Philosophy › Section L · Contemporary philosophy and social theory › Topic L.3
Continental philosophy and existentialist themes
Enlightenment theory pictured a detached observer studying the world from outside. Continental philosophers argued that we always understand from inside a history, a body and a life we must choose how to lead. This topic covers hermeneutics, phenomenology and existentialism, with their strengths and their critics.
In this topic
- Challenging the detached observer: hermeneutics
- Phenomenology: describing experience
- Heidegger: being-in-the-world
- Worked example: when the pen runs dry
- Existentialist roots: Kierkegaard and Nietzsche
- Sartre: existence precedes essence
- Beauvoir and Fanon: freedom in a situation
- Worked example: "that's just who I am"
- The case for these traditions
- The strongest objections
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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