The “God of the Gaps” argument –that God is the explanation for all the things we don’t (yet) understand –is more popular among atheists than believers, because of its apparent weaknesses. Yet is it as[…]
Category: Philosophy
The Mind of Murakami
As some of you know, I’m a huge, long-time fan of Japanese surrealist novelist Haruki Murakami, even having written a well-known parody of his work. Check out my review of his latest over at Partially[…]
Kierkegaard’s Narrative
"Kierkegaard's Narrative" is an existential humanist plot outline named after the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. In general, it runs as follows: An aimless young man drifts through life, obsessed with aesthetics, and seeking sexual fulfillment with a series of women, yet never making substantive choices or real commitments. The climax of the story is the protagonist's decision to commit to a single woman, and to enter into marriage.
The raw source material for this plotline is found in Kierkegaard's books "Either/Or," "Fear and Trembling," and "Repetition," in which he takes on the persona of various first-person narrators, and describes their experiences.
Reconstructivist Art: 1/0
Part of the Reconstructivist Art series: When Tailsteak’s webcomic 1/0 premiered in 2000, it was part of a brand-new boom in web-based daily comic strip production by a host of amateur auteurs, most with more[…]
The Columbus Invitational Arts Competition
I’m a believer in philosophy in action. My main project in recent years is the Columbus Invitational Arts Competition. Since this annual event is reaching it’s culmination next week, I thought I’d take the time[…]
I completely understand your point; that for Sartre that choice would always be there, there is no ‘impossible’ in relation to living authentically, that is is just choice. However, do you feel that in the context of our very modern society that it may be harder? Do you think we may have progressed into a more inauthentic contemporary world? Or a world where authenticity maybe almost valued- in some respects? – Natasha
I’m not convinced that it’s any easier or harder to live authentically now than in any other era. Being “Real” always takes a great deal of willpower. Think of the Inquisition, or of McCarthyism, or[…]
In regards to Sartre and Heidegger to what extent to do you think it is existentially possible to be ‘authentic’ in our modern society? Do you think it is possible to live in contemporary society without acts of what Sartre deems ‘bad-faith’? – Natasha
From Sartre’s perspective, “is it possible” would the wrong wording. No matter the circumstances or context –i.e. modern society –it is always possible to be authentic or inauthentic. It is always a choice that you[…]
I have existentialist leanings and see myself as a humanist. As a Christian I have had a problem reconciling these three philosophies…
…Thank you for making the attempt. I like it. My question concerns Paul Tillich’s critic of pure existentialism, stating that our use of language is universal and points to essentialism. He argues that Christianity is[…]
Why do we continue to evade the truth? …Are we dumb or are we evil?
Everyone in the Western World and beyond knows that we hold the key to personal/societal/cultural/financial transformation. We know that everything we do is wrong. Instead of going out and doing exactly what we should, ie[…]
difference between philosophy & science
The simplest answer is that philosophy is concerned with questions of why whereas science is concerned with questions of how. In other words, if I ask “How do we convert coal to energy?”, that is[…]