AboutMichael J. Motta Expertise Existentialism, existential psychology, political philosophy; some value theory and ethics. Interdisciplinary approach to the social sciences and humanities: some background in abnormal psychology, expressionist art, and modern literature. I'd defer to other experts especially in areas such as analytic philosophy and philosophy of science.
Experience Tutor, Michigan State University, Student-Athlete Support Services, 2002-2005.
Teaching Assistant, Binghamton University, Department of Philosophy, 1995. Organizations American Civil Liberties Union
Publications The Society for Laingian Studies (giardino delle parole),
Lansing State Journal, Grand Ledge Independent, beTurtle.com, Property Investor Magazine, Grand Rapids Press, eHow.com
Education/Credentials Graduate study, Binghamton University, Department of Philosophy, 1993-95.
MA in Philosophy, Michigan State University, College of Arts and Letters, 1991. Master's thesis: "Nietzsche's 'Hothouse For Strange And Choice Plants'".
BA in Social Science, Michigan State University, James Madison College, 1989.
Study abroad: Cambridge University, Trinity College, Cambridge, England, 1988.
Awards and Honors Clifford D. Clark Fellow, Binghamton University, 1993-95.
Department of Philosophy Fellowship, Michigan State University, 1991.
National Merit Scholar, Michigan State University, 1985-1989.
Question Hi, Mr. Motta. Could you explain to me the main idea of existentialism? I am in grade eight and the information I am finding is beyond my level. Thank you, Raquel
Answer Hi Raquel,
Thanks for your question. It's great to hear from younger readers!
First, I have a novel to recommend to you especially since you are young and presumably a girl. I read this novel a dozen years ago. It's about a girl who is learning the history of philosophy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie's_World
The most succinct statement of modern existentialism is perhaps Jean-Paul Sartre's "existence precedes essence". But just what does this mean?
Let me use the ancient Greek philosopher Plato by way of comparison. For Plato, the most real things are ideas, concepts, or what are known as the "Forms". For instance, there are individual leaves, but then there is the idea of what makes a leaf a leaf. For Plato, each individual leaf is less "real" (partakes of less reality) than does the idea of what a leaf is. The idea is the Form of a leaf - it's what all leaves have in common. It's their essence. So for Plato, essence precedes existence because the individual thing that exists is patterned after the Form or Idea (essence) of it. It is an imperfect example of the Form.
For existentialists such as Jean-Paul Sartre, it is the individual, (especially we human individuals) that is primary. Each individual has no prescribed essence, but rather he/she makes it and is responsibile for it. We ARE before we are anything in particular. We create ourselves rather than trying to fulfil a preordained goal. This also brings us to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who thought that beings have a natural "telos" or goal, a natural course. Sartre thinks instead that we create our own projects, our own goals, our own values. It is in this that we can say that for Sartrean existentialism, "existence precedes essence".
This all eventuates in existentialism concentrating on things such as anxiety, for since we are "condemned to be free", this freedom creates a dizzying anxiousness or vertigo, what Sarrte calls "nausea". Often though, people try to escape this radical freedom by using what Sartre calls "bad faith". Here is another answer I wrote that should be helpful regarding bad faith: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Philosophy-1361/jean-paul-sarte-existenialist.htm
