Existentialism has had a profound impact on humanity considering the fact that it has gained a rather large following worldwide. Unfortunately, I think it is complete nonsense. E contradicts itself on many levels. It claims that acts of extreme violence are okay because everyone has their own reality. In class, we discussed that things such as theft, murder, rape, and suicide can all be justified in certain positions and that they are "right" to do sometimes. But in order to claim that even these things can be right sometime of the time, you must accept that there is some way to judge between what is right and wrong; some form of higher power or moral standard. This man Ravi does a great job describing what Im saying, take a second to watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7yNwEDtqjA&feature=related
One of the main points of existentialism is that there is no God. It then goes on to state that this puts you in charge. You make the calls, because your opinion is the only one that matters. This means essentially that you have made yourself your own god. Everyone, even E, have their own gods whether it be money, power, sports, women, or themselves.
E also states that "you are free". Nothing about E really sets you free though. You are a prisoner to doubt, sin, loneliness and a general sense of meaningless your entire life. God is what sets me free from those things. In Him I have hope in the promises he has made us in the Bible. And don't get me wrong, I don't think that people should just accept the idea of a God just to make themselves feel good. I believe in God because I know there is sufficient evidence for his existence that any intelligent person can accept, God doesn't ask us to have blind faith. But thats a discussion for another time.
I would like to close this argument with a video that I believe once again deals with the core concept of E very well. Once again it is Ravi talking about the idea of meaningless in the world. Its quite short and well worth your time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4e_AOqlllc&feature=related
I think your mistaken. I wrote something also somewhat criticizing existentialism, but someone will probably spot out my mistakes. Anyway, E, as you call it, does not say anything about God no existing. The idea that we can judge between right and wrong does not serve as proof of the existence of a higher power. Like Mr. B said, not all Existentialists were atheists. E does not justify murder or suicide. It merely states that restrictions and rules in society are human imposed. We have the power to kill another human, but it does not make it right by OUR definition. In nature, animals kill each other. We even kill animals. Just remember that E is a broad concept and its different from person to person. With that last video and arguement, it's kind of what I was thinking in my post. If our senses deceive us, then our believing in a meaningless world could be just a deception.
ReplyDeleteThe most famous "proof" for the existence of God is Anselm of Canturbury's 12th century treatise. His famous quote, "the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" Unfortunatedly, William of Ockham refuted his prooof in an equally famous counter argument called, "In defense of the Fool." Thus did so-called proofs of God's existence run themselves upon the rocks of logic. It is Augustine himself who advises us to "take the leap of faith," meaning that faith is hardly logical. Alas, your defense of faith which cites the Bible as a source would be rejected by E's because they would say that the Bible was written by men, not God. Thus, it is worthless as proof of anything. This is not to say that your faith in it is valueless, just that E's would reject its use as proof.
ReplyDeleteI'm not particularly intersted in Ravi. I am interested in your comments, however, and I like them, especially as you point out the flaws in E thinking. I think E leaves much to be desired, however, to say it is "nonsense" is an overstatement. As Kamil argues correctly, E's do not argue that murder is ok. The simply state that all ideas of right and wrong cannot exist independently of the individual.
I agree with Kamil and Mr.B that E is a broad concept. It can be worked into any religion and situation. i think its most important statement is that you create your own meaning. It says that a person that rapes, kills, and does drugs does not have a meaningless life. Unless he is an unemotional, absolutely illogical person I'd like to believe a person can change and everyone has and good in them, as well as their share of evil. One way E frees a person is to break boundaries which people have set for themselves. You are absolutely allowed to read the Bible but if you don't question it, and immediately take it as the word of God then you are following it blindly. E empowers every person to question and assert their own place in life and realize that this is who they are and be happy. So all the things like loneliness, depression, and doubt that you say come with this logic simply isn't true.
ReplyDelete