Existentialism

Man has always been in search of answers that would lessen the burden of suffering. One such question is, the purpose of human beings in this universe. One philosophical term has been dominating in this sphere, known as "Existentialism".

Existentialism is not easy to define, as various thinkers have different views on it. What we know is, that it is not a philosophical system, but could be said as a philosophical movement.

Soren kierkegard and Friedrich Nietzsche, philosophers of the 19th century can be said to be the founding fathers of this movement. One another name, which is prominent to this movement is Fyodor Dostoyevsky. 

This movement came into prominence in 20th century after World war 2. Other famous people of the 20th century associated to this are Franz Kafka, Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sarte. 

All these thinkers have one thing in common, which they consider as monumental problem, which is "the problem of life as a human being", I.e. the human condition. 

Human beings since long back have encountered with various questions, such as :

•Why am I here

•What does it mean to be human ?

•How should one live it's life.

All thinkers have different concept of the condition, so it becomes difficult to define it. However what is common amongst all existentialist is that in addressing the human condition they tend to have rejected the common systems or theories whatever may be like religion, scientific or philosophical, which have claimed that they have answered the questions of human life in all encompassing or absolute manner. In other words, systems which profess to have answers to such questions which are not only seen as definitive and timeless but also seen as applying to all human beings whether one is willing to accept such answers or not.

It becomes extremely difficult for a individual to have its own system rather than already made systems like religion. As human beings are weak in such questions, they generally accept the so called systems which are followed by vast population.

The reasons which existentialist rely in favour of individuals to find their own answers is, that they believe that in adherence to systems which espouse absolute and all embracing answers to the existential problems of life is actually detrimental to once development into an authentic and free human being .

Existentialist criticize the systems for not taking into account what it is like to be humans. These systems see meaning and purpose of life as somehow emanting from an alternative objective reality. Such emanting reality may be heaven, or Plato's world of forms. But in doing so they loose the perspective of what life is like for an individual living on this earth and experiencing all the fears, anxieties,  hope, disappointment that are a part of human condition.

Problems with Religious system is that, they answer to these questions from the perspective of all powerful God(divine). A specific problem with the divine perspective is it does not consider fundamental aspects of human conditions that is our mortality. They emphasise on immortality.

Many existentialist want us to accept the only existence we can be certain of is temporal one. The shock of such a realization can help give us the strength to stop living in conformity with the masses and instead take control of our own lives and live by the standards and value of our choosing.

This idea of being able to freely choose standards of value and create meaning and purpose in ones own life is closely related to another famous Existentialist idea that for humans - existence precedes essence. This idea was put forward by Jean Paul Sarte. 

To understand Sarte we need to examine the meaning of the term "essence"

Aristotle defines essence as that every substance or independent thing (example a rock) has an essence of its own. Also referred as to it's nature, necessary properties and characteristics essential for a thing to be what it is.

Aristotle believed that all substances in nature tend towards the actualization of their essence(example a seed has a tendency  to turn into a full grown tree).

For Aristotle, the nature(essence) of humans was acting in full accordance with reason. This lead to the popularly known definition of man as a rational animal.

Aristotle believed that humans unlike inanimate matter and other animals were free to choose whether or not to act with accordance with their essence. However that being said he did not believe humans could create their own unique essence during their course of their lives.

Likewise for those who believe in an omnipotent God who created this world the essence of humans is not something determined in the course of ones life but rather determined by god prior to the existence of the individual. Thus for those who adhere to such beliefs the essence of human beings can be said to precede their existence.

Sarte on the other hand saw the situation of humans in opposite. Thus the statement that our existence precedes our essence. In Sarte's mind, humans are fundamentally different from things such as mobile phone, Tv etc. For things of these types it is obviously appropriate to say that their essence precedes their existence as they are designed and built with a predetermined function in mind.

But for Sarte who was an atheist, humans are not designed by a supernatural being with a specific function in mind, rather we come in to this world lacking a predetermined essence. However, our ability to make free choices gives us the chance to sculpt a unique essence of ourselves during our lifetime.

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Will to power by Friedrich Nietzsche

The question of life has been stuck to many of us. What makes a thing living and other non living.

Metaphysics is study that deals with the question of nature of reality. Many philosophers since ages have been interested in this field. But one of the metaphysical system has attained the position of dominance i.e. Doctrine of materialism.

This doctrine states that reality is ultimately material i.e. universe is composed of matter. It is the interaction of basic material units which result in all phenomenon.

So, the basic units of matter are devoid of life, then how do these units come together to produce living beings, which experience the world around them.

As presocratic philosophers never laid attention to the question of life. They were convinced it was result of divine source. But in recent decades, the development of science lead to the theory of atomisim. Which lead to the role of atom as the basic element of nature. Even after so many years, it did not answer the question of life.

But in 17th century, a philosopher name Alfred Whitehead gave attention to the fallacy of misplace concretism. He states that, errorneous assumption that one concept gives a accurate description of reality has lead to a huge problem. He says "concepts are just a an idea of reality" (example taken a pen in which we only consider the shape and it's use of writing.I.e.its basic elements) and abstraction which are not considered like colour, weight etc are left away. 

