CIM Briefing Papers

C.I.M. Outline #50
                         EXISTENTIALISM
I.  Introduction

    A.  Existentialism as a philosophy, or world and life         
        view, is largely a 20th century phenomenon.             
        It is the very antithesis of Christian belief in that it
        asserts the total autonomy of man.  Hence it is one of
        the most virulent forms of humanism.  It spread rapidly
        because its adherents often convey its message in more
        artistic form rather than in dry philosophic tomes. 
        Instead, their medium is often novels, plays, art, or
        movies.  They are often profoundly moving and
        entertaining because they speak to real human conditions.

    B.  One cannot properly understand the current state of
        western civilization without a minimal understanding of
        existentialist philosophy.  It's influence is
        all-pervasive.  The violence and breakdown of modern
        society in the 20th century can largely be attributed to
        this philosophy.   R. C. Sproul says:  "I doubt if there
        has been any philosophical system that has had as much
        influence on American culture in the twentieth century as
        this school of thought."  LIFEVIEWS, p.28.

    C.  Definition:  There are of course many variants of
        existentialism, including various religious forms.  This
        outline is concerned mainly with secular existentialism. 
        A common thread running through all secular forms is
        contained in the following definition: 

           "On the testimony and evidence of existence, life is
           patently chaotic, incoherent, meaningless, and hence
           absurd; consequently, the only responsible and honest
           intellectual and emotional response is to turn to the
           imperatives of the human spirit, to assert the freedom
           and autonomy of the self in order to impose meaningful
           form on the chaotic flux of existence."  Clifford
           Edwards, CHRISTIANITY TODAY, 5/12/67.

        Ponder this definition and see if it doesn't reflect much
        of our prevailing culture.

II.  Background and Origin of Existential Thinking.  The roots of
     existentialism.

     A.  Autonomous thinking (general)

         This is as old as the original rebellion in Eden.  It is
         man yielding to the satanic temptation of desiring to be
         as God, i.e., rejecting all outside (transcendent)
         sources of authority.  Jean Paul Sartre, one of the
         leading existentialist thinkers said:  "There was
         nothing left in heaven...nor anyone to give me
         orders...I am doomed to have no other law but mine...Man
         is the being whose project is to become God."  (Note how
         this closely parallels what the New Agers are saying)

     B.  The failure of enlightenment humanism.  (specific)

         1.  Existentialism was a reaction against the naturalism
             and philosophic materialism of the Enlightenment. 
             This naturalistic humanism resulted in a universe
             which was impersonal and could ultimately not be
             known.  Sire says:  "Naturalism places us as human
             beings in a box.  But for us to have any confidence
             that our knowing we are in a box is true, we need to
             stand outside the box or to have some other being
             outside the box provide us with information
             (theologians call this "revelation").  But there is
             nothing or no one outside the box to give us
             revelation, and we cannot ourselves transcend the
             box."  THE UNIVERSE NEXT DOOR, p.96

         2.  The idea that a transcendent, creator God does not
             exist is fairly unique to this century.  If there is
             no infinite, personal, creator-God who transcends
             His creation then there is no infinite reference
             point which can give meaning to the particulars of
             life.  Man is alone, there is only the cosmos, and
             man's consciousness of himself.  

         3.  The two great wars fought in Europe were devastating
             to the worldviews and culture based on naturalistic
             humanism.  Out of this void existentialism came.
         
III.  The Goal of Existentialism
         
      The goal of existentialism is to escape nihilism
      (meaninglessness).  Nihilism being the denial of all truth
      and value.  Notice the nihilism in the following quote: 
      "There is no system of philosophy to spin out.  There are
      no ethical truths, there are just clarifications of
      particular ethical problems.  Take advantage of these
      clarifications and work out your own existence.  You are
      mistaken to think that anyone ever had the answers.  There
      are no answers.  Be brave and face up to it."  Donald
      Kalish in TIME, p.24.  1/7/66.

      Albert Camus, a leading existentialist said:  "In the
      darkest depths of our nihilism I have sought only for the
      means to transcend nihilism."  Camus believed that the one
      who lives an authentic existence is the one who rebels
      against that absurdity and creates meaning.

      The existentialist answer, therefore, is that the
      individual creates his own reality and meaning inside his
      own head.  

IV.   Major Themes of Existentialism

      A.  Existence precedes essence, i.e., doing is more
          important than being.
             
          The essence of a man is known only a posteriori, that
          is, after he acts.  Sartre, said:  "...[A]t 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 what he wills himself to be." ESSAYS IN
          EXISTENCE, p.36.

