Fluent Essays

How would you have changed this story and why?  100 word maximum. Lead with a targeted thesis that explicitly states the scenario.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyJ8yAZ9n0U The Guest Albert Camus Each of us is a prisoner of something. It might be an ideology, a past failure, others’ visions of and for us, energizing hope, satisfying love, poverty of spirit, hunger for spiritual growth, physical challenges, pain, and the list grows. These imprisonment types can change over time and according to circumstance. As children they might be a special bed time stuffed animal; years later it might be a Camaro. People can be trapped in employment that stifles. The intensity of the imprisonment can vary. It might be a fleeting engagement, acute interest, trained behavior, or obsession. Imprisonment is one way to approach The Guest. We are all guests on the planet. How do we treat our host? We are all guests in others’ lives. How do we treat them? Antagonize? Support? Intention directs behavior. Existentialism is central to Camus with its themes of alienation and commitment. It is “a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining his/her own development through acts of the will.” Of course, we are born into a set of circumstances peopled by a certain group of people. That is the initial cocoon. Taken from there, we make choices in how we respond to our circumstances. These occur intentionally and also perhaps as “knee-jerk” reactions. Nevertheless, they are our decisions and we are responsible for them. Camus, the existentialist, also represents for our purposes colonial literature having grown up in a French settler community in Algeria. The Guest is set in Algeria during the anti-colonial struggle and confronts the Arab-European conflict via a unique lens. The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian War of Independence or the Algerian Revolution was a war between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria gaining its independence from France. Wikipedia The Guest begins with two prisoners. One is a murderer and the other is his guard whose has decreed his allegiance to a law he can accept. The murderer chose to kill; the guard chose to guard. A third character is a school teacher who has a comfortable world that will soon break. Choices ensue. The guard returns to his governing world. The captive is freed, but remains. The “free” man becomes a captive of sorts. Existentialism Josh Sebring Existentialism(loosely) defined A philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice and personal responsibility. Through our interactions with other people. Principles of Existentialism The Universe is hostile/indifferent towards humanity Human free will A person is best when struggling against their individual nature Decisions are not without stress and consequences There are some things that are irrational Personal responsibility(our actions define us) Worldly desire is futile(yet this gives our lives meaning) Background of Existentialism Existentialist ideas have been found as far as the beginnings of Christian and Buddhist literature. Became popular to write about and discuss in the 17th Century Existentialism in its most recognizable form was inspired by Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche in the 19th century. Notable Existentialist Authors Jean-Paul Sartre – French novelist, and key figure in Existentialism. Commonly wrote about the importance of individual freedom, human dignity and social responsibility. Albert Camus – French-Algerian journalist, novelist and philosophical essayist. His works commonly contained issues of moral philosophy such as terrorism, political violence and the death penalty. Known as “the existentialist writer” despite his claims throughout his life that he wasn’t an existentialist. Free Will as a result of an indifferent Universe Existentialism contains the idea that the universe does not owe humanity anything, that the universe is hostile or indifferent towards humanity that there is no purpose for the existence of the universe, therefore the following conclusion is often that life is meaningless, however Existentialism highlights that this universe of indifference therefore makes humans free. Free will, choice and personal responsibility gives life its meaning, according to existentialism. Existentialism in Literature The Wall - Jean-Paul Sarte The Guest – Albert Camus The Stranger – Albert Camus Invisible Man – Ralph Ellison Either/Or – Soren Kierkegaard Existentialism in Literature(The Guest) Free Will in The Guest. Balducci disobeys his societal obligation to escort the prisoner Daru is given choices throughout the story, such as whether to treat “the Arab” humanely or as an animal/object. Daru faces many choices, all of which have consequences(letting prisoner choose his fate) Daru and “The Arab’s” choices contrast each other, presenting the true nature of free will Existentialism’s Impact on Society After the Great Depression and both World Wars, the world looked to Existentialism, popularized through literature, focused on social reform(Camus-Algeria), and a more liberating and positive way of thinking about ones life. Politicians emphasize personal freedoms more so as a result of Existential ideas as an attractive way of life. The popularization of Existentialism created a more tolerant set of ideas and ways of living that still impact us today, politically and socially. Works Cited Desan, Wilfrid. “Jean-Paul Sartre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Paul-Sartre. “Existentialism.” AllAboutPhilosophy.org, www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism.htm. “Existentialism.” Existentialism - By Branch / Doctrine - The Basics of Philosophy, www.philosophybasics.com/branch_existentialism.html. “Existentialism in a Social Context.” Beyond Horizons, 31 Mar. 2016, www.beyondhorizons.biz/existentialism-in-a-social-context/. