Existentialism - Waking Life excerpt

	Duration: 02:59 minutes Upload Time: 06-08-28 23:13:51 User: prokofiev678 :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day
Description: "The reason why I refuse to take existentialism as just another French fashion or historical curiosity is that I think it has something very important to offer us for the new century. I'm afraid we're losing the real virtues of living life passionately, sense of taking responsibility for who you are, the ability to make something of yourself and feeling good about life. Existentialism is often discussed as if it's a philosophy of despair. But I think the truth is just the opposite. Sartre once interviewed said he never really felt a day of despair in his life. But one thing that comes out from reading these guys is not a sense of anguish about life so much as a real kind of exuberance of feeling on top of it. It's like your life is yours to create. I've read the postmodernists with some interest, even admiration. But when I read them, I always have this awful nagging feeling that something absolutely essential is getting left out. The more that you talk about a person as a social construction or as a confluence of forces or as fragmented or marginalized, what you do is you open up a whole new world of excuses. And when Sartre talks about responsibility, he's not talking about something abstract. He's not talking about the kind of self or soul that theologians would argue about. It's something very concrete. It's you and me talking. Making decisions. Doing things and taking the consequences. It might be true that there are six billion people in the world and counting. Nevertheless, what you do makes a difference. It makes a difference, first of all, in material terms. Makes a difference to other people and it sets an example. In short, I think the message here is that we should never simply write ourselves off and see ourselves as the victim of various forces. It's always our decision who we are."
Comments
lukeisastalker ::: Favorites i'm too stupid for this kind of stuff which really sucks because i'm interested in it =( 07-09-22 05:56:58 __________________________________________________
CharlieChan007 ::: Favorites you're kidding, right? 07-09-20 20:45:12 __________________________________________________
theclockstrucktwelve ::: Favorites this movie was a steaming pile of shit. i had much higher expectations for it than what were met. it's nothing but mindless pretentious dribble. zero content value. 07-09-19 20:53:28 __________________________________________________
MacklinReed ::: Favorites I especially like how the room appears to float near the end. It looks like they are on some form of moving water. 07-09-18 21:46:12 __________________________________________________
JimmJacob ::: Favorites agreed varria... destiny is for suckers 07-09-16 22:02:39 __________________________________________________
lsalavarria ::: Favorites People always ask what is life's purpose. I personally agree with the existentialists - it's absurd and pointless. When we were born we weren't given a choice if we wanted to partake in this journey called life but once u reach an intellectual maturity, you can make that decision. I personally live because am too curious what tomorrow may bring. Just remember, you are free to do whatever your heart desires, just be responsible for all your actions ;) So just keep living i suppose... 07-09-16 03:14:53 __________________________________________________
anthemjes ::: Favorites Buy it on Amazon...$7.99 07-09-14 21:32:21 __________________________________________________
ilara11 ::: Favorites I wish I could find the entire film somewhere... 07-09-14 16:24:11 __________________________________________________
manly427 ::: Favorites iwant more of this! 07-09-14 11:20:50 __________________________________________________
matshroom ::: Favorites not so sure free will exists thou! x 07-09-14 08:15:03 __________________________________________________