Category: Phenomenology & Existentialism

African American Existentialism: DuBois, Locke, Thurman, and King

W.E.B. DuBois, Alain Locke, Howard Thurman, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 2 Comments

Author: Anthony Sean Neal Category: African American Philosophy, Phenomenology and Existentialism, Historical Philosophy, Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of Race, Ethics Word Count: 996 Race today is often presented as a social construct. But social constructions, as Black people know all too well, can create real existential crises. Philosophers of the Black Experience[1] writing during the … Continue reading African American Existentialism: DuBois, Locke, Thurman, and King

“Hell Is Other People”: Sartre on Personal Relationships

A "Far Side" cartoon of people in hell; one asks, "Hot enough for ya?"
~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 2 Comments

Author: Kiki Berk Category: Phenomenology and Existentialism, Ethics Word Count: 989 “Hell is other people” is a famous line from No Exit (1944), a philosophical play by the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980). No Exit is popularly understood as arguing that human relationships are essentially fraught with conflict. This interpretation seems to be supported by … Continue reading “Hell Is Other People”: Sartre on Personal Relationships

Is Immortality Desirable?

Bernard Williams.
~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 5 Comments

Author: Felipe Pereira Categories: Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Phenomenology and Existentialism Word Count: 998 Many people hope to live on after death, in heaven, forever. Even those who don’t believe in heaven usually agree that an eternal life there would be better than any finite, mortal life.[1] Are they correct? Some influential philosophers have argued … Continue reading Is Immortality Desirable?

Camus on the Absurd: The Myth of Sisyphus

Albert Camus and The Myth of Sisyphus
~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 6 Comments

Author: Erik Van Aken Category: Phenomenology and Existentialism, Ethics Word Count: 1000 “There is only one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy." –  Albert Camus It might seem flippant to remark that the essential question in philosophy is … Continue reading Camus on the Absurd: The Myth of Sisyphus

“God is dead”: Nietzsche and the Death of God

Nietzsche
~ 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology ~ 3 Comments

Author: Justin Remhof Categories: Phenomenology and Existentialism; Philosophy of Religion; Ethics; Historical Philosophy Word Count: 985 Nietzsche is perhaps most famous for making the striking claim that God is dead. He writes, “God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him!” (GS 125). What does this mean? Straightforwardly, it seems nonsensical. God is supposed to be eternal, … Continue reading “God is dead”: Nietzsche and the Death of God