Hello Readers!
In this flipped learning blog, Existentialism is taken as a topic to learn. In the paper of 20th Century Literature: From WW II to the End of the Century,an Absurd play, "Waiting for Godot" is studied as part of the syllabus in M.A Sem 2. In order to understand the play better, it is necessary to know what is existentialism and how this philosophical movement leads one to think as an individual.
The process of flipped learning is very interesting. At first place a teacher shares his/her blog link to students, which leads them to another website and there they find another blog about the flipped learning topic and there students watch video resources and read the material. The task of the students is to ask questions from the videos they've just watched.
Please visit this blog for detailed videos and reading resources of existentialism.
Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. It holds that, as there is no God or any other transcendent force, the only way to counter this nothingness (and hence to find meaning in life) is by embracing existence.
Short Summary of 10 videos:
Video-1 What is Existentialism
Here is the existenalist philosophers:
1. Soren Kierkegaard
2. Martin Heideggar
3. Jean Paul Sartre
4. Albert Camus
5. Friedrich Nietzsche
6. Simon De Beauvoir
Though existentialists differ in their views on Existentialism but in a one or another way they share a basic belief of this term. From this video I like that triangle idea of freedom, individuality and passion which are the three sides of Existentialism. Along with it, the idea of philosophical suicide is quite interesting.
Another important point discussed in this video is that Camus denied to be an Existentialist. He himself does not consider himself as an Existentialist. Because for him believe in God itself is philosophical suicide. If you choose an easy way out by concluding your thinking by looking at divine perspective itself is a Death of your thinking process, and also a question mark on your existence.
Video 2: The Myth of Sisyphus: The Absurd Reasoning (Feeling of the Absurd)
"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide."
(Albert Camus)
Albert Camus compared Existentialism with Philosophical Suicide. What Camus argues regarding suicide is that, when a person find there is no meaning in life, life is not worth living and in this despair he commits suicide.
When we start thinking we may recognize the absurdities of life and uselessness of things which we are doing and worldly suffering. And the thought of suicide may come that it is better to die than living. So, when we start thinking, the thought of killing oneself may come to mind.
"Beginning to think is beginning to be undermined"
There is a direct connection between Feelings and Longing for death. Once you start thinking you will know life is absurd. But after knowing this truth the two questions arise…
Does this absurdity require one to escape through 'Hope'?
Does this absurdities require one to escape through 'Suicide'?
So, Camus for suicide is an act of bravery which required lot's of thinking. Now the question arises: Is there any logic in suicide and Camus answers….
I cannot know unless I pursue, without reckless passion, in the sole light of the evidence, the reasoning of which I am here suggesting the source. This is what I call absurd reasoning.
(Camus)
Video 3: The Myth of Sisyphus: the notion of philosophical suicide
This video talks about things like what is absurd and how does it occur? The answer to this question is that Absurd is neither in the man nor in the world. It can only occur in the presence of both. It can be assumed that the world is irrational and to conceal this irrationality, a human being is needed and a kind of confrontation is needed between these two for absurd to occur.
"Absurd is neither in man not in the world, it can only occur in their presence together - man and the world"
We have to think that if there would not be any human being then there would not be any desire or human nostalgia to be satisfied. We have to accept all the consequences which we face and embrace all the consequences in our life and obviously, the absurdity ends with death.
"There can be no absurd outside the human mind and the absurd ends with death"
one may face struggle while thinking about their existence and absurdity of their life, can be resulted into…
And the last part of the video covers why Camus does not want to be known himself as an Existentialist. According to Camus Existentialism recognizes the Absurdity of life, but instead of embracing or accepting it, It tries to escape from one and in another way from absurdity. This behaviour of escapism from Absurdity is Camus terms as 'Leap.'
For Kierkegaard faith is a solution to get rid from absurdity. He said "Faith is the objective uncertainty with the repulsion of the absurd." So, This is how Camus differs from other existentialist who believe that believe in God itself is a philosophical suicide.
Video 4: Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism
This video briefly ponders upon the three philosophical concepts named Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism. Which were developed either after the First World War or either after the second world war. Let's briefly touch upon it.
Dadaism : Dadaism is an artistic movement, which emerged during 1916, in the midst of the First World War which is during 1914 to 1918. Dadaism rejects old values upon the evidence that World War first is the result of Old tradition and Conventions. Another interesting fact is that Dadaism only questions the Old tradition instead of creating new values of living life. It questions why we fail to live according to those values? Dadaism is a quest for change which is a path to new culture and civilization. Hugo Ball, Jean Arp, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco are great dadaist thinkers who were disgusted by war and found a new movement which rejects the old school of thought.
