Existentialism, Identity, and Critical Theory Concepts

Philosophy: Core Concepts

Existentialism: Crisis and Meaning

Existentialism addresses the existential crisis and the search for the meaning of life and its purpose in a world perceived as lacking inherent meaning. Key figures include Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Nietzsche's Contributions

• Concept: "God is dead."
• Idea: "Slave morality."

Sartre's Philosophy

Sartre famously stated: "Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you." His major work is "Being and Nothingness".

The Frankfurt School

Established in 1929, the Frankfurt School was characterized by being open-minded and self-critical. It posed critical questions:

• Why does the progress of capitalism and modernity lead not to liberation but to regressive and repressive forms of power?

Key areas of critique included:

• Bureaucratization
• Structures of production
• Culture as commercialized product

Methodological focus: Historical analysis, totality, ideology, supradisciplinarity, critique of everyday life, and reason.

Simone de Beauvoir

Associated with Sartre, Beauvoir explored free will, desire, and rights. Her central tenet is that we are born free, thrown into existence without a divine purpose.

She argued: "Freedom which is interested only in demanding freedom, must be rejected." Her seminal work is "The Second Sex," asserting that gender is not predestined.

Octavio Paz

A significant literary figure, Paz authored:

• "The Labyrinth of Solitude": A fundamental essay on Mexican identity and the individual's relationship with society.
• "Piedra de sol": One of his most famous poems.

Identity Concepts

Identity refers to a group or individual's sense of self.

Types of Identity

• Social Identity: Membership in particular groups (social class, nation, gender, culture, etc.).
• Cultural Identity: The identity of a group, or an individual as influenced by that group.
• National Identity: A country's distinct values and beliefs.

Karl Marx and Marxism

Marxism is based on the critical analysis of capitalism, seeking to understand the dynamics of power, economic exploitation, and social inequalities. Marxists advocate for the revolution of society to establish a more just and equitable social organization. Marx and Engels proposed communism.

Nietzsche: The Will to Power

The Will to Power is considered a fundamental force driving life and the world, underlying all other human motivations. Interpretations vary:

• Some argue it signifies a will to dominate and control.
• Others suggest it represents an affirmation of life and a search for transcendence.

Albert Camus and the Absurd

Camus posited that it is useless for human beings to undertake any intellectual quest to find the meaning of life, simply because there is no meaning. This idea summarizes the philosophy of the absurd, linked to currents like existentialism or nihilism.

Miguel León Portilla

Portilla authored extensive works studying the beliefs and traditions of indigenous communities in Mexico. Important titles include:

• Nahuatl Philosophy (1956)
• The Vision of the Vanquished (1959)