Existentialism: Roles of Teacher and Learner

Posted by: Ginny on: March 14, 2012

In: Existentialism
Leave a Comment

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 teachers
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.

Self-expression is a key component of existentialist education.

The role of the student is to determine their own values and identity. Existentialist education
recognizes 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.
Freedom, 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 taking 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.

Discussion and interaction between students helps each understand their own values within the social
context.

About these ads

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.
Existentialism 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. What 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. While 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.
Ad
Existentialism in education is significant in a number of ways. Some 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. For
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. Most teachers who embody a deeper

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.
Like most beliefs of philosophical or religious nature, there is always room for debate. While 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. Whether being taught as part of a curriculum
or embodied by a teacher or student, there is no doubt that this philosophical outlook has ties with
the educational system.

Examples of Existentialism
Existentialism 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 individuals life or actions and that these restrictions
inhibit free will and the development of that persons 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

Living your life without regard to commonly-held religious or social beliefs
Believing as an educator that that being a teacher is a providing a beneficial
and critical role in the growth of students
Selling all of your belongings and riding a bike across the U.S. to earn money
for autism.
Determining 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:

Who am I?
What is my real nature or identity?
What is the meaning of life?
What is the meaning of existence?
What is my greater purpose?
What is death?
What happens when I die?
Is there a god?
If there is a god, what is the nature of god?

Existential Crisis Examples

When there is a tragedy or major life change, sometimes we start questions
our real identity. This is called an existential crisis.
Here are examples:

You identify yourself as an athlete and have a promising career. Then you
have a severe injury and your career is over. At that point, you would have an
existential crisis because you have defined yourself as an athlete.
If you are raised to believe that God rewards good people and punishes bad
people, you may have a problem coping with injustice or cruel acts inflicted by
bad people on good people.
You see yourself as a parent so when the children leave the home, you are
faced with a crises in how you perceive yourself.
You are a soldier and you have been told that you will be considered a hero
by people you are trying to help. Then you find out that they hate you.
You 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

Alice in Wonderland - Alice wishes she hadnt come there but it was her
decision and no one elses.
In the song, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, the lyrics explain that no
one else can take the blame: Feel the rain on your skin; No one else can feel it
for you; Only you can let it in; No one else, no one else
In the movie Stranger than Fiction - Professor Hilbert suggests that Harold
can do whatever he wants to, even if it just means eating nothing but pancakes
with the point being that he should go out and live his life.
Monty Python dealt with existentialism in their 1983 film Monty Python's The
Meaning of Life
An example of an existential play would be the movie I Heart Huckabees. In
this movie a character uses a blanket to symbolize the universe and that each
part of the blanket is a person or thing.
Theatre of the Absurd has roots in existentialism as shown in Waiting for
Godot by Samuel Beckett, where characters discuss their lives while waiting for
Godot.
In No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, people are left in a room and they think it is
hell but no one arrives to torture them. The soon see that they are there to
torture each other and they discuss each others lives and actions.

Directors of Existentialist Films

Here are movie directors who are well-known for their existentialist films:

Akira Kurosawa
Charlie Kaufman

Christopher Nolan
Franois Truffaut
Ingmar Bergman
Jean-Luc Godard
Stanley Kubrick
Wes Anderson
Woody Allen

These are all different examples that can help you to understand
existentialism.