#Postmodern existentialism

[penhive]

The Philosophy of Anand Bose

1) Life is the celebration of meaning. I am countering Camus claim that life is meaningless and absurd and his metaphor of Sisyphus where Sisyphus is forced to roll a boulder uphill only to his angst that it rolls down and he is forced to do this monotonous chore. My Sisyphus is happy and every time he rolls the stone he does it creatively and pleasantly.

2) The choices that I make in life make me privileged being. Here I am refuting Sartre’s claim that the choices we make become our responsibility and therefore we are condemned to be free. The choices that I make in life are prudent, diligent, and creative and error free in all ways so that I can avoid disappointment.

3) Deify the ID (seat of passions), glorify the Ego (language and culture of the society) and subvert the superego (laws of the society). Here I have taken Freud’s jargon and I have subverted it as deification, glorification and subversion

4) The body is Epicurean and the mind stoic.

[jlp444]

Death of the Artist. oil on canvas. 2022.

jet le parti on Instagram

[imaginationengine]

Hiding in dense grass, Andy Warhol began to pick his nose. Little did he know that the entire population of Earth was watching him...

[dolletteamine]

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of the Observer

The philosophy of the observer examines the role and nature of observation in shaping reality, knowledge, and experience. In various philosophical contexts, the observer plays a crucial role in determining how we perceive and understand the world, influencing fields such as metaphysics, epistemology, phenomenology, and even quantum mechanics.

1. Epistemology and the Observer

Knowledge and Perception: In epistemology, the observer is central to questions about how we gain knowledge. The subjective nature of observation raises concerns about the reliability of perception and the distinction between appearance and reality. For example, empiricism emphasizes that knowledge comes from sensory experiences, where the observer plays a passive but critical role in perceiving the external world.

Kantian Philosophy: Immanuel Kant argued that observers do not passively receive information from the world. Instead, the mind actively structures experiences according to innate categories, such as time, space, and causality. For Kant, the observer shapes reality by organizing sensory data into coherent experiences, making human perception partly responsible for how we understand the world.

2. Phenomenology and the Observer

Subjective Experience: Phenomenology, particularly as developed by Edmund Husserl, investigates how things appear to observers in their conscious experience. In this approach, the observer’s point of view and intentionality (the direction of conscious experience) are essential in determining the nature of reality.

Being-in-the-World: Martin Heidegger expanded phenomenology to consider the observer's embeddedness in the world. Rather than detached observers, humans are beings who exist in a dynamic relationship with the world, shaping and being shaped by it. Heidegger’s Dasein refers to the human condition as fundamentally involved in interpreting the world.

3. The Observer in Quantum Mechanics

Observer Effect: In the realm of quantum mechanics, the observer effect refers to the idea that the act of observation can affect the outcome of an experiment. For instance, in the double-slit experiment, the behavior of particles (acting as waves or particles) changes when observed, suggesting that the observer plays an active role in determining physical phenomena.

Copenhagen Interpretation: Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg’s Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics posits that physical systems exist in a superposition of states until observed. This view raises philosophical questions about whether reality exists independently of observation and challenges classical notions of objective reality.

Philosophical Implications: Quantum theory brings the observer to the forefront, suggesting that observation is not merely a passive reception of reality but an active process that influences and even creates the conditions of reality. This has led to discussions about the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the physical world.

4. Metaphysics and the Observer

Idealism: In metaphysical idealism, particularly as espoused by George Berkeley, the observer's role is central. Berkeley argued that reality consists only of perceptions and that things exist only insofar as they are observed (summed up by the phrase “to be is to be perceived”). For Berkeley, the external world has no independent existence outside of being observed.

Objective vs. Subjective Reality: The metaphysical question of whether reality exists independently of observers or is constructed through perception continues to be a central issue. Realism holds that the world exists independently of observation, while constructivism and idealism emphasize the role of the observer in shaping or even constituting reality.

5. Existentialism and the Observer

Sartre’s View of the Gaze: Jean-Paul Sartre explored the concept of the observer in his analysis of the gaze. He argued that being observed by others brings about a kind of self-awareness, often leading to feelings of alienation or objectification. For Sartre, the awareness of being an object in someone else’s gaze causes existential discomfort, as it limits one's freedom and projects them into a defined role.

