Continental Philosophy

The history of existentialism and phenomenology in Continental philosophy was in direct response to Hegel's philosophy of idealism. Roots of this history can be traced all the way back to Pre-Socratic philosophies. Hegelian idealism faced tremendous disagreement from the key contributors of existentialism and phenomenology, and this difference of opinion was made quite clear in the written work of the philosophers that followed. This movement away from Hegelian idealism in English-speaking countries became what is now known as Continental philosophy.

The core belief of existentialism is that traditional philosophy does not address the matters of real life. Philosophy has to center itself on each individual's experience with the world. Existentialism believed that the world is not rational and is completely beyond understanding why it is the way it is. They believe that Humanity is plagued with irrationality, emptiness, and poor communication leading to despair; and that each individual must decide how to live in a world as such. Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche were philosophers of the nineteenth century who opposed Hegel's idealism. They believed that optimistic philosophy did not address the true understanding of humanity and that without dealing with the true nature of humanity the individual will never be able to find purpose in life.

Kierkegaard was cynical of Hegel's ideas that individuals merge into a intangible hollowness, and Kierkegaard stressed the individual's control over actions and choices. Kierkegaard believed the individual inevitably felt despair when facing any real ethical or religious decisions of any lasting import, and only an individual's commitment to the endlessness and to God can the individual find reprieve. Nietzsche was influenced to believe the world was ruled by "cosmic will" rather than by logic or intelligence. Nietzsche did not see eye to eye with Schopenhauer as to the makeup of "cosmic will;" instead Nietzsche believed the world was decided by "will-to-power." Nietzsche thought that instead of turning to religious values and God, one determines his own values. Nietzsche also explained that there is no truth, only one's interpretations, and he subscribed to the theory that history repeats itself.

Kierkegaard and Nietzsche were advocates to the belief that nineteenth century European philosophy and civilization as a whole were disguised in single-mindedness, indifference, and self-indulgence. These beliefs quickly spread into the area of literature, creating and spreading the existentialist philosophy movement as a direct response to the social ills. These existentialistic views were embraced by many authors, in addition to philosophers of the century. Two of these authors who were also considered great existentialist philosophers were Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre and were known for their contribution to the movement through their many philosophical tracts. Camus' main philosophical query was: Is there a reason not to kill oneself? Camus believed that many people live without really understanding the true nature of life or the waste of life filled with artificial hope even though their life is filled with despair. His feeling was that one is unfamiliar to oneself without the ability to recognize one's own incapability to build up one's essential needs. Camus believed these essential needs were the need for clear understanding and the need for social interaction, warmth, and contact.

Contrary to Camus, who was unsure whether there was a God, Sartre was an Atheist who believed the absence of God caused some serious repercussions in philosophy. He believed that since there is no God, there is no divine creator of humans or the ideal