User talk:Stanford.Shelby

Hi Shelby,

We need to come up with an idea for editing the Atheistic Existentialism page. Let me know when you have some time.

Wikiriker (talk) 01:13, 2 March 2015 (UTC)

Atheistic Existentialism
My goal in editing this page is to first provide a better introduction to atheistic existentialism, which I will achieve through first providing a better definition. I feel that the "thought" section on the page is very informative and well written but does not exactly fit in with wikipedia format. The first paragraph of it should be moved into the introduction of the page. Sartre is mentioned in the thought section, but I would like to move the mention of him into his own section under major works to better organize.

Possible intro: Atheistic Existentialism, also referred to as atheist existentialism, is the idea of existence, awareness, and conciousness under the context of a world where the idea of a God does not exist. (from thought section -->) "Atheistic existentialism" refers to the exclusion of any transcendental, metaphysical, or religious beliefs from philosophical existentialist thought. Atheistic existentialism can nevertheless share elements (e.g. anguish or rebellion in light of human finitude and limitations) with religious existentialism, or with metaphysical existentialism (e.g. through phenomenology and Heidegger's works).

Possible intro #2: Atheistic existentialism, a primary component of existentialism alongside its contrasting counterpart of theistic existentialism, is the idea of existence, awareness, and consciousness under the context of a world where the concept of a deity does not exist. It is used in reference to the exclusion of any transcendental, metaphysical, or religious beliefs from philosophical existentialist thought. Atheistic existentialism can nevertheless share elements with religious existentialism, or with metaphysical existentialism.

There are four existenitalist philosophers that will be featured in the major works section. They will be listed chronologically as follows: Nietzsche Sartre Camus Kierkgaard

I think it is important to list them chronologically to demonstrate the evolution of thought on the subject and the relation of how each philospher uses work from the other, or rather the geneology of the subject. The two philosophers I am going to add information on are Sartre and Camus. My partner will be editing the sections on Nietzsche and Kierkgaard. I am going to attach a link to their own wikipedia pages for each philosopher (hopefully there are pages on them and I am able to figure out how to do that) SARTRE: Jean Paul Sartre’s contribution to atheist existentialism was his idea that “existence precedes essence” (Salisbury source) The concept denotes the idea that the individual must exist and live to, afterwards, define himself and his existence. Inversely, man cannot define, categorize, or label (essence) himself without first coming into existence. The idea that "existence precedes essence," first established by Sartre, is the common underlying basis of all atheistic existentialist philosophy. Some have proclaimed Sartre to be a nihilist due to his proclamation that man is a "useless passion," in the sense that there is no absolute meaning man can draw from life, only subjective meaning of existence that is cared about deeply, only to end devoid of value after death.

SARTRE #2: Jean Sartre's contribution to atheistic existentialism is his idea that "existence precedes essence." This idea is the common underlying basis of all atheistic existentialist philosophy. What he meant was that, first of all, man exists (e.g. appears on the scene) and only afterwards defines himself. If man, as the existentialist conceives him, is indefinable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be. Thus, there is no human nature, since there is no God to conceive it. Not only is man what he conceives himself to be, but he is also only what he wills himself to be after this thrust toward existence

CAMUS:   (in progress)

Stanford.Shelby (talk) 20:56, 26 March 2015 (UTC)