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Existentialism: Roles of Teacher and LearnerPosted by: Ginny on: March 14, 2012

• In: Existentialism

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The teacher in existentialist education is there to provide pathways for students to explore their own

values, meanings, and choices. In order to do this, learners need to be aware of as many options and

choices as possible; they need to feel empowered and free to determine their own values and

identities; and they need a multiplicity of experiences to enhance their self-awareness. The teacher’s

primary responsibility is to provide all these things, and to maintain a learning environment where

students feel encouraged to express themselves through discussion, creative projects, and choice of

study areas.

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elf-expression is a !ey component of existentialist education.

The role of the student is to determine their own values and identity. "xistentialist education

recogni#es the role of both culture and individual nature in identity formation. The existentialist

student maintains a dialogue between the self and cultural values$ considering the self in cultural

context, and considering cultural values in relation to the self.

%reedom, choice, and responsibility form a complex interrelation in existentialist philosophy. The

student is free to form and pursue their own values, but that freedom comes includes ta!ing full

responsibility for those values. The existentialist student accepts responsibility for their own values,

feelings, and actions, because these have been self-generated rather than dictated by an authority.

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&iscussion and interaction between students helps each understand their own values within the social

context.

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In order to understand the role of existentialism in education, one must first develop a through

comprehension of existentialism in general. This can be very difficult at times, largely due to the fact

that this field of philosophy, like many, is a bit abstract. Once understood, it it easy to see how

existentialism could potentially benefit both the student and the teacher. It's also apparent that this is

a controversial subject.

xistentialism is premised on the individual. It is geared toward the fact each person's reality is

based on themselves. There is no universal concept of what is real rather only unlimited variations of 

personal perspectives of life. !hat might be real to one person may not be the case for the next and

so on and so forth until the end of time.

This is not the end of existentialism but only the beginning. !hile the many hardships that plague

humanity are somewhat universal, existentialists claim that the difference between the happy and

sad are in which reality each person creates for him" or herself. It is up to the individual to build a

reality in which he or she feels important and fulfilled, and accomplishing this is what brings a life

meaning or allows a person to feel sorrowful and empty. This is the backbone of existentialism.

 #d

xistentialism in education is significant in a number of ways. $ome argue that existentialism should

be taught to students of all levels. Others feel that the role of existentialism in education should be

reserved for higher education.

In many ways, existentialism in education could also manifest itself at the teacher level. %or

example, teachers who feel that what they are doing for a living is beneficial to others are more likely

to do a better job than those who are simply in it to get by. &ost teachers who embody a deeper

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meaning in their work are more passionate, personable, and effective in the classroom. This is

another example of how existentialism in education can be critical.

ike most beliefs of philosophical or religious nature, there is always room for debate. !hile some

scholars, administrators, teachers, or students may feel that existentialism has a role in education,

others are likely to argue the two should be separated. !hether being taught as part of a curriculumor embodied by a teacher or student, there is no doubt that this philosophical outlook has ties with

the educational system.

Examples of ExistentialismExistentialism is a philosophical theory that people are free agents who have

control over their choices and actions. Existentialists believe that society

should not restrict an individual’s life or actions and that these restrictions

inhibit free will and the development of that person’s potential.

 To understand existentialism it is important to look at examples of existential

actions, questions and situations. It is also fun to look at the movie world to

see which movies and directors were famous for their use of existentialism.

Common Existential Actions•  Taking responsibility for your own actions

• iving your life without regard to commonly!held religious or social beliefs• "elieving as an educator that that being a teacher is a providing a bene#cial

and critical role in the growth of students• $elling all of your belongings and riding a bike across the %.$. to earn money

for autism.• &etermining your career choice based on what you think is an important way

to spend your future.

Questions Can Be Existential

 To get a better grasp of how existentialism looks at life, here are examples of 

existential questions'

• (ho am I)•

(hat is my real nature or identity)• (hat is the meaning of life)• (hat is the meaning of existence)• (hat is my greater purpose)• (hat is death)• (hat happens when I die)• Is there a god)• If there is a god, what is the nature of god)

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Existential Crisis Examples

(hen there is a tragedy or ma*or life change, sometimes we start questions

our real identity. This is called an existential crisis.

+ere are examples'

•  ou identify yourself as an athlete and have a promising career. Then youhave a severe in*ury and your career is over. -t that point, you would have anexistential crisis because you have de#ned yourself as an athlete.

• If you are raised to believe that od rewards good people and punishes badpeople, you may have a problem coping with in*ustice or cruel acts in/icted bybad people on good people.

•  ou see yourself as a parent so when the children leave the home, you arefaced with a crises in how you perceive yourself.

•  ou are a soldier and you have been told that you will be considered a hero

by people you are trying to help. Then you #nd out that they hate you.•  ou fall in love and want to live with that person forever. Then you discover

that person does not feel the same way.

Existentialism in the Arts• -lice in (onderland ! -lice wishes she hadn’t come there but it was her

decision and no one else’s.• In the song, 0%nwritten1 by 2atasha "eding#eld, the lyrics explain that no

one else can take the blame' 3eel the rain on your skin4 2o one else can feel itfor you4 5nly you can let it in4 2o one else, no one else

• In the movie 0$tranger than 3iction1 ! 6rofessor +ilbert suggests that +arold

can do whatever he wants to, even if it *ust means eating nothing but pancakeswith the point being that he should go out and live his life.

• 7onty 6ython dealt with existentialism in their 89:; #lm 07onty 6ython<s The7eaning of ife1

• -n example of an existential play would be the movie 0I +eart +uckabees.1 Inthis movie a character uses a blanket to symboli=e the universe and that eachpart of the blanket is a person or thing.

•  Theatre of the -bsurd has roots in existentialism as shown in 0(aiting forodot1 by $amuel "eckett, where characters discuss their lives while waiting forodot.

• In 02o Exit1 by >ean!6aul $artre, people are left in a room and they think it ishell but no one arrives to torture them. The soon see that they are there to

torture each other and they discuss each other’s lives and actions.

Directors of Existentialist Films

+ere are movie directors who are well!known for their existentialist #lms'

• -kira ?urosawa• @harlie ?aufman

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• @hristopher 2olan• 3ranAois TruBaut• Ingmar "ergman•  >ean!uc odard• $tanley ?ubrick• (es -nderson• (oody -llen

 These are all diBerent examples that can help you to understand

existentialism.