PP263 Lecture : PP218 course notes
Document Summary
Continuation of revolt against western rationalism, against knowing the world through reason. Realization of self-consciousness living in a world into which we are thrown. Disorientation after decline of church, increase in technology, world wars, the world is confusing. Existentialism as a philosophy, as expression, as a way of viewing the world that once you have seen you cannot go back. Self-consciousness: awareness that there is no self, its an ideal, chosen course of action, values, something one creates in the world. Wrote under many pseudonyms to avoid his works being used as a system, and also to place the responsibility on the reader. Argued with plato- that reality is not universal and can"t be systemized. Rationalism seems final but life is about perpetual striving. Argues empiricism (knowledge through senses) saying that we can only know through inward ness/faith, god can"t be known objectively and one must perpetually question and strive for the relationship with him.
