new to existentialism

Discussion in 'Existentialism' started by Yaz, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. Yaz

    Yaz Member

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    Hello there! my name is Kelsey and I am new to this forum and to existentialism. I recently watched a film on existentialism and found it absolutely fascinating. I would really like to learn more about the subject. So if any of you have any ideas you would like to share I would love to hear them. Also, if anyone has any recommended reading or anything like that it would be greatly appreciated. thanks! :D
     
  2. Yaz

    Yaz Member

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    gee thanks for the help guys... haha juuust kidding! some info would be nice tho...
     
  3. Montag69

    Montag69 Guest

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    Hi Kelsey. Try reading Existentialism, A Very Short Introduction by Thomas Flynn. It's short but well written, has a lot of historical information, and describes most of the major figures in existentialism.
     
  4. DutchElephant

    DutchElephant Member

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    I'm doing my senior thesis on French existentialism and it's affect on cinema
    So my suggestions are going to be a bit biased towards the Frenchies but---
    read "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, look into the Left Bank existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre or Simone de Beauvoir.
    Watch some movies by Jean-Luc Godard like Contempt, Vivre Sa Vie, Masculin Féminin, or Pierrot Le Fou

    Or just read "Existentialism is a Humanism" by Jean-Paul Sartre
     
  5. Simple Compass

    Simple Compass Member

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    Sartre, Camus are important figures in existentialism, but they are definitely not what existentialism is all about.

    I have not read the book, but I think Being and Time by Martin Heidegger would be the seminal work for modern existentialist thought. I heard its very hard, though. The progenitor of existentialism is Kierkegaard, but his books are extremely hard and esoteric. Contrary to some of the later people, Kierkegaard did not resort to atheism.
     
  6. floydianv

    floydianv Member

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    I would say take a look at:

    Nietzsche
    - The Gay Science
    - Thus Spoke Zarathustra
    - On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life

    Sartre
    - Existentialism is a Humanism (excellent rebuttal of many claims against exi..)
    - Being and Nothingness

    Non-Atheist Perspectives
    Martin Buber
    - I and Thou

    I would suggest going back to Kierkegaard (Fear and Trembling) at a later time which should help you wrap your head around how some of these ideas evolved. These are some of the works that I studied in my second year introduction to existentialism class. Hope it helps :)

    O and also would be good to check out some history about the creation of protestantism (reformation), German society during Nietzsche's time (on the use and disadvantages...), WWI and II Poetry
     
  7. FrankBlack

    FrankBlack Member

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    Hi. My favourite overview is Existentialism by John MacQuarrie. It's excellent; well-written and engaging. It's academic rather than an "Idiot's Guide", but by far the easiest, most down-to-earth introduction I've read.

    All the best.
     
  8. arj1981

    arj1981 Guest

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    I did on video on existentialism. I hope my observation helps.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TArCDO-fAO0

    Aj
     
  9. Eachel's Ear

    Eachel's Ear Member

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    Maybe I've been naive but I have always thought of existentialism as an internal debate opposed to something that you can study up on and figure out.

    okay strike that,
    I didn't realize that there were books that formalized and structured the process
     
  10. arj1981

    arj1981 Guest

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    Yea, but I think u hit on something by calling it an internal debate...that seems accurate to me.
     
  11. famewalk

    famewalk Banned

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    At first avoid the epicurean fillers, then wonder if science is a self-deception about goodness, quality, and creative life for this useless age of the misinformed good nature of our souls.
     
  12. Azkhuong

    Azkhuong Guest

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    Excuse the my. It is meant in jest.

    About the internal debate... Like all labels, internal debate is what makes it worth discussing, and what makes it alive. To many, relationship is naught but expectations, commitments, responsibilities. Personally, I prefer to avoid having such a relationship with my beliefs; too structured.

    An apology to those for whom this message means nothing: just ignore me. I'm of no consequence :)


    - The 3rd voice in your head.
     
  13. killswitchjd

    killswitchjd Senior Member

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    souls are not by default good natured, theres no way you could say that with pure evil mind and souls clearly existing.
     
  14. Skizm

    Skizm Member

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    I've always found existentialism to be one of the more interesting facets of philosophy. As a belief though, it is quite depressing.

    Sartre
    "We are condemned to be free"
    Probably one of my favorite quotes of all time. Knowing that our choices are our choices. The consequences our consequences. Sartre gets brownie points for his atheistic viewpoints

    Camus
    If you realize your life has no meaning, commit suicide. I'm pretty sure this line of thought is what got existentialists a bad rep for being emos.
     
  15. DroneLore

    DroneLore h8rs gon h8, I stay based

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    Existentialism: From Dostoevsky to Sartre is an excellent compilation. Get it if only for the first half of Notes From Underground. What a magnificent book!

    This might be controversial but I think Chuck Palahniuk's Choke is an excellent existential novel, especially if you think about the way it differs from the world view espoused by Fight Club (nihilism vs. existentialism)
     
  16. BrotherMat

    BrotherMat Member

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    Theres some great websites you can find off google about existentialism and Nihilism altogether, just have to search a little
     
  17. jumbuli55

    jumbuli55 Member

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    Screw existentialism, Western thought is too inferior and will never come close to enlightenment found in Eastern schools, such as Zazen for instance.

    Don't go for horsecrap, seek the real enlightenment
     
  18. Stabby

    Stabby Member

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    That post was about as useful as a couple of drunken football fans arguing over whose team is better.

    "Why's it better? Because it's better! But why? Because, idiot. Oh okay"

    Existentialism is merely a school of thought dedicated to understanding the conditions of our existence through subjective reasoning. It's compatible with any "ideology" that one knows to be true for oneself.
     

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