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1answer
80 views

Is Camus 'Outsider' an argument for, or a critique of existentialism?

I've read Camus 'Outsider' twice. And have seen it acted out in the theatre. I do not think I understand it, though I can admire Camus prose style. Its often taken as canonical in existentialist ...
5
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3answers
1k views

What does Sartre mean when he says people are “condemned to be free”?

What did Jean-Paul Sartre mean when he said that because there is no creator, humans are "Condemned to be Free"?
5
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1answer
123 views

what are the differences of existentialism to epicurianism?

Although not an expert, I do see many similarities on both these currents' focus on man himself, aboloshing all idols and taking control of his fate. Are there any real differences between these two ...
4
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3answers
158 views

'Meaning of life' as per Viktor Frankl's Man's search for Meaning

I recently read 'Man's search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl. It was a very moving book and in it the author describes three ways in which a man may find meaning in his life. 1.Through some creative ...
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7answers
896 views

Rationality of Suicide?

I came across a story about a kid who committed suicide after carefully calculating the benefits of life and deciding it was not worth living. I am wondering if any philosopher has considered the ...
3
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1answer
170 views

Is existentialism the “practical” nihilism?

Nihilism states that no matter what you do, it's meaningless. But how do you decide then, what to do? A few years back I read "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Camus, in which he tackles the question, if ...
6
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1answer
161 views

Has Descartes also been analyzed from a psychological point of view, including the circumstances of his time?

One way to look at "cogito ergo sum" is as an interesting intellectual thought. But Descartes clearly indicates that he actually had this thought in winter 1619 under very special circumstances: I ...
11
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3answers
536 views

What is an existentialist?

When watching this speech by the Atari founder, he says (at 09:19): If you're a true existentialist [...] you want to have an interesting life. Thus, if someone says he or she is an ...
11
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4answers
211 views

Do Kierkegaard's non-pseudonymous writings enable one to understand Kierkegaard's philosophy much?

As I read them, Kierkegaard's writings can be split into two groups: the mostly philosophical psuedonymous, and more theological non-pseudonymous works. I have read primarily the pseudonymous works ...
17
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4answers
408 views

Is atheism a requirement for a consistent existentialist philosophy?

Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered to be the "father of existentialism". This always bothered me, since to me Sartre and Camus are the defining figures of the movement, and it seems that there ...