new to existentialism

[Yaz]

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

[Yaz]

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

[Montag69]

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.

[DutchElephant]

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

[Simple Compass]

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.

[floydianv]

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

[FrankBlack]

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.

[arj1981]

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

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

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

Aj

[Eachel's Ear]

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

[arj1981]

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

[famewalk]

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.

[Azkhuong]

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.

[killswitchjd]

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.

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

[Skizm]

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.

[DroneLore]

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

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)

[BrotherMat]

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

[jumbuli55]

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

[Stabby]

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.