Existentialism

 Flipped Learning: Existentialism

This blog is a Flipped Learning task on the philosophy of Existentialism, assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir. In this task we have to watch video resources, which is available on teacher's blog, to understand the concept of Existentialism and ask questions from/related to the videos or the philosophy of existentialism

What is Existentialism?

"A philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will." (Oxford)

"A system of ideas made famous by Jean Paul Sartre in the 1940s in which the world has no meaning and each person is alone and completely responsible for their own actions, by which they make their own character." (Cambridge)

 

Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. It holds that, as there is no God or any other transcendent force, the only way to counter this nothingness (and hence to find meaning in life) is by embracing existence.

In short an individual trying to find what is the meaning of life and if the answer is nothing or life is meaningless then he/she might try to commit suicide. Just like the character in the following video.

The above video is from the Japanese Animation Series Called Naruto Shippuden adapted from Masashi Kishimoto's original manga series, Naruto. In this video Itachi (little boy) have seen/fought in the war (Great Ninja War). At a very little age, he is trying to understand why everybody killing each other. He asked his father why did he try to kill me? his father replied, "It is the war between nations, that's why strangers kill each other meaninglessly, that is what shinobi world is." Later at the graveyard, he asks another person who is standing aside and says, "grieving over the dead is meaningless". Itachi did find an answer from him that is 'There is no meaning in life if it is not eternal'. Further in the video, we can see him attempting suicide, that's what existentialists call 'Leap'.

I like the fifth video 'Existentialism: a gloomy philosophy’, because whenever we hear about the theory of Existentialism the first thing that comes to our mind is a depressed person who can not find any reason or purpose worth living life so he bends towards the thought of committing suicide. it seems a negative subject. But this video is showing the complete picture that why it is not a negative subject.