Existentialism

Examination of human consciousness; philosophy, metaphysics, semantics, existentialism.

First published in 1990, Existentialism is widely regarded as a classic introductory survey of the topic, and has helped to renew interest in existentialist philosophy.

The author places existentialism within the great traditions of philosophy, and argues that it deserves as much attention from analytic philosophers as it has always received on the continent.

One of the most original and refreshing approaches to philosophy is existentialism. Although the heyday of this movement spanned the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries, the themes that existentialist philosophers explored are perennial and they remain central to the experience of contemporary human beings. Existentialism asserts that the fact of human existence must always be counted as more important than any philosophical theory. Central to existentialist philosophy is human freedom and the responsibility that individuals have for creating their own destinies through an authentic engagement with the reality of their individual selves and the environment that surrounds them.In this clear, concise guide to existentialism, philosopher Michael Allen Fox carefully defines existentialism, explains how it has evolved, and illuminates its relevance for today. In five major chapters, Fox then summarises the full range of ideas of the major existentialists: Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. He pays special attention to the method and argumentative strategy of these philosophers, how they relate to one another, and how they advance our understanding of core issues in philosophy and in everyday living. Substantial representative passages from each philosopher are reproduced and analysed. A final chapter critically evaluates existentialism and considers its influence on subsequent movements of thought. Including discussions of key problems in each thinker's outlook, questions for reflection, and a generous bibliography, this is the most up-to-date general work on the subject available.

The Development and Meaning of Twentieth-Century Existentialism
This volume recaptures, through the writings of figures already well-known in the mid-1940s, the coming-to-consciousness of the existentialist movement, along with early disagreements concerning its significance. The articles present various critics' shifting views of that significance and the movement's standing over subsequent decades. Despite the centrality of Sartre's thought to existentialism, these selections offer interestingly diverse perceptions of his place within the existentialist pantheon, along with varied interpretations of both the historical origins and the future importance of existential philosophy.

Existentialist Background: Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Jaspers, HeideggerThese essays explore the relationship to existentialism of some of Sartre's 19th-century predecessors and near-contemporaries. For example, Kierkegaard was never told that he was an existentialist, and Heidegger rejected the label. Nevertheless, they, along with the others discussed in this volume, are frequently identified as such. Some of the contributors clarify these issues through their disagreements with one another, while others analyze major affinities and differences between Sartre and other existentialists on such basic subjects as freedom, transcendence, and the connection between human beings and Being.

"The Existentialist Reader" is a comprehensive anthology of classic philosophical writings from eight key existentialist thinkers: Sartre, Camus, Heidegger, de Beauvoir, Jaspers, Marcel, Merleau-Ponty, and Ortega y Gasset. These substantial and carefully selected readings consider the distinctive concerns of existentialism: absurdity, anxiety, alienation, death. A comprehensive introduction by Paul S. MacDonald illuminates the existentialist quest for individual freedom and authentic human experience with insight into the historical and intellectual background of these major figures. "The Existentialist Reader" is a valuable guide to the provocative theories that shook the philosophical world in the 1930s and continue to profoundly shape the way we think about ourselves.

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These brief and enlightening explorations of our greatest thinkers bring their ideas to life in entertaining and accessible fashion. Philosophical thought is deciphered and made comprehensive and interesting to almost everyone. Far from being a novelty, each book is a highly refined appraisal of the philosopher and his work, authoritative and clearly presented.

In this classic and deeply insightful book, one of the world's most eminent philosophers describes the dilemma of modern man and points a way to the conquest of the problem of anxiety. This edition includes a new introduction by Peter J. Gomes that reflects on the impact of this book in the years since it was written.