Cassie Boorn » philosophy book club

Existentialism

cassie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:08:30 +0000

Sometimes when I tell people that I am a Philosophy major I feel like a total dork. I feel like eyes glaze over and the world turns dark. I wish I had a more articulate way of saying that philosophy is SO not boring.

I found this image yesterday and fell in love. Not because I believe in all of the statements that they are making but because this is pure philosophy. The definition of existentialism, which was created by Sarte. Remember Sarte? The book club I am failing to start?

Existentialism gives you freedom that most philosophies/theologies do not.

I think that every person belonging to a religious argument could find some part of existentialism encouraging. God gave you a life so that you could experience it. He gave you a body/soul/mind so you could change the world. Fix problems. Raise babies and contemplate. God didn’t give you a life simply so you could focus on death and what will come after.

So whether you believe in a God or Gods or Goddesses or nothing at all or everything that is…Create meaning for your life. Do something. Change the world.

This Image came from here. There is some amazing conversation happening in the comments.

cassie — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:01:52 +0000

“Spinozas God was everywhere, could not be spoke to, did not respond if prayed to, was very much in every particle of the universe, without beginning and without end. Buried and unburied, Jewish and not, Portuguese but not really, Dutch but not quite, Spinoza belonged nowhere and everywhere.”

-Antonio Damasio

I started a new book today.

Book Club–Being and Nothingness

cassie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:04:32 +0000

I have noticed some people starting online book clubs. Here is the deal, I read a lot. Not just books but blogs, magazines, newspapers, and articles. The books that I read are rarely interesting to other people. Which makes me a little sad.

I am soon starting to work my way through Being and Nothingness by Jean Paul Sartre. From what I hear this book can be life changing. So, I would like to invite my readers and the rest of this fantastic bloggosphere to join me in not just making my way through the book but actually diving into intellectual discussion.

Here is what you need to do…

1.) If you want to take part leave a comment on this post and let me know.

2.) Go buy the book or pick it up at the library. (You can find it for around $5 here, and no that is not an affiliate link)

3.) Each week I will post the reading “assignment” on Tuesday. Every Friday I will post a conversation around the section filled with favorite quotes and questions to help inspire thought. We can dive into the conversation via commenting.

I am hoping with all my might that at least SOMEONE will take part in this. If not, I will still be reading being and nothingness all by myself. Please don’t make me do that…