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~existential_furs
It was Jean-Paul Sartre who popularized the phrase Existence Precedes Essence. Which is to say, that humans, creatures, individuals etc are not a product of what it appears that they are based on preconceived notions or labels; rather, that they are a product of their own perception of themselves. Life, sentient or otherwise, is neither good nor bad inherently through genetics or upbringing, but it is defined solely on outward perception or self-reflection of a persons actions whether 'good' or 'bad' in nature. Thus it is arguable that those who synonymize themselves with Existentialism, claim to lead an existential life or even just adopt a few of its philosophies can agree on two basic concepts that define the term: People are a direct reflection of their actions and thus those actions define them, also that because people are the authors of their own actions they are directly and solely responsible for those actions.
Next is Angst and Facticity which go hand in hand. Facticity encompasses all which uncontrollable, albeit through circumstance. This is to say where someone is born, how they die, what language or culture they grew up in and past choices they make factor into what is no longer controllable. It is in this perception of past that angst can well up inside of someone (usually a self-reflecting existentialist). Angst is a product of many factors but most commonly it is a feeling of anguish, anxiety or possibly self-loathing over that concreteness or unchangeability of the past or from the daunting realization of personal freedom and the responsibility or lack there of that it entails.
Authenticity is often misinterpreted or misconceived as originality, it is not this but rather authenticity is an understanding between a person and their in-self. Which is to say that a existentialist finds out who or what they want to be and then act on these notions through the freedom that they have to shape and find 'oneself'.
The fifth concept in this very short synopsis is the concept of The Absurd. The Absurd is in itself one of the simplest and at the same time most difficult concepts to grasp. It is to say that life itself and the world that we live in have absolutely no meaning outside of the meaning given to those who exist in the world. Inside of this meaninglessness which is a combination of chance, random action and human whim the amorality or absurdness of existence in our world is understood. Good things happen to 'bad' people not because there is a deity awarding either side of the 'moral' spectrum for their chose but rather because there is no karma or fate to perpetuate good deeds for good and bad for bad these notions are merely perceptions. There is only the random whims of millions of random people who are aware or unaware of the control and freedom they have in their lives and how they act on that freedom. What happens, happens because it happens, or so to speak.
Despair is best described as an Existentialist's identity crisis or loss of one's self. It is a loss of meaning or understanding of who we are and who we truly want to be. When someone creates their one self around notions and ideas that are not 'concrete' and can collapse they risk placing themselves in an unending state of pseudo-despair. It is both a curse and a blessing to stand at the edge of life and death, happiness and despair, meaningfulness and absurdity, all the while trying to discover one's self and live in a world in which its inhabitants create is meaning and those inhabitants create their own self-worth.
Next is Angst and Facticity which go hand in hand. Facticity encompasses all which uncontrollable, albeit through circumstance. This is to say where someone is born, how they die, what language or culture they grew up in and past choices they make factor into what is no longer controllable. It is in this perception of past that angst can well up inside of someone (usually a self-reflecting existentialist). Angst is a product of many factors but most commonly it is a feeling of anguish, anxiety or possibly self-loathing over that concreteness or unchangeability of the past or from the daunting realization of personal freedom and the responsibility or lack there of that it entails.
Authenticity is often misinterpreted or misconceived as originality, it is not this but rather authenticity is an understanding between a person and their in-self. Which is to say that a existentialist finds out who or what they want to be and then act on these notions through the freedom that they have to shape and find 'oneself'.
The fifth concept in this very short synopsis is the concept of The Absurd. The Absurd is in itself one of the simplest and at the same time most difficult concepts to grasp. It is to say that life itself and the world that we live in have absolutely no meaning outside of the meaning given to those who exist in the world. Inside of this meaninglessness which is a combination of chance, random action and human whim the amorality or absurdness of existence in our world is understood. Good things happen to 'bad' people not because there is a deity awarding either side of the 'moral' spectrum for their chose but rather because there is no karma or fate to perpetuate good deeds for good and bad for bad these notions are merely perceptions. There is only the random whims of millions of random people who are aware or unaware of the control and freedom they have in their lives and how they act on that freedom. What happens, happens because it happens, or so to speak.
Despair is best described as an Existentialist's identity crisis or loss of one's self. It is a loss of meaning or understanding of who we are and who we truly want to be. When someone creates their one self around notions and ideas that are not 'concrete' and can collapse they risk placing themselves in an unending state of pseudo-despair. It is both a curse and a blessing to stand at the edge of life and death, happiness and despair, meaningfulness and absurdity, all the while trying to discover one's self and live in a world in which its inhabitants create is meaning and those inhabitants create their own self-worth.
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absurdism