Authenticity: Existentialists argue that the awareness of being observed often challenges one's authenticity. The need to act in ways that are socially accepted, based on the observer’s expectations, can conflict with living authentically, which is a key existential concern.

6. Ethics and the Observer

Moral Observers: In ethics, the role of an observer can shape moral judgments and actions. The impartial observer is a common thought experiment used in ethical theory, where one is asked to adopt an unbiased, detached standpoint to determine the morality of an action. This is especially prominent in utilitarianism, where the impartial observer is expected to weigh the consequences of actions for all involved.

The Ethical Role of Observation: In moral psychology, the idea of being observed often influences behavior. The panopticon, as discussed by Michel Foucault, illustrates how the possibility of being observed can encourage conformity and self-regulation in ethical and social contexts.

7. Observer in Eastern Philosophy

Buddhism: In Buddhist philosophy, the observer (or the self) is seen as a transient construct rather than an enduring entity. The concept of no-self (anatta) suggests that the idea of a permanent observer or self is illusory. Observation, in this view, is part of the ongoing process of change and interdependence, with no fixed "observer" apart from the flow of experience.

Non-Duality: In Eastern philosophies like Advaita Vedanta, the observer is not seen as separate from the observed. The subject-object distinction is considered illusory, with the realization that there is no fundamental separation between the observer and the world leading to enlightenment or ultimate knowledge.

8. The Observer in Postmodernism

Relativity of Perspectives: Postmodernism, particularly through thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, challenges the idea of a neutral or objective observer. Instead, they argue that observation is influenced by cultural, social, and linguistic structures, meaning there is no single, privileged point of view.

Power and Observation: Foucault argued that observation is a tool of power, as those who observe hold control over those being observed. He examined how institutions, such as prisons and hospitals, use observation as a means of social regulation and discipline.

9. The Observer in Art and Aesthetics

Aesthetic Experience: The role of the observer is also critical in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. The observer’s interpretation, perspective, and emotional response to a work of art can shape its meaning. The idea that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" reflects the subjective nature of aesthetic judgment.

Phenomenology of Art: In the phenomenology of art, the observer's engagement with the artwork is considered an integral part of the aesthetic experience. The meaning of the artwork is not fixed but emerges through the observer’s interaction with it.

The philosophy of the observer addresses the fundamental role observation plays in shaping reality, knowledge, and personal experience. From quantum mechanics and metaphysics to ethics and existentialism, the observer is often seen as a critical factor that influences the nature of reality, perception, and even morality. The relationship between the observer and the observed challenges our understanding of objectivity, subjectivity, and the nature of existence itself.

[areadersquoteslibrary]

'"Good and evil are the prejudices of God" — said the snake.'

- Friedrich Nietzsche,

'The Gay Science'

[rendingrocks]

ESTRAGON: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?

VLADIMIR: Yes yes, we’re magicians.

Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett

[sunnyanddumb98]

FERNANDA

I would love to be a girly girly,

Girl dinner and girl math.

But I'm a chancha woman—

I was born like that.

It's me, the tonkatsu and the prosciutto.

I grunt, I smell, my vagina farts.

I feel disgusted by many things—

You, you Sir; among them.

Reading fiction, poetry nonetheless.

For breakfast: Monster drink and Marlboros.

It's vape to gouache, pretentious brat

Asking for tips in your barista gig,

Never working a day in your life.

I sleep at 9 p.m. or in the morning rain.

There's a cucumber

That I used to please myself,

Collecting dust and mold under my bed.

I eat a lot, fry many things.

And since this is not Stars Hollow,

I'm overweight.

Crazy woman, in the line—

Manic Pixie Dream girls can wait.

I'm convinced I'm not ugly.

In consequence, men are all pedophiles.

I could be weird,

But I don't have the time.

There's an office to attend—

Reality TV won't watch itself.

I could do so and them, participants of fun, scripted play,

Surgically enhanced lover boys and girls.

Truly, child's play.

I would have them working on something productive in a day.

I could pull any of them,

Get them in my bed, make them scream for help,

If the right moment, the right place,

And if I feel like it.

