Justifying Our Existence: An Essay in Applied Phenomenology (New Studies in Phenomenology and Hermeneutics)

In his magnum opus Being in Time (1927), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) argued that individuals have assumed that their existence is "a given," when in actual fact they simply have the ability to be. Justifying Our Existence examines the ways in which human beings attempt to calm their existential concerns by magnifying and proving their existence through phenomena such as self-righteousness, careerism, nationalism, and religion. Using remarkably accessible and concise writing, Graeme Nicholson provides a close reading of Heidegger's methods to indicate how his work has a practical application for existential concerns. Justifying Our Existence shows how phenomenology can be used to foreground existence, while also providing startling insights into human behaviour, the motivation behind many of our social systems, as well as one of the twentieth century's most important philosophers. In His Magnum Opus Being And Time (1927), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) Argued That Individuals Have Assumed That Their Existence Is 'a Given, ' When In Fact They Simply Have The Ability To Be. Justifying Our Existence Examines The Ways In Which Human Beings Attempt To Create Meaning In Their Lives, Often By Magnifying And Proving Their Existence Through Phenomena Such As Self-righteousness, Careerism, Nationalism, And Religion. In This Study, Graeme Nicholson Analyses Heidegger's Methods To Indicate How His Work Has A Practical Application For Existential Concerns. Nicholson Shows How Phenomenology, As Defined By Heidegger, Can Be Used To Explore Fundamental Questions Of Human Existence, While Shedding New Light On Important Aspects Of Human Behaviour And The Motivation Behind Many Of Our Social Systems. Justifying Our Existence Touches On Many Realms Of Everyday Human Experience - Both Political And Personal While Offering Fresh Insights On One Of The Twentieth Century's Most Important Philosophers.--jacket. Introduction -- Life, Existence, Being -- Phenomenology -- How Our Being Concerns Us -- Ability To Be -- Existence -- Die Sorge: Care, Concern -- Phenomenology Of Da-sein: The Self -- Phenomenology Of Existence: Ecstasis -- Being As The Ability To Be -- 'letter On Humanism' -- Excursus: 'exist' In The Philosophical Tradition -- Transition: Formalism And Application -- Magnifying The Self -- Phenomenology And Hermeneutics -- Meaning Of Success -- Failure -- Achievement -- Magnifying The Self And Magnifying Its Being -- Justifying The Self -- Morality -- Concept Of Justification -- Inauthenticity -- Phenomenology Of Inauthenticity -- Shame And Remorse -- Conscience And Guilt -- Ascetic Autonomy -- Magnifying The Community -- Existence And Community -- Magnifying The Polis -- Nation: Magnitude Through Justification -- Militant Religion -- Justifying The Community -- Caring For The Polis -- Existence And History -- Nation And Civilization -- Spiritual Existence -- What Is Spirit? -- Existing Spirit -- Phenomenology Of Spirit: Intensity -- Problem Of Grounding -- God And The Self -- Forgiveness And Justification -- Spiritual Community -- Conclusion -- Heidegger's Question Concerning The Meaning Of Being. Graeme Nicholson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 5 Acknowledgments 7 1. INTRODUCTION 9 2. THE ABILITY TO BE 27 3. MAGNIFYING THE SELF 58 4. JUSTIFYING THE SELF 83 5. MAGNIFYING THE COMMUNITY 119 6. JUSTIFYING THE COMMUNITY 133 7. A SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE 149 8. CONCLUSION 177 Notes 181 Index 197