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Existentialism Made Simple...

(sort of)
NOTE: This document explains things from the standpoint of the existentialist.

The Meaning of Life Life is meaningless. Not only does life have no meaning, it also has no value. The entire concept of "value" is a human made thing. For example, money is only worth something because people agree that it has that worth. The same is true for everything -- trading cards, cars, pictures, etc. That being said, however, many things have personal value. So studying philosophy, biology -- or even the meaningless nature of life -- can have value to the individual. Key concept: value and meaning is determined by the individual through his or her own existence The Senses Since there is no meaning to life, the individual must make sense of life through his or her existence. The only way to understand existence is through the senses. Key concept: the 5 senses are the only way to understand existence and the world Freedom Because life has no meaning, and because the individual in the only one who can define personal meaning, people are completely free to do what they want. Laws, rules and peer pressure are manmade things that have no real meaning. So again, people are free to do what they want. The only problem is that with complete freedom comes complete responsibility. Key concept: the individual is completely free AND completely responsible The Afterlife Mankind is the only known animal, according to earth-bound existentialists, that defines itself through the act of living. In other words, first a man or woman exists, then the individual spends a lifetime changing his or her essence (who they are). Without life there can be no meaning; the search for meaning in existentialism is the search for self. In other words, we define ourselves by living; suicide would indicate you have chosen to have no meaning. Existentialists believe in living -- and in fact fighting for life. Camus and other existentialists were involved in various wars because they believed so passionately in fighting for the survival of their nations and peoples in other words, fighting for the right for people to exists and make their own meaning. Key concept: Void -- Life -- Void

Boiling It All Down Read this slowly and carefully: 1. Because there is no such thing as absolute value or meaning, humans are free to do whatever they want. 2. Life has no meaning except that meaning which is made through experiencing one's own experiences. 3. Life is a series of choices. Every time you have a choice you are free to decide what you want. 4. Because you are free to decide, all these choices create stress. 5. More stress is created because society puts tremendous pressure on the individual to conform to its arbitrary, artificial rules (remember, though, because of #1, the rules are meaningless). 6. This stress is made greater because very few decisions are without any negative consequences. 7. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through, because by making the decision because life can only be defined by the individual and the individual's choices are the only things that are

"real." 8. Because of all the above, life causes despair. Questions


Afterlife? Pre-defined rules? How is value determined? Does life have intrinsic (inherited) meaning? Why live? How does one make life meaningful? What is most important: the past, present or the future? What is most important? Are you free?

Christianity Yes, heaven or hell. Yes, 10 commandments, for example. By God. Yes. God makes it so. To serve God. By serving God. The future (getting to heaven through good deeds done now). God. No, God controls your destiny (based on your actions).

Existentialism No. Only your existence. No. Only what you choose even societys rules are fake. There is no such thing as value. No. Its yours to make. To make personal meaning. Live fully through your senses.

Whats wrong with suicide?

The present live life day-to-day and through the senses. Your existence. Yes. You are free to do what you want, but all actions have consequences. You have betrayed God you are You chose to make your life have one of his creations. no meaning.

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