Existentialism was a subject that I had heard mentioned multiple times before this class, but I never knew what it meant. After reading it and presenting it to the class (at least Sartre’s view on it), I found that there are some very pertinent truths within its multiple layers. First, I really connected with the existential idea of choices and the belief that humans have the ability to create the life they want through these choices. As a young adult, I feel that I am just embarking on the long journey through life. Through class discussions, class readings, and the various speakers, I have learned that life is not as everlasting as it seems now. This, in turn, has led me to start to consider my choices in life and how I am spending and shaping every minute it. In the end, (unlike the existentialists), I believe that I will face my Creator and have to give an account of my time and the things I was able to accomplish. What really spoke to me was Sartre’s quote, “I await myself in the future, where I make an appointment with myself on the other side…Anguish is the fear of not finding myself at that appointment, of no longer even wishing to be there”(Palmer 287). I wonder how much of my life I spend looking toward the future and planning for it, instead of focusing on how my choices now are going to affect my future self. The greatest tragedy would be to look back at a life wasted, when time has already run out.
I think Michelle brings up one of the ultimate fears that we has humans have, regret. A regret that we did not make the right choices, that we did not live life to the fullest, or take advantage of the time given to use. I think that Sarte in his quote above is talking about planning for the future and what he wants but not making the right decisions and ultimately not making it. I feel like this is often the cause. We often live for tomorrow and forget about today.
Existentialism was a subject that I had heard mentioned multiple times before this class, but I never knew what it meant. After reading it and presenting it to the class (at least Sartre’s view on it), I found that there are some very pertinent truths within its multiple layers. First, I really connected with the existential idea of choices and the belief that humans have the ability to create the life they want through these choices. As a young adult, I feel that I am just embarking on the long journey through life. Through class discussions, class readings, and the various speakers, I have learned that life is not as everlasting as it seems now. This, in turn, has led me to start to consider my choices in life and how I am spending and shaping every minute it. In the end, (unlike the existentialists), I believe that I will face my Creator and have to give an account of my time and the things I was able to accomplish. What really spoke to me was Sartre’s quote, “I await myself in the future, where I make an appointment with myself on the other side…Anguish is the fear of not finding myself at that appointment, of no longer even wishing to be there”(Palmer 287). I wonder how much of my life I spend looking toward the future and planning for it, instead of focusing on how my choices now are going to affect my future self. The greatest tragedy would be to look back at a life wasted, when time has already run out.
ReplyDeleteI think Michelle brings up one of the ultimate fears that we has humans have, regret. A regret that we did not make the right choices, that we did not live life to the fullest, or take advantage of the time given to use. I think that Sarte in his quote above is talking about planning for the future and what he wants but not making the right decisions and ultimately not making it. I feel like this is often the cause. We often live for tomorrow and forget about today.
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