Existentialism posits that mental illness and distress are inherent aspects of being human.
Existentialists emphasize the importance of facing existential anxiety and challenges to find strength and meaning in life.
By voluntarily confronting fears, individuals can develop courage, resilience, and adaptability.
Existentialism highlights the struggle for meaning and purpose in a world stripped of traditional belief systems.
Deep dives
Existentialism as a Philosophically Grounded Psychological Position
Existentialism, as discussed in this podcast episode, is described as a philosophically grounded psychological position. It suggests that mental illness and distress are inherent aspects of being human. The adoption of responsibility through action is proposed as the appropriate response. Existentialists focus more on subjective experience and action rather than simply statements or beliefs. They believe that understanding someone's actions is more revealing than what they say. Existentialism emphasizes the fundamental characteristics of human existence, such as vulnerability, trouble, and suffering. It suggests that human beings are built to experience these inherent hardships and that psychopathology cannot be fully avoided or attributed solely to traumatic experiences.
Facing Existential Anxiety and the Finite Nature of Human Life
Existentialism emphasizes the profound realization of human life's contingency and throws one into the face of existence. It recognizes the arbitrary nature of one's birth and focuses on the limitations and vulnerabilities individuals encounter. The existentialists argue that despite this vulnerability, one can find strength and meaning by directly facing existential anxiety and the intrinsic challenges of life. By challenging oneself voluntarily and exploring new territories, individuals can discover latent potential, personal growth, and self-understanding. Existentialists suggest that true self-development comes from confronting and embracing the unpredictability and complexity of life, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.
The Paradox of Human Weakness and Strength
Existentialism presents a paradoxical view of human beings, emphasizing both their vulnerability and their potential for strength. While acknowledging the inherent weakness and limitations of individuals, existentialism asserts that facing and challenging one's fears can lead to personal growth and the realization of untapped potential. By voluntarily confronting anxieties and fears, individuals can develop courage, resilience, and adaptability. Existential therapy encourages individuals to go beyond their comfort zones, gradually exposing themselves to what they fear most in order to discover a deeper capacity for strength and resilience.
Existentialism and the Search for Meaning in a Disconnected World
Existentialism offers insights into the contemporary human predicament, particularly in a world stripped of traditional belief systems. With the decline of religious and cultural frameworks, existentialism highlights the struggle for meaning and purpose. It acknowledges the anxiety, alienation, and conflicts individuals face, emphasizing the need for profound self-understanding in order to navigate the complexities of existence. Existentialists do not provide a comprehensive philosophy or set of rules but propose that the resolution lies in confronting the challenges head-on and engaging in the profound exploration of reality, self, and the human condition.
Existentialism and Individualism
Existentialism emphasizes the importance of individualism and the idea that the individual is the right unit of analysis. Psychotherapy also prioritizes the individual as the focus of analysis and treatment.
The Impact of Future Authoring
The Future Authoring program, aimed at helping individuals make plans for the future, was tested on university students. The results showed that the program had a significant impact on non-western ethnic minority men, who outperformed Dutch women academically and reduced their dropout rates.
The Criticism of Rationality and Utopianism
Both Nietzsche and Dostoevsky criticize the notion of rationality and the pursuit of utopian ideals. They argue that rationality alone cannot fully comprehend the complexities and inherent flaws of humanity. Furthermore, they suggest that the desire for comfort and ease undermines the potential for genuine personal growth and the recognition of one's unique individuality.
In this lecture, 11th in the 2017 series, I discuss the giants of existentialism, a philosophically-grounded psychological position positing (1) that psychopathology or mental illness/distress is built into Being itself and (2) that the adoption of responsibility through action is the appropriate response.
