Philosophy

» RLSharp - Kierkegaard

I'm not sure how the linking is working right now. There seem to be some kinks, but 2 threads isn't a big deal.

Existentialism puts existence before essence. I should have explained that more clearly in the article. What that means is that we exist BEFORE there is any determination of what we will be. That gives us the ultimate power to create our own selves, since nothing is predestined, at least ethically speaking. Obviously we still need to eat, sleep, etc. But our values are up to us in existentialism. This is not, however, subjectivism. Instead, it's a freedom to be the authors of our own beings. If we do not use that freedom (or if we lack the power) then we will have to follow someone else's vision for life. There is no God to create a check to this, even in Kierkegaard (who is one of the few theist existentialists). For K, God is possibility, not necessity. That's very different from the Judeao-Christian view.

-- posted by RLSharp