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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sam who wrote (480373)

9/30/2021 4:00:28 PM

From: koan

Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 541248

Yes, we all do it, but we don't all believe it, or even understand it, because it is something one has to see in their minds eye.

Which takes us back to knowledge directed perception:" one cannot see what they do not understand.'

Existentialism requires abstract thinking. i.e., the ability e.g. to see that all religions are most likely myths because none have a scientific base, or understanding how environments shape people.

Big picture stuff.

Few see reality with much sophistication. Most people are simple reflections of their culture, and which is why it is impossible to explain existentialism to an uneducated person.

I think Russell would be fine with my characterization of him being an existentialist inasmuch as he was among the most educated people of the last century and a hard core atheist which he openly touted, unlike Einstein.

I would argue as well both Nietzsche and Plato were basically existentialists.

Plato being among the first with his allegory of the Cave, and Nietzsche was light years ahead of others in his time and both quite contemporary intellectually.

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The idea of existentialism is that the person defines reality based on their own experiences...

You clearly do that.

Russell clearly would disagree your characterization of him as an "existentialist" unless you mean by it, someone who "defines reality based on their own experiences". In that case, though, everyone is an existentialist. Because everyone does that.