The Necessary Feature of Existence

The Necessary Feature of Existence

  • Submitted By: goldpills
  • Date Submitted: 03/21/2010 1:05 PM
  • Category: Philosophy
  • Words: 1930
  • Page: 8
  • Views: 378

Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Heidegger and Sartre would agree that a chair does not exist. These writers have widely differing outlooks, although they share certain general themes which have come to form the philosophical attitude known as existentialism. Since existentialism is a tendency or attitude, rather than a philosophical school, few doctrines are common to all of its primary exponents. However, as indicated by the word itself, its one common characteristic is concern for human existence, particularly man's freedom. A necessary feature of human existence is that men are active and creative whereas things are not. Things are merely what they are, but men have the power to choose and become what they are not. Existentialism, in general, represents a rebellion against established ideas and institutions that inhibit man's personal freedom and choice.
Kierkegaard's writing reflects his philosophical argument for his view of human existence. He established a distinction between existence and "real existence." Along with many of his basic concepts, this resulted from his view of Christian tradition. He related this distinction to the difference between admiring Christianity from a distance, talking and acting like a Christian, to really being or existing as a Christian. Kierkegaard felt that to exist is to struggle and act in the world of men. His basic idea is that personal existence cannot be comprehended in a system, as Hegel describes. Hegel attempted to demonstrate that the world is a rational system. However, his concept is based upon pure assumption, as no one is aware of what the world in its completed form will be. "If the world were a system it would take God Himself, not Hegel, and still less a reader of Hegel's books, to know it." (Benton, W. 1969. p.964) in opposition to Hegel's thoughts, Kierkegaard follows that no one can know his place or his purpose, but that each person must choose, irrationally, the direction of his own existence.
Kierkegaard's...

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