Existentialism
I am reading material on Existentialism, a movement that emerged in post WW II Europe. Given the intense suffering, and the brutality of Nazi occupation it seems reasonable to me that an existentialist approach to life would have been persuasive. Life stripped of anchor points for humane value, — with the vantage point of mere reason alone why not embrace the opportunity and the risk of self creation and of world creation? I can see no inordinate downside. Is there greater jeopardy than adopting a Evangelical identity, or that of a contemporary American consumer? “I believe in Jesus, therefore I am.” “I consume stuff, therefore I am.”
Implicit within a existentialist approach to living, would be awareness of the definite and never fully knowable consequences of one’s actions. Such an approach would be auspicious for careful decision making, for a never ending awareness of the trial and error of life.
More to come later.
