This blog post is a part of my flipped learning activity designed to deepen my understanding of Existentialism through self-directed exploration and critical reflection.
1. Reflections on Key Thoughts
While engaging with the video resources, several profound ideas stood out to me. Here are the thoughts that resonated most from each session:
Video 1: Existentialism 1 (Introduction)
Selected Thought: “Existence precedes essence.”
Reflection: This core tenet struck me the most—the idea that we are born as "nothing" and must define ourselves through our actions and choices throughout our lives. There is no pre-written script or inherent "purpose" given to us at birth; we are the authors of our own identity.
Video 2: Flipped Learning Task - Instructions
Selected Thought: “The transition from being a passive listener to an active connector of dots.”
Reflection: This instruction highlighted that learning about philosophy isn't just about memorizing definitions but about internalizing them. It emphasized that true understanding comes from "making what we learn part of ourselves," which is very much an existentialist approach to education.
Video 3: The Absurd and the Myth of Sisyphus
Selected Thought: “We must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
Reflection: The concept of the "Absurd"—the conflict between our search for meaning and the silent, meaningless universe—is daunting. However, the idea that finding joy in the struggle itself (the "scorn" of the rock) is the ultimate act of rebellion was deeply empowering.
Video 4: Post-War Context and Despair
Selected Thought: “Existentialism as a cure for meaninglessness.”
Reflection: Seeing how this philosophy emerged from the literal rubble of World War II made it more relatable. It wasn't just abstract thought; it was a psychological survival mechanism for a generation that had lost faith in traditional institutions and "God."
2. My Favorite Video
Most Impactful Video: Video 3: The Absurd and Camus
Reason: I found this video most impactful because it provides a practical solution to a heavy problem. While many philosophies can feel nihilistic or depressing, Camus’ interpretation of Existentialism suggests that even if life lacks inherent meaning, the very act of living authentically and defiantly creates value. The metaphor of Sisyphus makes the complex concept of "absurdity" tangible and oddly optimistic.
3. Learning Outcome Assessment
Comprehension: My understanding of Existentialism has improved significantly. I previously thought it was just "being sad about life," but I now see it as a philosophy of radical responsibility and freedom.
Confidence: I feel much more confident discussing these themes. Understanding terms like "Existence precedes essence" and "Philosophical Suicide" gives me a solid vocabulary to analyze literature and personal experiences.
Clarity: This exercise brought clarity to the difference between Nihilism (nothing matters, so why bother?) and Existentialism (nothing matters inherently, so I must choose what matters).
4. Five Thought-Provoking Questions
1.If "existence precedes essence," does that mean people with severe cognitive disabilities or those unable to make "choices" lack a human essence in the eyes of existentialists?
2.How does the Existentialist rejection of "The Crowd" or social conformity align with our modern need for community and digital social validation?
3.If we are "condemned to be free," is the anxiety (Angst) we feel a sign of our humanity or a barrier to our happiness?
4.Can Existentialism coexist with religious faith, or is Kierkegaard's "leap of faith" truly just a "philosophical suicide" as Camus suggests?
5.If there is no universal morality, how can an existentialist judge another person's actions as "wrong" without relying on a pre-defined essence?
5. Additional Feedback
The flipped learning model was very effective for this topic. Philosophy requires "chewing" on ideas at one's own pace, and having the videos to re-watch allowed me to grasp the nuances of Sartre and Camus that might have been lost in a fast-paced live lecture.I Thought Existentialism Was Depressing. I Was Wrong. Here Are 4 Ideas That Changed My Mind.
For a long time, my mental image of an Existentialist was a French intellectual in a black turtleneck, being profoundly sad about life. I thought it was a philosophy of intellectual gloominess that found little value in the world. It seemed heavy, daunting, and ultimately, unproductive.
A deeper look, however, revealed that I had it backward. Far from being a philosophy of despair, Existentialism is a profound and surprisingly practical framework built on radical responsibility and freedom. It doesn't offer easy answers, but it does provide powerful tools for living. This post explores four key takeaways that transformed this complex philosophy from something to be feared into a practical guide for a more intentional life.
"Existence precedes essence."
This is the core tenet of Existentialism, and it’s a game-changer. It means that we are born into the world as "nothing"—a blank slate without a pre-written script or inherent nature assigned to us.
According to this idea, we are the sole "authors of our own identity." Who we are is not determined by a pre-written script or a cosmic purpose assigned at birth, but by the sum of our choices and actions throughout our lives. This shifts the immense pressure of finding your one true purpose to the liberating freedom of creating one for yourself, day by day.
"We must imagine Sisyphus happy."
Existentialism doesn't shy away from life's harsh realities. It directly confronts "The Absurd"—the fundamental conflict between our human desire to find meaning and a silent universe that offers none. This conflict is perfectly captured in the Greek myth of Sisyphus, a man condemned to eternally push a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down each time. His struggle is pointless and unending.
Yet, it is within this very struggle that the philosopher Albert Camus finds a strange and powerful optimism. He concludes that by consciously recognizing the absurdity of his situation and choosing to push the boulder anyway, Sisyphus achieves a kind of victory. Finding joy and value in the struggle itself becomes the ultimate act of rebellion against a meaningless universe.
"We must imagine Sisyphus happy."
This isn't just quiet acceptance; it's a victory fueled by scorn. Sisyphus conquers his fate not by changing it, but by finding his freedom in his contempt for it. This reframes how we view our own challenges, suggesting that the very act of living defiantly creates its own value.
It’s not Nihilism.
This is perhaps the most crucial distinction to make. It's easy to confuse Existentialism with Nihilism, but they are fundamentally opposed. Nihilism looks at a meaningless universe and concludes, "nothing matters, so why bother?" It is a philosophy of resignation.
Existentialism arrives at a completely different conclusion from the same starting point. It says, "nothing matters inherently, so I must choose what matters." Because there are no pre-ordained values, the responsibility falls squarely on each of us to create them. This is what transforms the philosophy from a depressing one into one of radical responsibility and freedom. It places the power to create a meaningful life directly into your hands.
It was born from crisis.
This philosophy wasn't debated in comfortable armchairs; it was forged in the ruins of a continent. For a generation that saw ideologies, nations, and moral certainties turn to ash, the old answers were not just inadequate—they were buried in the rubble.
Existentialism wasn't just an abstract academic exercise; it was a psychological survival mechanism. It offered a "cure for meaninglessness" in a world that seemed to have none left. Knowing it was forged in a time of profound crisis helps frame it not as a theoretical puzzle, but as a robust and resilient toolkit for anyone trying to navigate their own personal or societal upheaval.
Conclusion: Your Life is Your Own to Write
Moving from seeing Existentialism as a philosophy of sadness to one of empowerment is a profound shift. It teaches that while we may be thrown into an absurd world without a pre-written script, we are not helpless. The absence of inherent meaning isn't a curse; it's the ultimate narrative freedom. The blank page can be terrifying, but the power of the pen is entirely yours. To close, here is a question that this philosophy raises for our modern world:
How does the Existentialist rejection of social conformity align with our modern need for community and digital social validation?
References
https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2016/09/existentialism-video-resources.html
https://youtu.be/LQJUIZFGRJU?si=2PSCTDV_Ejaj-lta
https://youtu.be/XPLr3eX76go?si=4wIeqJfk_kOrwCwe
https://youtu.be/hWDCS38kxFc?si=rztEGgte7ap9FbGS
https://youtu.be/JDfpSQwYbXw?si=OJWxn6q_tXgFdojh
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