Humanities

Existentialism Is a Humanism

29 CQ
3 Lessons
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    1. Existence, Essence & Choice
    A lesson with Gregory Sadler
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    Does man have an essence prior to existence? According to Jean-Paul Sartre, no. Learn the Christian, philosophical atheist, and existential theories on man.

    Does man have an essence prior to existence? According to Jean-Paul Sartre, no. Learn the Christian, philosophical atheist, and existential theories on man.

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    10 CQ
    2. Anguish, Abandonment & Despair
    A lesson with Gregory Sadler
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    Jean-Paul Sartre said, "Man is condemned to be free." Learn which ideas of Heidegger that Sartre used in his existentialism: anguish, abandonment, and despair.

    Jean-Paul Sartre said, "Man is condemned to be free." Learn which ideas of Heidegger that Sartre used in his existentialism: anguish, abandonment, and despair.

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    10 CQ
    3. Conditions of Choice
    A lesson with Gregory Sadler
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    In Existentialism is a Humanism, Jean-Paul Sartre says man is nothing but what he makes himself. Hear the existentialist views on choice and ethical dilemmas.

    In Existentialism is a Humanism, Jean-Paul Sartre says man is nothing but what he makes himself. Hear the existentialist views on choice and ethical dilemmas.

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10 Comments
500 characters max
Jeff L
Your lessons make me glad I brought into Curious.com.
Gregory Sadler
That's very nice to read. I plan to add a lot of new material this year
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Monica M
I think this theory puts way too much ability on human choice. I honestly do not think that the average human has that much control over their emotions/actions.
Monica M
Our brains are not only products of our worldly experiences but of our experience in the womb...these things we have limited control over
Gregory Sadler
Sartre doesn't assert that we have anything like total control. In fact, he calls the sorts of matters you're talking about "facticity" and says we don't have control over them. We do - he thinks - have control over how we react to, or at the very least interpret them.
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John D
So "existentialism is humanism" means there really is no such thing as Christian existentialism? You said Christian existentialism is - God made man's essence so it is what God made it to be and the rules are in the Bible... Or is it that we can't understand what God is up to so then we're back on our own and that is "Christian existentialism." Thanks. John DiTraglia jditrag@zoomnet.net
Gregory Sadler
Well, Sartre is being a bit self-serving in how he defines "existentialism", and mischaracterizes Christian existentialist thinkers like Gabriel Marcel (who he mentions in the essay) When I present the work of a philosopher, I'm generally presenting it in their perspective, rather than the criticisms I might make of them
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Kevin V
So what does the phrase "man is condemned to be free" really mean?
Gregory Sadler
What Sartre means by it is that one has to make choices -- one can't evade that requirement. Just what one chooses, that is up to one to decide. But, having to choose. . . isn'
Kevin V
Thank you, Mr. Sadler!
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