          A man, therefore, is the sum total of the acts that
          make up his life, no more, no less.  When a man is
          alive (or conscious), he is a subject.  When he is
          dead, and only then, is he an object.

      B.  Reason is inadequate

          Existentialists oppose reason to arrive at truth
          because certain universals have to exist which they
          oppose.  Existentialists emphasize passion and will. 
          Their emphasis is not on ideas, but the thinker who has
          ideas.  Notice this mood in the following quotes: 

          "Science as we know it has outlived its usefulness." 
          Everett Mendelsohn, Harvard Biologist

          "Reason is a limited skill...there is also spiritual
          knowledge and power."  Theodore Rozak, Historian

          "Equally important are mystery, ambiguity, illogical
          contradiction, and transcendent experience."  Abraham
          Maslow, Psychologist

      C.  Freedom as opposed to determinism

          The naturalism of the previous century was reductionist
          in that it reduced all reality to material.  The
          universe was a closed system governed only by chance
          and natural law.  Man is nothing but a complex
          electro-chemical machine.  How then could man's acts be
          significant?  The old rationalistic humanism tried to
          elevate man but the result was he merged into the
          woodwork.  Bertrand Russell said  "Man is nothing but
          the phosphorescence of slime."  Existentialism is a
          reaction against this kind of determinism.  The extreme
          is seen in the behaviorism of B.F. Skinner (see CIM
          Outline #48).    

      D.  Subjectivity over Objectivity.

          Truth is personal, not propositional or objective. 
          There is no universe other than the universe of
          individual human subjectivity.  There are no
          universals, only particulars.

          "[W]e remind man that there is no legislator but
          himself;  that he himself thus abandoned, must decide
          for himself."  Sartre (Abandoned by whom or what? we
          might ask.)

          "Man does not discover values; he creates them." Sartre

      E.  Since there is no standard to live well we should live
          much.  (Go for all the gusto!)  For the existentialist
          it was man's feelings and passion which made him a man. 
          Feelings are the standard for truth.  It is true if I
          feel strongly about it.  ("How can it be wrong if it
          feels so right?")

VI.  Christian Critique

     Like all humanist philosophies existentialism contains
     within itself the seeds of its own destruction.

     A.  The number one critique of existentialist philosophy is
         the inconsistency with which they live their lives.  If
         man is truly free, and values are relative, why should
         Sartre, for example tell the U.S. to get out of Vietnam? 
         (Which he in fact did.)  Current existentialists are
         likewise advocates of causes.  In reality, all
         non-christian philosophies must at some point borrow
         ("smuggle: might be a better word) ethical values from
         Christianity in order to live.  Sartre himself seemed to
         admit this near his death.  See: IS MAN THE MEASURE,
         p.46.

     B.  Existentialism is opposed to rationalism yet they write
         very rational books using all the laws of logic to
         convince readers that irrationalism is the way to
         meaning.  If they did not employ the universals of
         language how would we understand their art?

     C.  If values are relative how can any society exist?  If
         every man does what is right in his own eyes what can
         hold society together?  How can they cohere against an
         enemy?  From the OT book of Judges we know the answer.

     D.  Existentialists deny any absolutes exist yet they treat
         human subjectivity and freedom as absolutes.

VII.  Conclusion:

      To understand existentialist philosophy as a christian is
      to weep real tears for a lost humanity.  The current
      popular movie, FOREST GUMP, is billed as a "feel good
      movie" as opposed, I assume, to those which are so violent
      they assault the senses.  However, this movie should not
      make Christians feel good!  We may appreciate its artistry,
      but the basic philosophy of this movie is existentialism,
      and it is this total rebellion against any transcendent
      values which give us the violence we see today in art and
      society.

      The writer of Ecclesiates also pondered the questions of
      meaning and existence, but he came to a different
      conclusion.  His solution was the acknowledgement of the
      existence of a personal Creator Who revealed Himself.  His
      essence precedes existence and gives life meaning.  See
      Chapter 12.

For Further Reading:

Barrett, William.  IRRATIONAL MAN.
Collins, James.  THE EXISTENTIALISTS.
Evans, C. Stephen.  EXISTENTIALISM:  THE PHILOSOPHY OF DESPAIR &
   THE QUEST FOR HOPE.
Geisler, Norman L.  IS MAN THE MEASURE?  See Chapter 3.
Schaeffer, Francis A.  ESCAPE FROM REASON.
Sire, James W.  THE UNIVERSE NEXT DOOR.  See chapter 6.
Sproul, R.C.  LIFEVIEWS:  UNDERSTANDING THE IDEAS THAT SHAPE 
   SOCIETY TODAY.  See Chapter 3.
 
 
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