My Teacher labled me as a ....

This was in my english class, and people were discussing god. And I felt like wasteing some time and argue against the masses. So i did told them there believeing in "false ideals"... Anywho from there they asked me how should we act. In simple terms i told them to help each other because no one else is going to help you. Also treat everyone in the out most respect, you know the whole Jesus golden rule thingy... After me saying some useless comments. He asked me what its called what im talking about. I said athiest or agnostic (i really didnt know because i really never bother with labels), he declares me as a existentialist... Then he moved right along with one of his crazy preys to end any dead end subject...

Yea, so heres the question what really makes you existentialist? What are some of the core beliefs?

 

you can start with the FAQ but it's kinda lacking. You can try googling for it as well. But nobody can describe existentialism in one page. You can't even describe one person's version of existentialism in one page. In college, existentialism is a 400 level course, and a very difficult one for most people. It's one of those things that some people just get it and some never do. If you can read Sartre's The Postmodern Condition without being bored to tears, and without becoming even more confused, then you get it.

Honestly, from what little you told us of the conversation you had, it sounds more like humanism to me.

 

Thanx...

 

That actual experience trumps theories; that subjectivity is superior to objectivity.

 

The idea of absolute personal accountability, a life of realism(not "bad faith"-self deception(Sartre)), legislating one's own morality, the general use of Kant's Catagorical Imperative("Is it what I would want everyone else to do?"). Much more.

 

I would have thought that "Freedom and Responsibility" would have been a much better choice for beginners to learn, and I would have said that Existentialism is a humanist philosophy. It denies the existence of God, and puts our responsibility for the world squarely on human shoulders.