PHIL100J Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Existence Precedes Essence, Omaha World-Herald, Free France
24 Mar 2015
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Html markup: by andy blunden 1998; proofed and corrected february 2005. My purpose here is to offer a defence of existentialism against several reproaches that have been laid against it. First, it has been reproached as an invitation to people to dwell in quietism of despair. This is, especially, the reproach made by the communists. contemplative philosophy. Both from this side and from the other we are also reproached for leaving out of account the solidarity of mankind and considering man in isolation. The ego cannot reach them through the cogito. From the christian side, we are reproached as people who deny the reality and seriousness of human affairs. For since we ignore the commandments of god and all values prescribed as eternal, nothing remains but what is strictly voluntary. Everyone can do what he likes, and will be incapable, from such a point of view, of condemning either the point of view or the action of anyone else.