Chancha woman, once a communist,

A liberal and a fighter.

But they are also pigs, so I left.

Mustaches and mullets with a taste

For fiscal paradise and tender meat.

So I just lay in shit all day

And watch my girls.

Angry at them,

I'm jealous and vain.

I don't act upon it—

Critical thinking skills

Just don't go away.

But like an IV drip, I watch, one by one,

All the girl's enthusiasm wash away,

Numbing me, wishing it would stop.

I'm a woman; I like kids.

I just don't like it when they cry or scream.

Mostly, I like their dads—the married ones.

When they eventually break my heart,

I could say how they told me lies.

I just don’t know why life works for them all.

But I would never walk away, I'm too empathetic.

I haven’t had any luck with roommates,

Or partners,

Or girlfriends,

Or parents.

They never appreciated me,

Always abused my kindness,

When all I do is care for them,

Give them my all.

I just ask them to be there

And not talk stupid shit—

Stupid songs,

Stupid movies.

No one is competent, and no one has taste.

And they get to be offended.

I just wish they’d love me.

Why do I have to mourn miserable souls that will never be happy?

Fated

But I was not born a girl—

I was a woman from the beginning.

[jadwiga-abremovic]

Yuriy Olesha, No Day Without a Line, 1960.

[theidealistphilosophy]

Television is by nature the dominator drug par excellence. Control of content, uniformity of content, repeatability of content make it inevitably a tool of coersion, brainwashing, and manipulation.

Terence McKenna, Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge.

[caeliflammae]

“And when he came back to, he was flat on his back on the beach in the freezing sand, and it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out.”

[penhive]

Postmodern Existentialism

The progenitors of existentialism have been the literary and philosophical heavyweights like Heidegger, Sartre and Camus. What I have done here is to revise their contributions and through it I would like to lay down my own interpretations.

Heidegger

From the ontological point of view, Heidegger defines being as Dasein (meaning being there). He also mentions that being is throwness of meaning. I contradict him by saying that being is the possession of meaning. And being possesses meaning as:

Appropriation

Catharsis

Affirmation

Negation

Celebration

Cognition and Perception

Appropriation

Appropriation means to take hold or to possess and it’s a way of authenticating the presence of meaning. Reality becomes qualitative as lived presence of meaning.

Catharsis

Catharsis is the most beautiful state to experience meaning of being. Catharsis from the Aristotelian meaning of purging or cleansing the soul has also the modern meaning of beatific experience. We are in the state of beatification and beautification.

Negation

Negation as a presence of meaning is to express Sartre’s ‘nothingness’, a technique to annihilate negativity. Negation is the broom with which we sweep the dusty corridors of the human mind.

Celebration

My existential view unlike Sartre and Camus is life is the celebration of meaning meant to live with cheerful optimism. Life is the carnival of heaven and poem of celebration on earth.

Cognition and Perception

Cognition and Perception are the intellectual tools for gaining data from the world of senses. It is a process which I call as transcendental realism. It is a blend of the concrete and the abstract idea. It is the pedagogy of living experiences.

Camus

For Camus existentialism meant that life is chaotic, absurd, meaningless, monotonous and repetitive. He compares absurdity to the myth of Sisyphus and in it Sisyphus is condemned by the Gods to roll a boulder uphill only to find that it rolls down and he is forced to do this meaningless task. For me Camus’ metaphor of the Sisyphus is to be rewritten and  as each times he rolls the stone, Sisyphus does it creatively and differently and this way he avoids repetition and monotony. Sisyphus is a hero who celebrates life’s meaning.

Sartre

Sartre in his enigmatic statement said: ‘we are condemned to be free’ as we are sole responsibility for the choices that we make. If we put our responsibility on others or on God we are acting in bad faith. He terms the obstacles that we face as facticity. Revising Sartre, I would like to say we should we wise and prudent when we make choices with the keenness of perception and discernment so that our choices don’t fall to folly and ruin. I say that the choices we make in life makes privileged beings.

