Mans Existence Defined by Being and Nothing Essay Example for Free

Mans Existence Defined by existence and Nothing EssayI. IntroductionWhat makes a person living? Should conception be defined simply by a persons bio logical and physical ability to move and breathe? Is existence proven by the holy physical presence of a living person?Philosophers down the ages have advanced many theories of how human existence is defined. Some have advance theories establish on the establishment of being after the fulfillment of a life sentences purpose. Others opined that a persons fear or experience of dread and nothingness defines existence. Some however hope that it is a combination of these yin/yang forces that define human existence.II. Discussions on Existence, Being and NothingnessPeople are defined as human beings in Biology. It is what separates humans as a specie from animals. But shouldnt the parole human be enough? What is the significance of the verb be? Several theories have been advanced to define the manifest things one(a) sees in life but as philosopher Martin Heidegger noticed, they have forgotten to ask what to be re in ally is (Philipse. 1998. p18). The foreland of what defines human existence has intrigued philosophers over the ages. Theories have gone beyond the basic qualification of life as the simple and obvious ability to move and breathe.Existentialism however, puts forward the more abstract concepts of delineate ones being as influenced by boredom, freedom, commitment and alienation (Warnock.1970.p.4). It separates the human existence into being and nothing. What makes a human a being? jibe to Heidegger, a de-constructional view of existence is necessary to include the essence of humans being as opposed to the classical sentiment of the obvious and therefore undiscovered being (Philipse, 1998.p.3).One of Heideggers main influences, Edmund Huserll (Grimsley.1960.p.37) said that philosophy should be described in the context of human experience and goals. People do and cognize in accordance with one plan or goal. Heidegger modified this with his surmisal of care, (Cochrane. 1956. p112) which, simply stated means that a persons priorities or what he or she considers important defines their existence. For him, it is the motivation and the undivided needs that define a persons existence and thus shapes them into what they are.In his work Being and Time, Heidegger created the means Dasein of the individual that seeks to answer the question as to why he exists. He states the Dasein is thrown into a world of possibilities and responsibilities, and to account for his existence, the Dasein must take responsibility for all these possibilities (Cochrane, 1956 p. 136).Another philosopher who advances the notion of a reality governed by consciousness, Rene Descartes in his Meditations on First Philosophy states that in human existence, the only thing that cannot be doubted is consciousness. populace can have many illusions, but a human beings consciousness is constant which therefore m akes it the only truth (Snooks, 1998.p 26).The famed German philosopher George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (Stace,1955. p. 44) summed it up in the statement the wise alone is real which presented the idea that everything can and will only be expressed in rational categories His miscellaneous works reflected methods predominantly rooted in logic According to Hegel, the degree of comprehension of concepts is only limited or expanded by the standards of knowledge a person possesses and the level of society he belongs to (Stace,1955. p. 46) .The ideas of existentialism contradict this. The definition of a persons existence is not dependent on rational thinking but rather their individual beings in the world they were born in. Reality in reference to ones existence is subjective. In Sartres Being and Nothingness, he defines the actuality of mans ideal of completion as the fulfillment of state of Being while nothingness is the failure or neglect of this actuality (Schilpp. 1997.p.48)Like H egel, Sartre also used the concepts of Being in terms of in itself, for others, and for and in itself. Unlike Hegel however who defined these as organizational thought processes and logic in the individual, Sartre stated these terms with definitions done to identify and qualify the subjective and objective facets of human existence.Regarded as the Father of Existentialism, and one of Hegels greatest critics, Soren Kierkegaard (Malantschuk, 2003.p.11 )was a Danish philosopher who proposed that it is an individuals feelings such as dread and anxiety that lead to making choices that define a persons life. Kierkegaard believed that the difference amid an individuals self-perception of being and nothingness stems from the individuality of a person and that includes emotions and passions. A persons existence therefore, is brought about by his fears.He cites a parallel of assent and atheism. In his theories that were viewed as anti-organized religion, Kierkegaard states that for a perso n to be able to make a leap of faith, one must first have doubt. Otherwise, one whitethorn not be able to differentiate faith from everyday emotions. In the same way, Being cannot exist without Nothing and vice-versa (Malantschuk, 2003.p.90)Kierkegaard also advanced the paradoxical theory of the Concept of Dread (Ussher, 1968.p. 52). According to Kierkegaards concept of Dread, it is only when one has experienced total misery that one can recognize and experience life and living.Only by being a sacrificial Isaac would he recognise himself for the beloved of Abraham and no miracle (he knew in the end) would intervene. (Ussher, 1968.p. 27).It is not unusual in todays times to hear the maxim You neer know what you have unless youve lost it. The misery or anxiety at the thought of losing something makes one realize how very much value they have truly assigned to something. The thought of this is echoed in German journalist Helmut Kuhns Encounter with Nothingness An Essay on Existential ism (1949) The question of existence is urged upon us chiefly by our interest. We raise it when we care for the existence or the nonexistence of something. When darkness closes down, we do get excited about the existence of light (Kuhn, 1949)Immanuel Kant presented a style of inquiry that takes to consideration the physiological and empirical facets of a persons state of Being. Kant believed that an introspective approach was necessary for one to understand and make sense of ones own being (Kant, 1965).Sartre, one of the strongest critics of Kantian theory argues that the notion that human emotions are insignificant and occasional situations that occur of an individuals behavior is unacceptable.Moreover, emotion must not be considered as a set of empirical facts gained through introspection or as a corporeal phenomenon , but rather as an organized form of human existence (Schilpp, 1997.p.13)As a persons existence and state of Being are subjective, so is the definition of nothingness .The lexicon meaning of the word nothing is given as 1 not any thing no thing 2 no part 3 one of no interest, value, or consequenceIn philosophy however, despite the many theories that sought to define existence, the definition of the word nothing seems to be universal. It simply means failure to attain a state of Being through lack of fulfillment and failure at the skill of purposes or goals.III. SummaryThe human being and existence is a complex and paradoxical concept. All the concepts are true in a sense, but were never really complete in describing or pinpointing the meaning of life. Different schools of thought range from describing human existence in a mathematical sense whence evolving into the more abstract consideration of complex human emotions.Classical philosophy in its rational and logical basis, says it is Mind over matter.Sartre, Hegel and Heideggers philosophies are summed up in the exterminate justifies the Means.Kierkegaards neurotic view of the existence as a result of anxiety and dread is summed up in You dont know what you have until youve lost it.IV. outcomeGiven the many points of view advanced, there remains a constant, and that is recognition of the human free will. It is the will that makes a choice that rational, experiential or pessimistic, influences the End that defines and justifies a persons existence.A persons experience of past and present in addition to his perception of what the future could be are subjective. The significance people place on certain things is also subjective. Reactions are subjective. Life is subjective. One can choose to define existence in the manner of different philosophies. However, it is important to note that these schools of thought are not rules that encompass every persons experience of life.