Existentialism In The Early 19th Century :: essays research papers

Existentialism in the archaeozoic 19th CenturyMajor ThemesBecause of the diversity of positions associated with existentialism, the bourneis impossible to ascertain precisely. Certain themes common to virtu all toldy all existentialist philosopher writers can, however, be identified. The term itself suggests onemajor theme the stress on concrete separate existence and, consequently, onsubjectivity, individualistic freedom, and choice.Moral IndividualismMost philosophers since Plato take up held that the highest ethical good is thesame for everyone insofar as one approaches lesson perfection, one resemblesother morally perfect individuals. The 19th-century Danish philosopher SrenKierkegaard, who was the firstborn writer to call himself existential, reactedagainst this tradition by insisting that the highest good for the individual isto find his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, I must finda truth that is true for me . . . the head for which I can live o r die. Otherexistentialist writers cede echoed Kierkegaards belief that one must chooseones own way without the incite of universal, fair game standards. Against thetraditional view that moral choice involves an objective sagacity of right andwrong, existentialists have argued that no objective, rational basis can befound for moral decisions. The 19th-century German philosopher FriedrichNietzsche further contended that the individual must patch up which situations areto count asmoral situations.SubjectivityAll existentialists have followed Kierkegaard in stressing the grandeur ofpassionate individual action in deciding questions of both faith and truth.They have insisted, accordingly, that personal experience and acting on onesown convictions are essential in arriving at the truth. Thus, the understandingof a situation by someone involved in that situation is superior to that of adetached, objective observer. This emphasis on the perspective of the individualagent has also d o existentialists suspicious of systematic reasoning.Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and other existentialist writers have been deliberately disorganised in the exposition of their philosophies, preferring to expressthemselves in aphorisms, dialogues, parables, and other literary forms. nonwithstandingtheir antirationalist position, however, most existentialists cannot be said tobe irrationalists in the sense of denying all validity to rational thought. Theyhave held that rational clarity is desirable wheresoever possible, but that themost important questions in life are not accessible to reason or science.Furthermore, they have argued that even science is not as rational as iscommonly supposed. Nietzsche, for instance, asserted that the scientific given of an orderly universe is for the most part a useful fiction. choice and CommitmentPerhaps the most prominent theme in existentialist writing is that of choice.Humanitys primary distinction, in the view of most existentialists, is thefree dom to choose.