What is the philosophy of EXISTENCE – summary

The philosophy of existence It is a philosophical current focused on existential questions as the meaning of human existence, man's own way of being, freedom, authenticity and personal experience. At unPROFESOR.com we talk to you in more detail about the philosophy of existence.

The philosophy of existence was developed mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, originating in Europe, especially in Denmark and Germany, generating a great impact on continental philosophy. Thus, the philosophy of existence is an antecedent of Sartre's existentialism developed late in the century. 20th century and imbued with the existential pessimism generated by the first and, especially, the second war world.

In this lesson from unPROFESOR.com we tell you what is the philosophy of existence, its main study topics and its authors.

Index

1. What does the philosophy of existence study?
2. What are the main themes of the philosophy of existence?
3. Who are the philosophers of the philosophy of existence?

As pointed out Hannah Arendt in his article on philosophy of existence, this would have a history of more than 150 years, beginning with Schelling and Kierkegaard, later developing with Nietzsche, Bergson, Scheler, Heidegger and Jaspers.

Existence refers to being, regardless of the qualities of the individual, and is characterized by being subjective. Thus, while reason objectifies everything we think, the being, the self, is something that we cannot objectify.

Being is the subject of study of the philosophy of existence. Something that is real and unique, constituting something intimate of each individual. According to this philosophical current, the human being would not have existence, rather it would be existence and the subjectivity of man would be the object to be studied and analyzed by philosophers of existence.

For the authors who interpreted human existence, it received various names. Heidegger he named her as Dasein, a German term that combines the words "be" and "there", while other authors named her after me, “being-for-itself” or existence. Terms that have in common referring to the temporality of existence and its transcendence or opening existence to the other or others and/or to the world.

The different tendencies of this philosophy of existence resorted to phenomenological method, accepting existence as a fact or phenomenon. Existence would be opposed to the essence and the nothingness or negation of being. The consciousness of being or existing is typical or inherent to every human being since the human mind by its own nature is born establishing the existence of an “I”.

Here we leave you a review of the main ones characteristics of philosophical existentialism.

Between the main themes of the philosophy of existence the following stand out.

human existence

Existence considered as the being of man in a constant transcendence or, as Heidegger would point out, being as the “essence” of man.

Freedom

Freedom is one of the topics on which philosophers of existence such as Soren Kierkegaard deeply reflected. This Danish philosopher advocates ethical reality in relation to existence as the only reality for human beings. The individual must renounce speculation and act in reality according to these ethics, something that is possible if we recognize that man is free. This condition is what allows the individual to act and exist. In innocence there is no freedom, anguish being the way in which human beings reach freedom. In innocence, freedom is only possibility.

Existentialists will recognize the contribution of existence philosophers to existentialism, focusing more on the importance of individual freedom, personal responsibility and considering that man is condemned to be free.

The authenticity

Man must live according to himself, without conforming or bending to imposed roles or social expectations.

The anguish

The philosophers of existence also reflected on one of the paradoxes of the human being: that of freedom and anguish. Thus, and as pointed out Kierkegaard, the human being is only fully aware of his potential after experiencing anguish. A feeling that can lead us to sin or err, but can also be the realization or recognition of our freedom and our identity.

Discover here what is the philosophical thought of existentialism.

Among the main philosophers of existence, the names of Karl Jaspers, Gabriel Marcel and Martin Heidegger, being the most influential of all and a common point of reference the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, in addition to Friedrich Nietzsche, both considered the fathers of existentialism.

Added to them are the names of Jean-Paul Sartre, maximum exponent of existentialism and Marxism, and Albert Camus. Although each presents different approaches and emphases, they all share reflections on existence, being and freedom.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is the philosophy of existence – summary, we recommend that you enter our category of Philosophy.

• ARENDT, Hannah. The philosophy of existence. Homework, 1968.
• FIGUEROA, Gustavo. Martin Heidegger's emotional alterations: existence and philosophy. Chilean Journal of Neuro-Psychiatry, 2019, vol. 57, no. 3, p. 272-282.
• MERLEAU-PONTY, Maurice, The philosophy of existence. Philosophical Praxis, 2009, no 28, p. 229-242.
• MORALES, María José Zilbermann, Expressionism and the philosophy of existence. 1991. Doctoral Thesis. Cadiz University.