Nihilism : Nihilism is a philosophy which is rooted into the notion of meaninglessness of Life. It argues that everything on this earth cannot be known like to get every knowledge is not possible, find meaning of life is merely impossible, everything in life is baseless. So, It is a kind of Escapism and Pessimist attitude towards life. But Existentialists accept these meaninglessness and try to find answers in this irrational universe.
Existentialism : Dadaism is a movement which emerged after the First World War in the same manner Existentialism emerged after the Second World War which emphasized the existential angst of human beings. It questions Who you are? And and Don't impose upon your individual identity what other people say to you. Existentialism is a movement which is more associated with Individuality and Freedom of Choice.
Video 5: Existentialism - a gloomy philosophy
Anxiety
Despair
Absurdity
It urges one to judge away every value and choose one's own meaning in life and should take responsibilities for all the choices that have been made so far by the individual as well as accept the consequences of it. Existentialism is a Narcissistic philosophy is also an assumption. This video clarifies that being an individual does not mean that one is a narcissist. One can either choose to be a part of the herd and die or one can discover oneself as Nietzsche says-
"Become Who You Are"
Existentialism was a response to the emptiness of war. After the Second World War, the lives of the people become meaningless and devoid of any purpose with despair and hence it can be said that existentialism came to people's rescue as a cure.
Video 6: Existentialism and Nihilism: Is it one and the same?
This video explains that Existentialism and Nihilism are not the same things. Every existentialist has fought against nihilism in one or another way.
In contrast to Nihilistic ideas Existentialism is more of pursuit of individuality and accepts the absurdity of life with all its meaninglessness and still finds the answers in the Irrational Universe. And according to Camus Rebellion is the only response to the absurdity of life.
Video 7: Let us introduce Existentialism again!
This video is about the ideas regarding existentialism that how existentialist thinkers had created some of the greatest works of philosophy and literature. It reflects the history of existentialism and examines what for the existentialist is the key concern for philosophy. It also examines the meaning of the often-quoted phrase-
"existence precedes essence"
as well as explains most significantly the difference between existentialism and nihilism. Watch it out for more insight into Sartre's famous statement.
Video 8: Explain Like I'm Five: Existentialism and Nietzsche:
This is a very interesting video which tries to simplify the very concept of Existentialism by making conversation with children and by asking some basic questions about the essence of life.
Video 9: Why I like Existentialism? Eric Dodson
Video 10: Let us sum up: From Essentialism to Existentialism
The thoughts, I liked the most...
Video:1- “Believing in God is considered as philosophical suicide.”
Video:2-”Suicide is an individual act(Albert Camus).”
Video:3- “Failure reveals the existence of transcendence.”
Video:4-. “I don’t want words that other people have invented.”
Video:5- “Become who you are”
Video:6-“Nihilism means that highest values devalued themselves”
Video:7- “human, all too human.”
VIdeo:8-
Video:9-“The universe is attempting to become conscious of itself… through us…
Video:10-“A certain set of core properties that are necessary or essential for a thing to be what it is.
Video I liked the most
VIdeo-8
A video titled, 'teach me like I'm five' In this video the teachers are teaching their students about Existentialism and Nietzsche. The result is that the child who knows the meaning of Existentialism might be grown more liberal and might understand the real existence of their life.
Learning outcome:
I've learnt the topic of existentialism in very easy way. I learnt that Existentialism and Nihilism are different from one another. Absurdity has much to do with existentialism.
It is believed that Jean Paul Sartre is the pioneer of this philosophical movement, Existentialism. But actually, before Sartre, Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger were the pioneers of this movement. But due to his seminal 1946 work “Existentialism is a Humanism”, Sartre got prominence in this movement.
My Questions
Here are the questions raised during and after watching the videos.
Feedback
After this interesting flipped learning one might be clear in the concept of Existentialism because there are many videos which repeatedly gives the meaning and description of Existentialism and Existentialist. So, students can understand easily and raise the questions which they have. We had done one interesting flipped learning learning task on Traditional and Individual Talent also. This was quite amazing experience for me. The benefit is that the students can listen the twice or thrice if they have not understood. So, according to my opinion the flipped learning is best for understand one particular topic clear. The students can get chance to ask the question whatever they have.
No comments:
Post a Comment