Meaning and Existentialism in My Life Essay - 677 Words

Existentialism is a phiosophy which revolves around the central belief that we create ourselves. External factors are not important. It is the way that we let external factors affect us that determines who we are. As individuals we all have the freedom to choose our own path and that is what life is all about. Along with the freedom of choice comes the responsibilty of ones actions which can make some people anxious but give others meaning to their lives. To overcome this anxiousness and accept responsibilty is to meet the challenges of life and to truly live it. I can adopt the existentialist approach which states that to live life is to experience happiness and absurdness and to appreciate both as a part of life. There are†¦show more content†¦Ill remind myself that I can help it and I can do well on whatever I set my mind to. Another worry of mine that I hate to admit to myself because I always felt like there is an adventurous spirit locked up inside me, is that I never take chances. I feel like that is also a part of living a meaningful and significant life. To take chances, make mistakes and then learn from them and become a better person.. A worry that I think everyone has is that one day you simply wont be able to handle it anymore. Whether someone gives up on life, an important goal or person, they will be the one who loses; they will be the quitter. An existentialist or any smart person will always say never give up. It is an existentialist belief that fighting for life is living. Life is meaningful when its full of struggles and failures and achievements. When I fight for what I want I am bringing significance into my life.I am setting myself a goal and progressing towards it, whether or not i achieve it, at least I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I tried. The number one rule that I will keep in mind is to stay positive and never give up. Even when Im faced with tough decisions or just having a bad hair day. Ill remember that its all a part of life and deep down inside I would not have itShow MoreRelated Existentialism: Kierkegaard and Nietzsche Essay1126 Words   |  5 PagesDictionary defines existentialism as a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad (Merriam, 2011). In other words, an existentialist believes that our natures are the natures we make for ourselves, the meaning of our existence isRead MoreChapter 30 Thought And Culture During World Wars And Totalitarianism971 Words   |  4 Pageschanged in different forms due to their country s successes of failures. However, two things that changed in which most people neglect is thought and culture. After the world wars, the thoughts of the enlightenment were over and the thought of existentialism started to take over. Even the art started to change to the point where Dada (a.k.a. nothing) starts to become the major art form. After the World War, culture and thought started to drastically change. To show how it changed over time, we mustRead MoreRejection of Existentialism Essays837 Words   |  4 PagesIn his defense of existentialism, Sartre first defines the unifying factor of existentialism, (for both atheist and deist alike), as the belief that existence precedes essence. To help illustrate his point he presents the example of a paper knife, an object that possess a set of qualities that enable it to carry out its purpose. He states that it would not have been created without a particular purpose, therefore its essence precedes its existence. (Sartre) Sartre rejects this idea when it comesRead MoreExistentialism in Literature and Science846 Words   |  3 PagesExistentialism is the philosophical approach or theory that emphasizes an individual’s existence as a free and responsible being determining his own development through acts of the will (â€Å"Existentialism†). What does that mean exactly? To make it easier to understand, that means humans as people are shaping their own destinies with every choice they make. That seems quite obvious, but to further understand the meaning of existentialism, it must be analyzed through the impacts it has had on bothRead MoreAnalysis Of Jodi Picoult s My Sister s Keeper Essay1701 Words   |  7 Pagesthree words sum up existentialism in a nutshell and is the single most important of all of its theories. Originating from a nineteenth century Danish philosopher, this theory is still found throughout many literary works. 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As put by Jean-Paul Sartre in his essay Existentialism is a Humanism, â€Å"The other is indispensable to my existence, and equally so to any knowledge I can have of myself,† meaning that one’s existenceRead MoreExistentialism in Camus and Kafka1697 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism in Camus, ‘the Outsider and Kafkas, ‘The Metamorphosis Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis and Albert Camus The Outsider, both feature protagonists in situations out of which arise existentialist values. Existentialism is 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. In TheRead MoreExistentialism And Its Impact On Society Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesSartre once said â€Å"man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.† The implications of this statement and his entire school of thought had a profound effect on society as a whole. Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard is often thought to be the first proponent of existentialism but never used the term as a self-describer and was categorized as an existentialist posthumously. Sartre derived his inspiration from Martin Heidegger and embraced the term, but he was hardly the only one to flirt with such thinking. Many philosophersRead MoreEssay The Stranger1275 Words   |  6 PagesThe Stranger In the book The Stranger, the main character, Meursault, is a stranger to himself, and to life. Meursault is a person who is emotionally and physically detached from the world. He seemingly cares only about himself, but at the same time could be concerned little about what happens to him. The title, the Stranger, could indicate Meursaults disconnection and indifference to the world that surrounds him and, therefore, his role as a stranger in the book. The title could also implyRead More Existentialism In Grendel Essay1616 Words   |  7 PagesExistentialism In Grendel The debate between existentialism and the rest of the world is a fierce, albeit recent one. Before the dawn of science and the Age Of Reason, it was universally accepted that there were such things as gods, right and wrong, and heroism. However, with the developing interest in science and the mechanization of the universe near the end of the Renaissance, the need for a God was essentially removed, and humankind was left to reconsider the origin of meaning. John