Existential Way Of Thought example essay topic

No Exit Existentialism is a very confusing concept to understand. Existentialism is a school of thought, so to speak, where people believe that for every action there is a reaction. Moreover, most of the time, the reaction is a negative one. There is the basic understanding that humans have free will. They have to choice to do whatever they feel in life, which in turn makes life very stressful. Our choices obviously result in some other consequence, and as I said, the consequences, though we may not notice, are negative ones.

That is something that cannot really be explained. That is something that happens a lot. Many things are irrational, absurd, and really have no explanation whatsoever. The only that is for sure in our lives is once you decide to do something, you must follow through with it completely and accept whatever may come to you afterwards. Existentialism is sometimes very hard to live by because of the beliefs that go along it with. Someone who is an existentialist believes that human choice is subjective, and that we must makes our decisions not based on outside influences such as laws or ethical standards set forth by society.

Since we free our selves of the pressures of outside traditions and ways, we must be completely responsible for any choice we make. There is also a very dark side to existentialism. There is always that question of who are we, why are we here, and how can we make meaning of this life? Because you are able to be so free in all that you do, it sometimes creates anxiety. You are forced to be completely responsible for anything and everything that you choose, which is a very scary thought. You are required to be in constant thought about all of your expressions and actions.

Predestination from God or any other form of higher being is totally rejected. Therefore, you have no basis on which to form your beliefs or say that your decisions come from. This absence of a pre designed moral set shows life's absurdity, but also shows the freedoms that are available to you. The ultimate goal is to live an authentic life that you are happy with, that you are conscious about all your decisions and what comes along with those. Only by assuming this freedom can you live authentically.

In Jean-Paul Sartre's play "No Exit", he brings to light the ideas of existentialism and how it would affect ones afterlife. The original title is actually translates to closed doors or behind closed doors, which makes sense since they are locked in a room where the door does not open. The three characters, Garcin, Inez, and Estelle, are all together in a room, trying to figure out why they have been assigned to each other in the afterlife. Because Sartre did not believe in a concrete vision of hell, he used the drawing room as a symbol of it, instead of the widely recognized flames and darkness. Although he did allude to it a little bit", (Garcin) Whew! How hot it is in here!

Do you mind if-", (13). Sartre sets them in a paradox- a real life setting where they are still restricted by their death". (Garcin) So that's the idea. I'm to live without eyelids. Don't act fool, you what I mean. No eyelids, no sleep; it follows, doesn't it?

I shall never sleep again", (6). Garcin and Estelle are the two characters who you could say are an example of what happens when you do not follow the existential way of thought completely. They both are in total denial and will not take responsibility at all for anything they did in their past lives. Even when asked straight out why they ended up in hell, both would still not confess to the horrible things they did in the living world". (Garcin) As you say, what matter?

Your turn. What have you done? (Estelle) As I told you, I have not a notion. I rack my brain, but it's no use", (26). As the scene continues, Garcin and Inez become Estelle's torturer as predicted. The keep forcing her to discuss a subject she wants to forget about; her mistakes in the living world.

The problem with the third character, Inez, is that she knew the atrocities she was committing, but continued to do so". (Inez) Well, I was what some people down there called "a damned bitch". Damned already. So its no surprise being here", (25). Looking at it, you could think that well, Inez was conscious of her freedom, therefore chose to do what she may, and knew what was coming to her in the end. However, really in the existential way of living, you should not look at it as that you do not care that you are going to hell, you still should live your life, trying to make the best decisions that will not hurt you or the people around you.

Something that I found interesting overall was Sartre's intentions of showing things with the absence of a God. I suppose that is because it may be one of the founding principles of existentialism. There is no purpose, no value, and no meaning to the world with a God. A world without God, to many, would be worthless and absurd. Moreover, that word, absurd, brings it all back to the foundation of Existentialism. The basis is showing how absurd things really can be.

So absurd that you can delude yourself into thinking that you will never have to pay for the things you do while living. So absurd that you do not understand that you may have to continue paying for your actions until eternity.