Materialistism he says lacks the elements of characteristics of reality. Which is essential to explain life. It is because materialists have falsely assumed that the concepts of the basic elements of the universe actually depict the elements as they exist in reality that they have fallen to vicitims of fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Here, materialism theory fails to explain life.

Like Whitehead,  Friedrich Nietzsche challenged the doctrine of materialism. Nietzsche propounded a new doctrine of own experience. He developed a alternative known as will to power which is similar to Whiteheads theory.

He states "In order to formulate an adequate metaphysical explanation of the universe, it is necessary to start from that which is most accessible to us I.e. our own experience"

Nietzsche wanted to understand the ultimate constitution of reality by analyzing it's own impulses, desires and passions as he believed that we could learn something about reality by analyzing ourselves. Since we are the elements in the universe which share the same essence, as the things we perceive we can learn something about these things by looking and analyzing into ourselves.

It is important not to interpret this idea as saying that the elements have consciousness or even that they perceive the world around them rather such a view postulates that they have a experiential aspect. A Inner will must be ascribed to it i.e. will to power. An insatiable desire to manifest power.

Nietzsche thus put forth a alternative view of nature which unlike materialism did not create a seemingly unbridgeable void between the living and non living. Thus, Reality is composed of entirely of elements which have inner will.

Further, Nietzsche states that any theory like his should not be taken as complete and concrete, but must be continuously questioned. 

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What keeps me alive

The constant struggle for search of meaning is dreadful. It’s pleasing sometimes, but mostly it is painful. One immediately gets happy because he feels that he has found the meaning of life, but the false illusion shatters away and leaves the man in much more pain than before. The feeling of closure becomes a dream.

Even after looking in all directions, in things, in theories, in places, one returns home to the same question. The feeling of hopelessness becomes frequent. That one may never find the real meaning and has wasted it’s whole life. This makes him more mentally instable.

So should one stop searching and ignore the question. 

I believe, that would be lying to oneself on the face. An unexamined life is not worth living. Isn’t "investigating" in itself a meaning. To look for the truth, what a noble thing to do. A fulfilling thing. And are we here in this universe, to only find joy and happiness. Can pain not be as important part of life as pleasure. Every component has its counter opposition in existence. Like white and black, like prey and hunter, like water and fire etc. Maybe the opposite for the question of meaning of life is the most powerful opposition ever. One losses hope very soon, but maybe if we give it a good fight, we can find it. 

To look for the meaning of life, is not easy. As everything looks like an answer to it. But if one dedicates oneself, it can see clearly. One does not need a teacher who Shows him the path, as one can become a guide to himself. 

In the process of search of meaning, one should live with its own rules. For one being, the meaning might be different and for other, different. But don’t fall for a easy meaning anyhow. Look for it. 

Use your logic, rationality and mind wisely. Maybe we are very near to the meaning. 

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Meaning of life

One lives life fully, to its whole, until one day, one day when a thought arrives to him. "What is this all about ? Where are we heading . What's that use of living? Why are we born? In short " what is life about ? And what is its purpose ?"

It is easy to ignore such questions, I mean everyone does it. Otherwise none would have carried on life smiling and being happy. Such questions put a lot of weight on our mind. So we obviously ignore them or keep them for another day(that won't come)

To most of the people, these questions do not come. As they are indulged in the animal life or materialistic world. For them enjoyment or sensory pleasure is the ultimate goal. Their happiness is dependent on things/objects. (Do read Dialectic materialism - by Karl Marx). They are easily manipulated, bought etc. They follow a herd or a map given to them by the society. The map shows them at what age they have to do what things. If they do , life is fulfilled and if not, they suffer. This life is what I call animal life. Nothing more than that.

Others are those who overcome this lower level animal life. They want to understand the concept of life as it is. They dont live in a fantasy, like buying a car, house, career etc. They have a higher purpose to understand and introspect themselves. They are true philosophers.They dont look for happiness in externals, but find it internally. While gaining knowledge, if something structs to them, that they themselves posses wrong things, they do not ignore it or blame others.But they acknowledge it  and try to change. The search of life for them is never ending thing. They go through pessimisim, nihilism etc. Suffering is a joy to them. The search for truth in itself becomes the purpose of life.

The path to search of true meaning, is full of hardships, suffering, and pain. Even after putting its whole life in search of it, does not guarentee that the truth would be revealed. It is like putting your hands wilfully in fire, they would burn but you would experience the feeling. In this process he has to leave all what he likes and accept what it hates. Only a person who is ready to go offlimit can find it, one who battles the herd and overcomes itself. The process can be tiresome, burden full. One can go retard in the process, depression might hit him, challenges of mental instability could come. But, the path for the person who really wants to understand the life, becomes easy, as all things which he hated is accepted by him now. There is nothing to fear from. The journey must be kept fruitful, as the end might never come. 

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