Comment on 1-2 prompts below, then comment on 1-2 responses from your classmates.
1) What is the "predicament of the existing individual"?
2) What does Kierkegaard mean by "the dizziness of freedom"?
3) What does K mean about living authentically? Can you think of some examples of living authentically -- or examples of living inauthentically?
4) [I need to continue this list later]
1) the predicament of the existing individual is knowing that we are going to die (what Kieregaard refers to us as being finite) but we still want to be infinite (or not die). This is the predicament-that we know we will die but we dont want to. This self-awareness that we are going to die and there is nothing we can do about it, leaves us anxious and with fear.
ReplyDelete2) when K refers to the "dizziness of freedom", he is talking about the feeling of anxiety, fear, or dread that we feel towards dying. It is essentially our feeling towards the predicament of the existing individual. We have fear and dread that there is nothing we can do about the fact that we are going to die and that feeling of fear is what K calls the dizziness of freedom.
When Kierkegaard talks about living authentically, he is really saying one has to be true to oneself. Regardless of whatever external pressures are present whether that be pressure from others in society or perceived pressures based on the lifestyle that is considered acceptable. Living authentically would be something like a child refusing to bully another child on the playground even as other kids encourage him to do so as it is the "cool" thing to do. The opposite-the child bullying the other kid due to peer pressure- would be living inauthentically.
ReplyDeleteThe predicament of the existing individual refers to the predicament humans face with our awareness of our eventual fate. Humans have the capacity to realize our days are only numbered and eventually we will die. The best we can do is to live each day to the fullest and put the idea of death out of our minds as long as possible.
Meghan, I like your examples of authentic and inauthentic living. Very simple and something I feel like we can all relate to from some experience in our life, but it still gets the point across that living authentically is being true to yourself and not playing by society's rules if you don't truly believe in them.
DeleteKierkegaards talks about living an authentic life is all about being true to yourself and living a life that reflects that. Its the be your own person idea no matter what limitations are in your way. For example, if I was a health advocate and body building enthusiast I would have to eat healthy and work out to live authentically. However, if I was a health advocate and after talking about health went and ate a big mac then I would not be living authentically
ReplyDeleteThe predicament of the existing individual is knowing that life has an end. We fear endings and the unknown, and death is both. Humans believe that they are invincible and can control their life. However, sooner or later we are confronted with death and the realization of our morality sets in. So we ask ourselves things like, what is the point of living if I'm going to die? So the predicament is living a life, knowing that death is a part of life.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everything that you have to say about when life ends. It is difficult to live life to the fullest when we inevitably know that we are born to die.
DeleteLiving authentically basically means accepting the anxiety of human nature and using that to live our lives in a fuller and more true way and grow because of it. Some examples of this are trying to know yourself better and relate with others more and devote your life to meaningful things that you believe in. On the other hand, living in fear and anxiety (what he calls "shut-upness") would be ignoring the fact that we are mortal beings and not living a meaningful life where we live to our full potential.
ReplyDeleteThe predicament of the existing individual is knowing that our life is going to come to an end and that we cannot live forever. Death is the ultimate thing that scares all of us because we do not know what will happen or if there is anything for us to go to. The not knowing and not having answers is what scares people the most. Ways to me that people can live authentically would be through just living their life in the best way possible and following the rules. However, I can not tell a person that the way they are living is not authentic, meaning they are not living their life to the fullest. To tell a person that just seems rude and impersonal to me. We should support and be there for others no matter how they decide to live.
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