Existentialism Educational Philosophy

What is Existentialism?

Existentialism is defined as “a philosophical movement which is centered on individual existence, freedom, and choice.” It is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual’s existence and freedom of choice, and responsibility for one’s actions.

Existentialism is the cultural and philosophical outlook that emphasizes people’s existence rather than their essence. It is a philosophy that believes that human life starts without meaning, rather than trying to find some abstract meaning for life.

It is a philosophy that believes that individuals are responsible for their lives and that life has no inherent meaning or moral order. It is a philosophy that aims to search for the truth based on personal experiences and values.

History of  Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of human existence.  It can be traced to 19th-century German philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, who argued that people should focus on living in the present moment and making decisions based on personal responsibility rather than social conformity or abstract moral principles.

The term “existential” also has a connection with 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) and his idea that individuals must create meaning for themselves without recourse to universal truths or religious faith.

In the 20th century, existentialism became associated with French philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980) and Albert Camus (1913–1960), who asserted that individual consciousness makes free choice possible while recognizing the limits of what they could know.

The term “existential” was also applied to philosophy by French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre in his 1943 essay “Existentialism is a Humanism.”

The Philosophy of Existentialism Existentialism also sprung up after the Second World War. Those seeking new ways to confront traditional philosophies and newly developed philosophies alike began to take an interest in following the movement.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, one definition of existentialism is “the view or belief that existence precedes essence,” meaning that humans exist first and foremost and then define themselves afterward (i.e., our essence)

One of the more intriguing aspects of this philosophy is its most basic concept: it claims that human beings are responsible for their own existence. We are free to create our own meaning and purpose in life. This philosophy has particularly been influential upon our education system.

Philosophy

The term philosophy is derived from the Greek word, pi-Philosophia, which means the love for wisdom. The word is a translation of the original word Philosophia, meaning love for knowledge or love for wisdom.

Pre-Socratics philosophers were considered “lovers of wisdom” in the ancient world, and Plato is considered the first philosopher of the Western tradition.

Existentialism is one of the most popular philosophical themes out there. It has shaped the lives and opinions of everyday people around the world. It is an idea that is said to have sprung up from Theodor Adorno’s (born 1903) Marxist viewpoint. The idea is that the world is meaningless, so we need to re-create it in our own image. Soren Kierkegaard (born 1813)

Existentialist Philosophers

Who are the Existentialist Philosophers?

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual’s existence as a free and responsible agent determining their own development.  The emphasis on the individual’s freedom and responsibility challenges social orders that are based on religious, ethical, or political ideologies. Existentialists believe that people should not be afraid to explore life’s big questions (such as “What does it mean to exist?”) because they have no pre-determined answers

The term existentialism was coined by Jean-Paul Sartre to describe his own philosophy, which he saw as being opposed to all forms of determinism.

Some important philosophers whose work influenced existentialism include; Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger, Simone de Beauvoir, and Karl Jaspers.

Existentialism In Education

The philosophy has had a profound impact on education because it questions traditional views of knowledge and learning and how we teach our children to read, write, and think critically about what they are reading.

It is an important foundation to the field of education, which is growing with the changing world. Current trends in education are moving toward a more self-directed focus and giving the learner freedom to explore subject areas and work at their own individual pace.

Some of the questions that existentialism would ask are “What is the purpose of life?” and “Why do we exist.”

The concept of existentialism in education is a philosophical approach to teaching and learning, emphasizing the importance of students understanding their own existence.

Existentialism in Education Philosophy

Existentialism in educational philosophy is an approach to teaching that focuses on the individual and their existence rather than focusing on what they should learn.

The existential approach can be used in various educational settings, including primary school classrooms or university lectures.

Example:  It seeks to help students understand themselves and the world around them by encouraging them to think about their own beliefs, values, and choices. The idea that the human mind is capable of understanding itself and its own nature.

Existentialism In Education examples

• Existentialism in education provides students with an opportunity for self-discovery and reflection on their life’s purpose.
•  Students are encouraged to be more than just consumers of information, but rather active participants in the process of acquiring knowledge.
•  It encourages them to think critically about what they are being taught and how it relates to their lives.
• Teachers who teach with an existential perspective encourage students to think critically about what they learn in order to develop their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Existentialism in the Classroom

Essentialism is a teacher-centered ideology that claims that there is a basic collection of skills and knowledge that trained people should have. It focuses on respect for authority, the development of sound habits of the mind, and the formation of fundamentals. Essentialism is close to perenialism.

Problems With Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of individual existence. The focus on one’s own life and how one can shape their own destiny leads to a sense of freedom and empowerment.

However, this philosophy has been criticized for ignoring social or political issues in favor of an individualistic approach to life. This ideology is also accused of being pessimistic because it focuses on death as inevitable.

Some existentialists believe that humans are free to create their own values and meaning in life through choices they make without reference to any external source of truth or knowledge (such as God). Others argue that we’re condemned by our freedom because there is no objective meaning for us to discover outside ourselves.

 Nihilism Vs Existentialism

Nihilism is a philosophical doctrine that asserts the meaninglessness of existence and denies any inherent value or objective truth.

On the other hand, existentialism emphasizes individual freedom and choice in deciding how to live one’s life without relying on external sources of morality or meaning.

Nihilism is a pessimistic philosophy that argues that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.  On the other hand, existentialism is a philosophical movement that stresses the individual’s freedom of choice and responsibility for self-creation.

Nihilists believe in total destruction of all values and morals to achieve their goal of nothingness, whereas existentialists believe that life should be lived according to what people find meaningful.

Existentialists are concerned with living in accordance with one’s own free will, while nihilists want to destroy everything and create their own new world order.

One key difference between these two philosophies is that existentialists believe it is possible to find some form of purpose in life, whereas nihilists do not.

