2010 Fall Proseminar Class Notesb
Contents
October 12, 2010
Suggestions for finding contributions to Existentialism seminar
- Track the main tenets or principles that come up in authoritative reference sources.
- Pick a figure based on your browsing of the range of existentialisms. Try to represent their thought in a post or provide a link or resource to read.
- Existentialism has many critics. Research the reactions of existentialism thought from the mid-20th century. Report briefly.
- Research "existential psychology"
- Read a work of existential literature, such as a story from Camus, or Sartre's "No Exit"
Free books on Camus and Sartre
I would recommend Sartre work Intimacy it is a collection of short stories including
Intimacy
The Wall
The Room
Erostratus
The Childhood of a Leader
Particularly the last listed is very interesting and I think little read. Also the entire book is only around 130 pages, so it is, if not an easy read, at least a quick read.
Videos
Human, All Too Human : Nietzsche (1999) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-184240591461103528&hl
Sartre the road to freedom
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=3552873038348468860&hl
Martin Heidegger http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-858369328131624007&hl=en
Camus
The Myth of Sisyphus
So i decided to take a look at Camus', "The Myth of Sisyphus." In this book, Camus seems to assume Sarte's maxim: Existence precedes essence. For Camus, the implications of this statement are clear. With the lack of an a priori meaning to human existence, there leaves no real justification. Therefore, Camus concludes that the notion of human life is "absurd" and thus completely devoid of justification. Early in this book, Camus poses two scenarios that one may choose in response to the absurdity of life... either to make a leap of faith in God or to commit suicide.
For Camus, suicide seems like a rational approach to this problem. However, he offers a third explanation: to defy the absurdity of life. For Camus, this third option suggests that man is capable of recognizing the absurdity of life. In recognizing it, he is capable of actively choosing to defy it and live life to its fullest. One such way that we can live life to the fullest is to collect as many diverse experiences as one possible can throughout their life.
Camus illustrates what he means using the myth of Sisyphus. In mythology, Sisyphus is damned to perpetually push a large rock up a hill. Day in and day out he toils at it. For Camus, human existence is much like Sisyphus' fate. Doomed to habit and monotony without any real discernible or justifiable goal, Sisyphus realizes that he can never reach his goal. However, he recognizes it and live with it. He defies his fate by living with it and finding happiness. This is what Camus believes we should do as beings.
Camus is an existentialist because he assumes many of the fundamental credos of human subjectivity and lack of an "a priori". For Camus, it is an existential "choice" for everyone to find meaning in life. He places the burden of meaning solely on the human individual rather than on any other entity.
Please feel free to add anything or change anything if you feel that i may have misrepresented Camus in any way.Kobywarren 06:23, 7 October 2010 (UTC)
