From Others and Suspension, a Brief Escape From Confinement: Read "We Are in an Existential Cafe"

Unlike most philosophers, in addition to the description and construction of philosophical theories, Jean-Paul Sartre also likes to write "biographies". Saud immersed himself in the past of historical figures, thinking about how things happened and why they made such choices at a "critical moment" in their lives.

human condition

There is such a difference, because Saudi Arabia has thought of and emphasized the "situationality" in our lives. We are always living in a lot of constraints, some we can change, but some we can not or very difficult to fight against, can only turn away, or run away. Even if it is a situation that can be changed, it is very likely that we do not realize it at all, and we are used to it and let time pass under the burden in vain.

It is indeed possible for us to improve our situation; but even to change, we fall under the jurisdiction of another situation. No matter how it is improved, people must still live under certain limitations. One of the most obvious experiences is the "past." No matter how much power and wealth I can gain in the future, it still cannot change the fact that I did not have in the past.

When things are thrown into the past, they can never be undone, leaving a permanent imprint on our lives.

Will it inspire me? : His Situation and Thoughts

So what can we do? We might be able to "go out" to see how other people's situation is different from ours, and then ask that "why." Open our eyes and make it possible for situations on both sides to affect each other. Therefore, Saud does not seem to regard "biography" as something other than philosophy. On the contrary, in his view: discussing a person's thoughts and choices in his situation is also discussing philosophy; because "philosophy" is philosophy in situation, it is a burst of "philosophy" in a person's living life predicament. Even if it can't be changed, at least I need to understand more about how it all works'; there can be no philosophy beyond that.

The author of this book, Sarah. According to Sarah Bakewell, the same may be true. This 500-page book not only introduces many philosophical theories that we usually read as "mysterious and mysterious" in a clear and intimate way. It also spends a lot of space explaining how specific life experiences such as war, politics, and love have triggered and shaken the ideas of these philosophers. She named Saudi and Simon. With Simone de Beauvoir as the center, he narrates the experiences and thoughts of a whole generation of French and German existentialists. Through this book, we can deeply feel that the crisis and pulse of the times are closely related to the philosophy constructed by existentialists.

"Suspended" Cafe

"If you are a phenomenologist, you can talk about philosophy from this cocktail!" It can be said that it was Raymond Aron's statement in the cafe that started the existentialist trend of the French generation. Ahong is a friend of Saudi Arabia and Beauvoir. According to Beauvoir, it was Ahong who brought the word "phenomenology" into his life circle. Unlike other philosophical theories, phenomenology emphasizes that we go back to our own experience and try to describe our experience as best we can—rather than judge it. In the process of describing, we must continually "suspend" our past evaluations and other knowledge and focus on the experience.

This sounds very mysterious, and it is easy to be misunderstood, thinking that "suspending" is to deny all knowledge and opinions in the past. But in fact, "suspending" is neither doubt nor denial, but just temporarily "putting aside" something.

We can make a little imagination: there is a pair of good friends, Xiao Ming and Xiao Huang, who are always inseparable and stick together, and make similar reactions. So how do we get to know these two people better? One of the steps is: when we observe Xiaoming's reaction to something, we first put Xiaohuang aside, and don't think about "what is the same between Xiaoming and Xiaohuang?", "the difference between Xiaoming and Xiaohuang." where?”; and when looking at Xiao Huang, the same is true. Then, in the end, our "suspension" will help us get to know these two people better.

This is what "suspended" and "phenomenology" can bring us; the suspension of all religious, political and intellectual authority brings "existentialism" to Sartre and Beauvais. What about us? After suspending textbooks, news, friends and family, and our own prejudices, and returning to our experience itself, what new perspectives will it bring?

This article was first published on Readmoo, and I would like to thank you

Link: https://news.readmoo.com/2022/04/04/220404-at-the-existentialist-cafe/