Is existentialism a good or bad philosophy?

Question

Is existentialism a good or bad philosophy?

Answer 1

Good,bad?

Its hard to use these terms in philosophy especially when good or bad is subjective.

However if you meant good or bad as in lots of arguments in its favour and little arguments in its favour...then it is "good".

Existentialsm has a lot of arguments in its favour.

Answer 2

You ought to define your terms a bit better.

IMHO, there are as many different "existentialisms" are there are thinkers who bore -- or who get assigned -- the label.

These various thinkers bear to one another only a rather vague family resemblance, an "existential" connection you might say, without any essential commonality.

Personally, I find the work of Camus inspiring and incisive. Or, if you prefer ... good philosophy. Heidegger... bad. Very bad.  

Answer 3

Most Existentialists hold to a theory of consciousness influenced by Husserl, and thus ultimately Brentano. Since both of these men were mistaken about the nature of consciousness, this leads to huge problems in the philosophies that follow after them. Most Existentialists also take seriously the idea of essence, which has no evidence in it's favor.

Over all, important points are made by Existentialists, but many of these are important because they show us what *not* to think is true. Since coming as close as we can to truth is what decides the value of philosophy, I would say this makes Existentialism mostly a waste of time.

Answer 4

i don't think that I'd say the philosophy of existence is "bad"

Answer 5

You have been given one of the best answers I've ever seen here.  In the wake of  neil s, I shall not even attempt to provide you with an answer.

Choose wisely, my friend.

Answer 6

Good philosophy

Answer 7

It is a matter on what you believe in if such philosophy is good or bad. The Frenchman John-Paul Sarte was the most prominent exponent of existentialism. His philosophy is explicitly atheistic and pessimistic; he declared that human beings require a rational basis for their lives but are unable to achieve one and thus human life is a "futile passion".

Descartes and Leibnitz believed that before the creation the concept of man existed in essence in the mind of God, just as a machine exists in the mind of a manufacturer before it is constructed. Sartre takes exception to this. In The Humanism of Existentialism, he writes: "Aethistic existentialism, which I represent, is more coherent. It states that if God does not exist, there is at least one being in whom existence precedes essence, a being who exists before he can be defined by any concept, and that this being is man, or, as Heidegger says, human reality."

But i leave this question to you: Where does human reality come from?

Answer 8

All philosophies are aspects, facets of an enduring and universal Truth. Existentialism is born of man’s need to extricate himself from the mercy and affliction of the prevailing will and pre-determinator, and live by one’s own counsel, conscience and will, assuming responsibility for all that befalls and ensues.

It fails in that no matter how perfect ones thinking, outlook and created little home world, external and invasive factors invariably have causal effect upon man and his intentions are compromised by events beyond his control.

The concept is sound, sadly if ones environment is not under ones complete control then perfection and wholesomeness is eroded by the arbitrary actions of external components.

Existentialism therefore requires surrounding equanimity, a balanced atmosphere wherein man is responsible and in control, whilst mindful of his actions affecting the reactions of those about him and the long term envisable consequences of the same said.