existence not only defines, b ut also must be defined. Subjectivism provides this definition. Subjectivity refers to the radical freedom to choose with or without a God, but also that this radical freedom becomes a duty to use or not use. Another definition, provided by Websters dictionary defines existentialism as a philosophical movement especially of the 20th ascorbic acid that stresses the individual position as self determining agent answerable for his or her own choices. It becomes very clear through the definitions provided, that existentialism focuses on two things, the individual and choice. Breaking apart the word itself, you come up with another word, exist, to have actual being, and also existent, which is to have existence. The suffix ism denotes and action or implement. A minimal definition of existentialism competency be, an individual practicing his or her right to make choices for him/herself, not communally, during their existence. The acceptance of responsibility for the decisions made mu st also be a part of this practice since making choices comes with the implication of responsibility. This way of thinking is similar to the teachings of Socrates and his theory of documental reality.