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/camus/#SH5c. existentialism Jessika Harlow Existentialism A philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. Associated mainly with certain 19th and 20th century European philosophers who shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject – not merely the thinking subject. History of existentialism Existentialist-type themes appear in early Buddhist and Christian writings. In the 17th Century, Blaise Pascal suggested that, without a God, life would be meaningless, boring and miserable, much as later Existentialists believed. Advocates for individual autonomy and self determination, like John Locke created a start to the existential movement. 19th and 20th century Philosophers Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855): prolific writer in the Danish “golden age” of intellectual and artistic activity. Considered the first existentialist philosopher and the “father of existentialism.” His work crosses boundaries of philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism and fiction. Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881): Russian novelist, short story writer, journalist, and philosopher. His literary works explore human psychology in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th century Russia. Wrote 11 novels, 3 novellas, 17 short stories and numerous other works – considered by some literary critics as one of the greatest psychologists in world literature. 19th and 20th century Philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900): German philosopher and cultural critic who published intensively in the 1870s and 1880s. Famous for uncompromising criticisms of traditional European morality and religion, as well as of conventional philosophical ideas and social and political pieties associated with modernity. Often associated with late modern thinkers such as Marx and Freud who advanced a “hermeneutics of suspicion” against traditional values. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980): arguably the best known philosopher of the 20th century. Commonly considered the “father of existential philosophy”, whose writings set the tone for intellectual life in the decade immediately following WWII. Emphasized consciousness, freedom, subjectivity, dialectical thinking, and responsibility and the self. Main beliefs Existence is the ultimate reality and precedes consciousness. “At first [man] is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be.” - Sartre Rationality is a mechanism humans use to counter their existential anxiety. Most existentialists believe that personal experience and acting on one’s own convictions are essential in arriving at the truth. Famous Literary Works Notes from Underground – Fyodor Dostoyevsky Nausea – Jean-Paul Sartre Waiting for Godot – Samuel Beckett The Plague – Albert Camus The Metamorphosis – Franz Kafka Criticisms of existentialism Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979) criticized Sartre’s work, “Being and Nothingness” for projecting anxiety and meaninglessness onto the nature of existence itself. Rodger Scruton claims that Sartre’s concept of bad faith is self inconsistent. Marxists found existentialism countering their emphasis on the solidarity of human beings and their theory of economic determinism. resources wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoyevsky www.philosophybasics.com/branch_existentialism.html https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kierkegaard/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sartre/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nietzsche/ Existentialism A presentation by Andrew Marrs Which chair is a chair? Figure 2 Pollychester. “Broke Chair.” Polly Chester, 20 Sept. 2015, pollychester.com/2015/01/25/the-broken-chair-person/ Figure 1 Vintage Wood Chair. dcregroup.us/old-fashioned-wooden-chair.html. “Words are loaded pistols.” - Jean-Paul Sartre Merriam-Webster: Existentialism is 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. A history of Existentialism in literature Existentialism infiltrated literature in the 1920s. Born from European Philosophers, it took the form of fictional short stores, plays, novellas, poems and essays. After WWII, Existentialism reached the heights of its popularity and influence reached into theology, drama, arts, psychology and literature. “Struggle is what it means to be alive and free.” – David Budbill Existentialism in Practice Existentialism rejects reason as a mechanism for the motivation of men. Interwoven into the human condition is a drive to understand and accept life as it is – no faith, no destiny, and no higher identity. The human struggle is a struggle because we are human. Essentially, one must accept oneself for who he is in a superficially meaningless world; overcome self-imposed limits to find purpose in the “absurd” world. “Man is nothing else but what he makes himself.” – Jean-Paul Sartre Soren Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855) Known as the father of Existentialism. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 – 1980) Popularized Existentialism in the 1940s with his novels and plays. