EXISTENTIALISM

DEFINITION
A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of ones acts. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation.

As a philosophical movement Existentialism emphasizes

Individual existence Personal freedom Authentic choice

HISTORY
Existentialism became popular in post World War years as a way for humans to reassert the importance of individuality and freedom. Became a well known philosophical and cultural movement from 1930s-1970s. Existential themes have been discussed throughout philosophy and literature: Socrates- Be true to thyself

Received new emphasis in the 60s and 70s

Civil rights Women rights Individual rights Special needs

EXISTENTIALISTS
Soren Kiekergaard (1813-1855)

Viewed as Father of Existentialism Felt individual was responsible for giving life meaning and living that life passionately Focused on subjective experiences of humans rather than the objective truths provided by math and science

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE ATHEISTIC EXISTENTIALISM

(1843-1900)

God is Dead

All external authority blinds the individual to authentic choice

The Judeo-Christian moral code keeps the individual from assuming full responsibility for his or her decisions The Scientific assumption of an orderly universe is a useful fiction that hides the meaninglessness of existence

JOHN-PAUL SARTRE EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE

(1905-1980)

He wrote the first work that attempted to make Existentialism into a coherent philosophy in 1943 It was written in response to the absurdity of World War II He argued that humans beings need a rational basis for their lives so they developed systematic philosophies Major concept of his philosophy was freedom and responsibility Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world and defines himself afterward.

LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFE

Authentic existence (essence) can only be achieved by those who actively seek to discover purposefulness for their existence This happens by making independent choices and assuming responsibility for consequences

It is not a natural flow; is easily stifled by outside influences

Karl Jaspers
Existenz

philosophy is the way of thought by means of which a man seeks to become himself.

EXISTENTIALISM AND EDUCATION

People come first, then ideas

People create ideas

Emphasis on self discovery

EXISTENTIALISM
Focuses on conditions of human existence: Emotions Actions Responsibilities Thoughts Meaning or purpose of life

EXISTENTIALISM

Metaphisics

Reality is subjective, Truth is relative We learn by making authentic choices Anxiety comes with the total freedom of choice

Epistemology

To refuse to choose authentically is to live in bad faith.

Axiology

no universal, rational judgment between right and wrong.

To do good is to act in good faith To do bad is to act in bad faith

BELIEFS OF EXISTENTIALISTS
Existence precedes essence Human essence is determined through life choices Tragic experiences or insightful moments can cause humans to question meaning of life. We make pillars in our identity. Basing ones identity solely on a pillar with a condition can lead to living in despair. Philosophy encourages preservation in spite of absurdity Philosophy helps people to avoid living their lives in ways that put them in danger of having a breakdown of every thing meaningful.

BELIEFS OF EXISTENTIALISTS
Human beings create their own values through choice. These values help them create a meaning for their life. Their identity is defined by actions and their responsibility for those actions. Humans have freedom, but with that freedom comes the responsibility we have to make choices. Each choice can lead to a success or a failure.

BELIEFS OF EXISTENTIALISTS
Humans take a leap of faith that no matter the outcome, success or failure, they will make it. We live in angst. We have no one to blame for our choices but ourselves. This responsibility can lead to dread and anxiety over choosing. If you choose not to make a choice, you are not living authentically.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION

Educational

philosophy would fit most likely in the period it was created-Post World War. Todays education is too focused on accountability. Teacher must facilitate choices for students. Let the child take the first step and the teacher guide the next. Teachers prepare students for success and failure. When schools give children the freedom to make choices they are helping the child develop their identity and authentic self.

ROLES WITHIN PHILOSOPHY

Student has freedom to make choices within their education. They are ultimately responsible for those choices. Teacher, administrators and school work to facilitate, guide and accept the students choices. The consequences, good or bad, must be taught to student.

CURRICULUM
The Existential curriculum would be one of experience: Those experiences set up by the school for the purpose of disciplining students and youth in group ways of thinking and acting (Smith, Stanley & Shores) Series of things that children and youth must do and experience (Bobbitt) All the experiences children have under the guidance of teachers (Caswell & Campbell) A goal or set of values that is activated through a development process and culminates in classroom experiences for students (Wiles)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Would our current education system support giving children the freedom to make choices? In what ways are you an existentialist? How does impact your teaching?

WHY SHOULD WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO FOLLOW LEAD AUTHENTIC LIVES?

How many times have we read or heard about successful writers, athletes, musicians, or artists who rejected attempts by parents, teachers, counselors, and peers to dictate and control their destinies by insisting that they pursue a more conventional line of work? What would the destinies of these successful people have been had they succumbed to these external influences? (Hunter).

REFERENCES
http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism Jean-Paul Sartre. "Existentialism is a Humanism, Jean-Paul Sartre 1946". Marxists.org. http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/wo rks/exist/sartre.htm