Existentialism

[Knowledge3]

Existentialist philosophy is based on existence and making observations about existence with various questions that follow -

What is an Orthodox response?

 

[NewToLife]

Why is a response required? I think not all existensialist views are necessarily in conflict with Orthodoxy. Dostoyevsky for instance is considered an existentialist by some.

I suspect this might be a question of how the term is defined though.

 

[Lukaris]

Here is an article http://www.theandros.com/existential.html will try to peruse & comment if possible (time wise or intellectually )This is a good article & the best I can say is that it says that the concept of the self constituting individual of existentialism is that it is already self evident whereas the Orthodox response would be that it nust be fulfilled through theosis. This individual will nonetheless be part of an eternal ecclesia beginning in earthly life as the church (partaken of as life in it) with an understanding that one must not be wedded to creation yet committed to its restoration made possible by Christ (the 2nd Adam). One must partake of responsibility of fallen nature (not legalistically but aimed at its spiritual renewal by following Christ). Hope this makes sense or is a fair summation.

 

[ClementofRome]

Sartre noted that "existence precedes essence." While I do think that creating meaning categories for ourselves is necessarily antithetical to Orthodoxy (and I am speaking as one who teaches philosophy, but has not yet been chrismated...), Sartre's intention with the above quote is antithetical to Orthodoxy, in that, our critical meaning categories are not invented/created individually, but are created by God (Scripture and Holy Tradition).

EDIT: [I am editing here as I just saw a problem with the above......I meant to say that "While I do NOT think that creating meaning categories for ourselves is necessarily athithetical to Orthodoxy..." Worded this way, it makes what follows make more sense. Apologies.]

 

[Theophorus]

Existentialist philosophy is based on existence and making observations about existence with various questions that follow -

What is an Orthodox response?

Since Orthodoxy is revealed and also ontological, it is existential in some ways.

 

[ClementofRome]

Since Orthodoxy is revealed and also ontological, it is existential in some ways.

Agreed. As "free will" seems to be stressed in EO (and forgive me if I misread this), then, by its nature is not completely anthithetical to existentialism.

 

[Eusebios]

Actually, there is quite a vein of existentialism in Orthodoxy, or perhaps more correctly vice-versa. There are a number of relatively modern Orthodox thinkers who clearly advocate an existentialist bent. Silouan the Athonite, his protege, Archimandrite Sophrony come to mind in the theological category, Dostoyevsky in literature, and many of the Russian emigres who have influenced Orthodox though and growth in Western Europe also qualify.
As someone else rightly pointed out, it likely depends on how one defines existentialism. No one within Orthodoxy is likely to whole-heartedly embrace Kierkergard, though they may agree on certain points.
For what it's worth,
Don

 

[ClementofRome]

Hey Don....agreed.

Though I teach Kierkegaard as an existentialist........I more likely set him up as a prototype, and then present Sartre and Camus et al in the atheistic line of existentialism.....

We had a GREAT discussion in class today about what Camus meant when he said that "existentialism is philosophical suidice"