The two philosophies are often contrasted, with nihilism being an extreme form of existentialism.

Christian Existentialism

Christian Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual’s responsibility for self-definition.  It was founded by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, among others, and argued that people should live in accordance with their beliefs about God’s existence.

The term “Existentialism” derives from the Latin word “existere,” meaning to emerge or stand out from something else; in this case, it refers to one’s existence as an autonomous being with free will.

Christian Existentialists believe that humans are responsible for their own actions and must choose how to act without relying on predetermined behavior rules.

Christian existentialism seeks to understand the meaning of life and human existence, and unlike other philosophers, Kierkegaard did not believe in objective truth or knowledge. He believed that there are only subjective truths for each individual person.

French Existentialism

What is French Existentialism

French existentialism is a philosophical movement that emerged in France during World War II.  It was heavily influenced by the phenomenology of Husserl and Heidegger and the writings of Sartre.

The term “existentialism” is often used to refer to both French existentialism and German existentialist philosophy. Existentialists believe that human beings exist first and foremost in time, with no predetermined meaning or purpose.

Proustian Existentialism

What is Proustian existentialism?

Proustian existentialism is a philosophical and literary movement that was founded by a French philosopher, writer, and composer Marcel Proust.

The philosophy revolves around the idea of finding meaning in one’s life through introspection and personal experience rather than social conventions or religious beliefs.

Proustian Existentialism is a philosophical movement that focuses on the individual’s existence and how they interact with society. The philosophy believes that humans should not be preoccupied with things like religion or social norms because there are many other aspects of life to focus on

One key aspect of this philosophy is the idea that people should live their lives as if they were an art form.

Proust Existentialism is often associated with other forms of existentialist thought like nihilism and absurdism.

Existentialism In Literature

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of human existence. It draws on various aspects of Western philosophy, including phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism.

In literature, it can be seen as an attempt to show how people exist in the world without any meaning or purpose given from outside themselves.

Absurdism Vs. Existentialism

Absurdism is a philosophical school of thought that argues the meaninglessness of life and the universe.  On the other hand, existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom in finding one’s own purpose and meaning in life.

Absurdism is a philosophy that denies the meaning of life, while Existentialism is a philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedom and choice in determining one’s own destiny.

The difference between absurdism and existentialism is their view on human existence.

The other difference between absurdism and existentialism is that while existentialists believe there are many ways to find meaning in life, absurdists argue that there are no ways to find any meaning at all.

Characteristics Of Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual. It has its roots in 19th-century European thinkers who were preoccupied with understanding the meaning of human existence.

Other Characteristics Of Existentialism include;

• Key Characteristics Of Existentialism is the belief that human beings exist as free and conscious beings.
• The idea that life has no meaning or purpose other than what the individual creates for themselves, and therefore one’s own choices, is of great importance to themself and others.
•  A sense of dread in response to the realization that we live in an indifferent world where there is no inherent value or meaning.
• An emphasis on living authentically by accepting responsibility for our actions without regret.
• Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual’s freedom of choice and responsibility.
•  It also stresses the importance of human beings to create their own meaning in life, and it can be seen as a reaction against what was considered conventional thinking at the time.

Different Types Of Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that believes in individuals’ ability to create their own meaning and purpose.

There are several different types of existentialism:

• Christian existentialism
• Atheistic existentialism.
• Transcendentalist (or romantic) existentialism.
• Absurd
• Dostoyevskyan
• Camusian

Christianity Existentialists

The first type is based on Christianity and argues that God has created humans in his image with free will; this means that humans have an inherent purpose or meaning to their life because they are made in God’s likeness.

Atheistic Existentialists

Atheistic existentialists believe there is no such thing as God, so people must create their own meaning by living authentically and acting according to what they find important.

Transcendentalist (or romantic) Existentialism

Transcendentalist (or romantic) existentialists believe we can find our true selves through nature.

Absurd Existentialism

The Absurd type of existentialism argues that life has no inherent meaning or value; it is just an absurd game with arbitrary rules.

Dostoyevskyan Existentialism

The Dostoyevskyan type of existentialism focuses on the importance of living one’s life as if it were a work of art created by oneself for oneself.

Camusian Existentialism

Camusian existentialists believe that there is no God or afterlife but still have hope because they can find meaning through love.

Pros And Cons Of Existentialism ( Education )

Pros/Advantages of Existentialism

•  Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the human experience and personal responsibility.
•  It can be applied to many aspects of life, such as relationships, careers, and parenting.
•  The goal is to create meaning in one’s life through the active pursuit of truth.
•  It encourages people to live authentically by embracing their own uniqueness rather than conforming or fitting in with society’s standards.
• There are no strict rules on how it should be practiced; there are only guidelines for living a meaningful life based on your own personal values and beliefs.
• The focus is more on what you do rather than what you believe (although there may be some overlap).
• There are many different schools of thought within existentialism that allow for diversity among practitioners’ beliefs about religion, politics, morality, etc. Still, they all share the same basic principles about being authentic and creating meaning in one’s life through the active pursuit of truth.
• Consistent practice will lead to peace-of-mind because the individual knows that he/she has done everything possible within his/her power to find meaning in his/her existence.

Cons or Criticisms & Disadvantages of Existentialism

• Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the individual’s existence as being central to understanding human nature and meaning.  Critics argue that it is impossible to make objective moral judgments because every person has their own personal morality.
• They also claim that existentialists are pessimistic about humanity’s future and have no hope for progress or change.
• Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the individual’s freedom of choice and responsibility. Critics argue that this emphasis on freedom and responsibility means that there are no universal truths or values, which can be problematic for society.
• Critics argue that existentialism is too pessimistic because it does not offer any hope or guidance about what should be done with one’s life but instead leaves people feeling lost and without direction.