How would I relate existentialism to "change" or changing in an individual?

Question

I have to do a speech for English about change, and how literary conventions, themes and techniques in personally selected texts help embody change or show change in people (you also have to personally relate it to yourself at some point in the speech).

I have selected texts (and both texts concern existentialism and change in some way).

What I am wondering is what are some elemental or foundational concepts of existentialism philosophy that I could interrelate to change or change in a person/shifts in perspectives?

Ideas or just small amounts of info are appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello:

Existentialism is a philosophy that is based in the idea that your consciousness is based in yourself and so the only person you can really know is yourself.  Other people being outside of your consciousness makes it impossible to know the why of what they are doing...you can never know how much deception if any is involved).  

It is also a philosophy of being in the moment where life exists.  While the past is something that you may have to own up to...it is yours and you cannot deny it, however this philosophy also has at its core choice...that is to say that one can be whatever it is they will themselves to be...  This is to say that if I wish to be brave then I must be truly brave...i must avoid lying to myself in bad faith.  

Pretty much it comes down to choice...I once wrote a paper on Bartleby the Scrivener where a character while at work simply chooses not to work any longer.  He simply replies "I would prefer not to" whenever it pleases him.  That is what I mean by making a choice...regardless of the situation because it is what you will.  

As for change...well Sartre thought that whenever you acted...that was a way of choosing the morality of your action for the rest of the world.  Moreover if you saw an injustice and did not act to end it...even in some small way...then you are in fact choosing said injustice...you are saying "I would rather live in a world with this injustice than do something about it".  

In a way existentialism would validate someone changing their beliefs/actions "on a dime" because if they suddenly see why the other position is correct...the only thing to do is change in order to be honest with ones self.  

If you need clarifications please contact me.

I hope this helps

Rev Phil