[monkey-d-ezekiel]

Morals are not circumstantial or subjective. If you think morality depends on the circumstances, or on judging whether certain people "deserve morality", then you're already on the slippery slope to immorality and selfishness.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Authenticity

The concept of authenticity is deeply rooted in existentialist philosophy and has been a significant topic of discussion in various philosophical traditions. At its core, authenticity involves living a life that is true to one's self, values, and beliefs, rather than conforming to external pressures or societal expectations. This exploration delves into the philosophy of authenticity, its origins, key ideas, and its relevance in contemporary life.

Key Concepts in the Philosophy of Authenticity

Existentialism and Authenticity:

Origins: The notion of authenticity is most closely associated with existentialist philosophers such as Søren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Kierkegaard: Kierkegaard emphasized the importance of individual faith and subjective experience, urging individuals to make authentic choices that reflect their true selves.

Heidegger: In "Being and Time," Heidegger discusses authenticity as being true to one's own existence (Dasein) and not succumbing to the "they-self," which represents societal norms and expectations.

Sartre: Sartre's existentialism posits that existence precedes essence, meaning individuals must create their own essence through authentic choices, taking full responsibility for their actions.

Authenticity and Self-Discovery:

Concept: Authenticity involves a continuous process of self-discovery and self-creation.

Argument: To be authentic, one must engage in introspection and recognize their own desires, values, and beliefs, distinguishing them from those imposed by society.

Authenticity vs. Inauthenticity:

Concept: Inauthenticity arises when individuals conform to external pressures and live in a way that is not true to themselves.

Argument: Heidegger describes inauthenticity as living according to the "they-self," where individuals adopt the roles, behaviors, and beliefs dictated by others rather than their own.

Freedom and Responsibility:

Concept: Authenticity is closely linked to the existentialist notion of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.

Argument: Sartre asserts that individuals are "condemned to be free," meaning they must take responsibility for their choices and the authenticity of their lives, without blaming external factors.

Authenticity in Modern Life:

Concept: The pursuit of authenticity remains relevant in the context of modernity, where societal norms, technological advancements, and consumer culture often challenge individual authenticity.

Argument: In contemporary society, maintaining authenticity involves resisting the pressures of social media, consumerism, and other external influences that promote a superficial or conformist lifestyle.

Theoretical Perspectives on Authenticity

Existentialist Perspective:

View: Existentialists emphasize the importance of individual choice and responsibility in achieving authenticity.

Argument: Authenticity is achieved through existential freedom, where individuals define their own essence and live according to their true selves.

Humanistic Psychology:

View: Humanistic psychologists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow highlight authenticity as a crucial aspect of self-actualization and personal growth.

Argument: Authentic living is necessary for psychological well-being and fulfillment, as it allows individuals to realize their true potential.

Postmodern Critique:

View: Postmodern thinkers critique the concept of authenticity, questioning the possibility of a true, stable self in a world of constant change and fluid identities.

Argument: Authenticity may be seen as a constructed ideal rather than an attainable state, with the self being a product of various social, cultural, and historical influences.

Cultural and Social Perspectives:

View: Cultural and social theorists examine how authenticity is influenced by cultural norms and social contexts.

Argument: The quest for authenticity must consider the diverse ways in which different cultures and societies understand and value authentic living.

The philosophy of authenticity centers on the pursuit of a life that is true to one's self, free from the constraints of external pressures and societal expectations. Rooted in existentialist thought, it emphasizes self-discovery, individual freedom, and responsibility. While authenticity remains a crucial concept in contemporary life, it is also subject to critique and reinterpretation, reflecting the complexities of modern existence.

[xokp]

Joy & Kindness in the Void: Navigating Meaning in a Postmodern World

It’s so easy to become cynical. Too easy. Postmodernism has done a number on us. Many of us are quite aware that nothing we see has any meaning in and of itself. Meaning occurs at the interface of observer and observed. But some of us are more susceptible to the uncertainty of post-modernity. I get lost in the particle/wave duality of life. I drown in the seductively stagnant waters that puddle…

[rotenotes]

post-structuralism @wikipedia (20131024)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism [accessdate=20131024] {{for|the application of this theory to international relations|Post-structuralism (international relations)}} {{Philosophy sidebar}}{{Semiotics}}{{Postmodernism}} ”’Post-structuralism”’ is a label formulated by American academics to denote the heterogeneous works of a series of mid-[[20th-century French philosophy|20th-century…