PHILOS 1E03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Existence Precedes Essence, Arthur Schopenhauer, Existentialism
4 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
The universe remains silent on the question of meaning. Life itself provides no meaning or purpose: this is a contradictory condition. The universe is indifferent to us: it provides no answer to the meaning of life. The will to life (this forces us to live) Schopenhauer: negativity, all we do is suffer, life is not worth the effort. Camus: joy, no direction given by the universe but life is still worth living, no eternal values therefore there is no point in looking for them, a reflection on the art of living, a writer of conscience. Camus is recognized as part of it. Idea that existence precedes essence: the essence is not the fundamental focus. Life / experience matters, not just theoretical speculation. We exist first and then we can establish the nature of things. When it comes to life no pre-determined essence (life is what you make it)