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) Coined the Term “Nihilism.” His philological views helped mainstream existentialism. IMPORTANT FIGURES IN EXITENTIALISM “I rebel therefore I exist.” - Albert Camus Figure 3 “Soren Kierkegaard.” Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 15 Apr. 2013, home.isi.org/tags/kierkegaard. Figure 4 Jean-Paul Sartre - Biographical. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 4 Sep 2017. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1964/sartre-bio.html> Figure 5 “Nietzsche in Basel, c. 1875.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Nietzsche. Existentialism in Literature Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Nietzsche Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine The Blood of Others by Simone de Beauvoir “Life should be lived on the edge of life.” - Philippe Petit Modern ExistentiaL writers Fight Club, by Chuch Palahniuk Do Androids Dream of Electic Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick The Green Pen, by Eloy Moreno “If you dont know where youre going, any road will take you there.” - Lewis Carroll Figures 6-8 Srinivasiah, Grace. “Early Bird Books.” Early Bird Books, 29 Sept. 2015, earlybirdbooks.com/9-essential-novels-for-the-modern-existentialist/. Existentialism in the arts The Persistence of Memory – Salvador Dali Existential Angst – Andrew Baines Blind Ally – Park Ki Pyung “You are free and that is why you are lost.” – Franz Kafka Figure 9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory Figure 10 Sierzputowski, Kate. “Hollow Figurative Sculptures by Park Ki Pyung.” Colossal , 24 Mar. 2017, www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/03/hollow-figurative-sculptures-by-south-korean-artist-park-ki-pyung/. Figure 11 Cain, Benjamin. “Art by Andrew Baines.” Rants within the Undead God, 15 Apr. 2017, rantswithintheundeadgod.blogspot.com/2017/04/freud-and-nietzsche-psychiatry-between.html. Bibliography “Existentialism.” All About Philosophy, www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism.ht. Accessed 3 Sept. 2017. Ker, Anna. “Existential Sculptures By Park Ki Pyung.” Ignant, 20 Mar. 2017, www.ignant.com/2017/03/20/existential-sculptures-by-park-ki-pyung/. Srinivasiah, Grace. “9 Essential Novels for the Modern Existentialist.” Early Bird Books, 29 Sept. 2015, earlybirdbooks.com/9-essential-novels-for-the-modern-existentialist/. Magnus, Bernd . “Friedrich Nietzsche.” ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 19 Aug. 2015, www.britannica.com/biography/Friedrich-Nietzsche. Accessed 4 Sept. 2017. Existentialism https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/existentialism WISE OLD SAYINGS http://www.wiseoldsayings.com/existentialism-quotes/page-2/ Jean-Paul Sartre - Biographical. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 3 Sep 2017. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1964/sartre-bio.html Søren Kierkegaard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S\%C3\%B8ren_Kierkegaard Absurdism What is Absurdism? A philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe – Merriam-Webster Definition Father of Absurdism Albert Camus Born 1913 died in 1960 Created the idea of absurdism Important works include- The Stranger, The plague, The fall, The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel He believed himself to be a writer not a philosopher “The absurd is not in man nor in world”, Camus explains, “but in their presence together... it is the only bond uniting them.” Absurdism vs. Existentialism Both live in the idea that there is no meaning Existentialism states that there is no meaning, we must create our own Absurdism states that there is no meaning, we must accept it Absurdism and Religion Humans try to find meaning in life by looking at religion for the answers Absurdists believe that religion is pointless because no one can escape the fate of the meaningless universe Religion has meaning and that is what makes them happy, but absurdist accepts the fact that there is no meaning therefore not needing meaning to be happy Absurdism in Europe An entire generation of men in Europe joined the army during WW1 thinking that it would give their lives meaning The war ended with many dead and not much being accomplished After all that had happed many Europeans shifted to absurdism because if there was a God none of the horror would’ve happened Quotes “Man stands face to face with the irrational. He feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason. The absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world.” ― Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays “I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now. It is an absurd attitude to take towards life. We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices. I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do. If a personality fascinates me, whatever mode of expression that personality selects is absolutely delightful to me.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray “I am interested only in nonsense; only in that which makes no practical sense. I am interested in life only in its absurd manifestations.” ― Daniil Kharms Work Cited “Absurdism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https:// www.merriam-webster.com /dictionary/absurdism. Accessed 23 Apr. 2020. Philosophy. “Absurdism.” Philosophy Terms, 25 Oct. 2018, philosophyterms.com/absurdism/. “Albert Camus.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/camus/#SH5c. “Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk, www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity. “Absurdism Quotes (108 Quotes).” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/absurdism.