Reflection Paper
An Encounter with Existentialism Existentialism is a philosophical movement that began in the 1830’s with Soren Kierkegaard. The movement also developed during the period of time between the first and second world wars (1914 – 1950). However, the philosophy of existentialism attained great popularity after the close of World War II, thanks in part to the literary endeavors of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. The movement began, however, a century earlier in Denmark when Soren Kierkegaard first presented existentialist principles through his writing. Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855) is “generally considered to be the ‘father’ of the movement."[1] However, it was Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 – 1980) who, in modern and post-modern times, contributed largely to the prominence of the movement through his plays and novels which helped to spread existentialist thinking. In addition to Sartre, the following figures are well-known writers also associated with the movement: Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett. These figures have established their ideas broadly and they can be found in their writings, which will be discussed later in this paper. Existentialism deals with interpreting, explaining and espousing beliefs about one’s own existence for one’s self. In less abstract terms, it can be interpreted to mean that it is my decision to give whatever meaning to my life that I wish. Existentialism does not attempt to calculate or quantify human existence, nor does it rely upon the sciences--ironically, it is only after God is declared dead by Nietzsche, and after the nature of empirical inquiry is widely accepted in academia and, to some extent at least, public consciousness, that a philosophy such as this can thrive, so it can be said that existentialism owes something to science. In Kierkegaard, the challenge of existence “is to find a truth that is truth for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die.”[2] It can be said that this simple statement, intrinsically
References: Crowell, Steven. "Existentialism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Ed. Edward N. Zalta. 2010. Web. 18 March. 2012. . Storm, Anthony D. "D. Anthony Storm 's Commentary on Kierkegaard." Kierkegaard, D. Anthony Storm 's Commentary on. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. Sartre, Jean-Paul, and Bernard Frechtman. The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre. New York: Vintage, 1981. Print. Marino, Gordon Daniel. Basic Writings of Existentialism. New York: Modern Library, 2004. Print. Kaufmann, Walter. Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre. New York: Meridian, 1956. Print. Earnshaw, Steven. Existentialism: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Continuum International Pub. Group, 2006. Print. "Historical Caligula and Camus ' Caligula." Faculty Web Pages - Cape Breton University. Web. 18 March. 2012. . Sinclair, Michael. "Essay on Waiting for Godot.” Samuel Beckett Resources and Links. Web. 18 March. 2012. . [3] Kaufmann W, ed. The Gay Science, New York: Vintage, 1974. 182. Print. [4] Atchison, Liam. "Faithful Wounds of an Enemy." Leadership University. Mars Hill Review. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. . [5] Johnson, Daniel. "On Truth As Subjectivity In Kierkegaard 's Concluding Unscientific Postscript." Quodlibet Journal 5.2-3 July (2003). Web. 17 March. 2012. . [6] Jolley, Marc A., and Edmon L. Rowell, Jr., eds. Why Kierkegaard Matters: A Festschrift in Honor of Robert L. Perkins. Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2010. 174. Print. [7] Sartre, Jean P. Existentialism and Humanism. Trans. Philip Mairet. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1960. 23. Print. [8] Sartre, Jean P. Existentialism and Humanism. Trans. Philip Mairet. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1960. 19. Print. [9] Sartre, Jean P. Existentialism and Humanism. Trans. Philip Mairet. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1960. 19. Print. [10] Sartre, Jean P. No Exit and Three Other Plays. New York: Vintage Books, 1955. 46-47. Print. [11] Sartre, Jean P. No Exit and Three Other Plays. New York: Vintage Books, 1955. 19. Print. [12] "Sartre 's Political Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. IEP, 1955. Web. 18 March. 2012. .