I just ordered another one of the Great Courses. Its about Existentialism, a philosophical movement that originated in mid-twentieth century France, and has been promoted by writers like Camus, Sartre and Heidegger. I should make clear that I know absolutely nothing about Existentialism (that’s one reason I decided to take the course, that and that it was available at a substantial discount!). But I am aware that Existentialism has been very influential in modern philosophical thought, so I thought it might be a good idea to get hip to that scene.

I ordered the DVDs by phone, but that gives me immediate access to the course material by stream, so I watched 1 1/2 hours (out of 12) already. That doesn’t make me an expert, but I’m getting exposed to the material. What I’ve noticed so far is that it makes sense, it appears to be a reasonable way of looking at the world and a viable way or organizing your life. In fact, it seems to reflect the mental strategies and attitudes that already govern my behavior, how I relate to the world. I am an Existentialist! In fact, I’ve always been one.

Now why should this be? As I mentioned before, I know absolutely nothing about this philosophy except it has become very popular and influential in intellectual life today. Could it be that this way of looking at the world is a very good way of perceiving and relating to reality? I am usually pretty skeptical about philosophy, as are most folks trained in the hard sciences. Is my feeling about this due to the fact that it is actually a useful and worthwhile way of thinking? Or did I perhaps stumble on to this revelation independently? Or am I just being seduced by an intelligent and articulate lecturer. I find this potentially dangerous.

Perhaps it is just that Existentialism has become very popular and influential, that it has saturated late 20th century thought, and I have somehow absorbed it unknowingly, from my readings and my education, the Zeitgeist. Have I been indoctrinated without even realizing it? I find that scary, too. I am very proud of my own reason and intellectual independence, and I don’t like to think I’ve been programmed to think in some new, modern, trendy psychobabble. I find it especially troubling that I might have been subliminally persuaded without even realizing it. I never fully swallowed Carlos Castaneda, Freudian psychology, Ayn Rand, or Marxist-Leninism. Even as a teenager, I was able to resist grooming by Robert Heinlein. Could this be a similar ration of bullshit?

Come to think of it, I recall being really impressed by Alan Watts…

I am looking forward to finishing the course. I will follow up with a full report.