Flipped Learning is a new approach to study where the major shift of learning is from group learning to individual learning. Flipped Learning tests every single student, their ability to self-learn, their understanding level, their critical insight and their capacities to raise questions.
In Normal Atmosphere of the classroom there is a possibility that students may hesitate to ask questions and make any argument. But Flipped Learning provides a stage and space for everyone where each and individual can learn by themselves and ask questions about the concepts which they are not getting. Flipped Learning approach is also beneficial and helpful when a teacher is dealing with mixed levels students.
Flipped Learning is a pedagogical approach where Teacher provides some video recording to students to watch it, To make the concept clear. ANd students are supposed to watch the video as their Homework. And then during classroom discussion a student asks questions and the teacher is supposed to answer the questions asked by students and solve their doubts and queries.
So, This blog is also written for the topic which I learned through Flipped Learning. A task was assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir to watch 10 videos to get fundamental ideas of Existentialism. And as a part of submission we have to write the core ideas of videos, the video which we liked the most, ask questions and experience sharing of flipped learning. So, Let's get started.
Video 1 : What is Existentialism
This very first video introduces the great thinkers of Existential Philosophy and along with that it also answers What exactly Existentialism means??
Existentialism started with Soren Kierkegaard though he didn't use the term 'Existentialism.' The term Existentialism was later developed by Jean Paul Sartre after the effects of the second world war.
These all thinkers differ from one another in their existential view. But only things which all of them are sharing commonly is their emphasis more on Individuality, passions and Freedom.
Life is full of absurdity and uncertainties. And this only can be understood while we are thinking individually. If we are part of a community then everyone's thoughts may interfere in your own thinking process. But your individual thinking may lead towards choosing one path to believe in god or being a rational thinker by not believing in God.
Another important point discussed in this video is that Camus denied to be an Existentialist. He himself does not consider himself as an Existentialist. Because for him believe in God itself is philosophical suicide. If you choose an easy way out by concluding your thinking by looking at divine perspective itself is a Death of your thinking process, and also a question mark on your existence.
“I am not an existentialist.Sartre and I are always surprised to see our names linked. We have even thought of publishing a short statement in which the undersigned declare that they have nothing in common with each other and refuse to be held responsible for the debts they might respectively incur. It’s a joke actually. Sartre and I published our books without exception before we had ever met. When we did get to know each other, it was to realize how much we differed. Sartre is an existentialist, and the only book of ideas that I have published, The Myth of Sisyphus, was directed against the so-called existentialist philosophers.”
(Albert Camus interview in
'Les Nouvelles Littéraires'
15 November1945)
Video 2 : The Myth of Sisyphus: The Absurd Reasoning
(Feeling of the Absurd)
"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide."
(Albert Camus)
Albert Camus compared Existentialism with Philosophical Suicide. What Camus argues regarding suicide is that, when a person find there is no meaning in life, life is not worth living and in this despair he commits suicide.
When we start thinking we may recognize the absurdities of life and uselessness of things which we are doing and worldly suffering. And the thought of suicide may come that it is better to die than living. So, when we start thinking, the thought of killing oneself may come to mind.
"Beginning to think is beginning to be undermined"
There is a direct connection between Feelings and Longing for death. Once you start thinking you will know life is absurd. But after knowing this truth the two questions arise…
- Does this absurdity require one to escape through 'Hope'?
- Does this absurdities require one to escape through 'Suicide'?
So, Camus for suicide is an act of bravery which required lot's of thinking. Now the question arises: Is there any logic in suicide and Camus answers….
Video 3 : The Myth of Sisyphus: The notion of philosophical suicide
The feeling of absurd and the notion of absurd are two distinct concepts. When we feel that life is pointless, meaningless is a feeling of absurdity.
Now the Absurd is not present separately neither in man nor in the world. The notion of absurdity occurs with the coexistence of the world and Man where a world is full of irrationality and the world needs a person or human being to conceive that irrationality. If there is no human being then there is no desire to be accomplished and No desire means no despair and absurdity. To avoid absurdity a human being can pursue one out of two suicide…
- Philosophical Suicide
- Philosophical Suicide
To escape from absurdity one can choose physical death or one can choose philosophical death in terms of denying the truth and stop thinking. And one may face struggle while thinking about their existence and absurdity of their life, can be resulted into…
And the last part of the video covers why Camus does not want to be known himself as an Existentialist. According to Camus Existentialism recognizes the Absurdity of life, but instead of embracing or accepting it, It tries to escape from one and in another way from absurdity. This behaviour of escapism from Absurdity is Camus terms as 'Leap.'
For Kierkegaard faith is a solution to get rid from absurdity. He said "Faith is the objective uncertainty with the repulsion of the absurd." So, This is how Camus differs from other existentialist who believe that believe in God itself is a philosophical suicide.
Video 4 : Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism
This video briefly ponders upon the three philosophical concepts named Dadaism, Nihilism and Existentialism. Which were developed either after the First World War or either after the second world war. Let's briefly touch upon it.
Dadaism : Dadaism is an artistic movement, which emerged during 1916, in the midst of the First World War which is during 1914 to 1918. Dadaism rejects old values upon the evidence that World War first is the result of Old tradition and Conventions. Another interesting fact is that Dadaism only questions the Old tradition instead of creating new values of living life. It questions why we fail to live according to those values? Dadaism is a quest for change which is a path to new culture and civilization. Hugo Ball, Jean Arp, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco are great dadaist thinkers who were disgusted by war and found a new movement which rejects the old school of thought.
"I don't want words that
other people have invented"
(Hugo Ball)
Nihilism : Nihilism is a philosophy which is rooted into the notion of meaninglessness of Life. It argues that everything on this earth cannot be known like to get every knowledge is not possible, find meaning of life is merely impossible, everything in life is baseless. So, It is a kind of Escapism and Pessimist attitude towards life. But Existentialists accept these meaninglessness and try to find answers in this irrational universe.
Existentialism : Dadaism is a movement which emerged after the First World War in the same manner Existentialism emerged after the Second World War which emphasized the existential angst of human beings. It questions Who you are? And and Don't impose upon your individual identity what other people say to you. Existentialism is a movement which is more associated with Individuality and Freedom of Choice.
Video 5 :
Existentialism: A gloomy Philosophy
This video argues that Why Existentialism is sometimes referred to as a gloomy philosophy? And the answer is because Existentialism deals with the some unanswerable questions of Anxiety, Despair, and Absurdity.
There are time and again many arguments are given to get relief from this all worldly struggle. And some windows to escape from this struggle are believing in God, Finding a truth which is true for you and even embracing the absurdity. And the most important is to give your individual meaning to your life. And in this process one gets freedom to make their free choices along with the responsibility of consequences emerged after that.
Another misconception is that "Existentialism is a Narcissistic Philosophy." Choosing an individual path, making their own free choices or as Nietzsche says "Become Who you are" is seen as Narcissism.
And third misinterpretation about Existentialism is that Existentialism leads towards Nihilism. But Existentialism is not Nihilism it goes beyond Nihilism.
Video 6 : Existentialism and Nihilism: Is it one and the same?
This video highlights the most complex and some misunderstood concept that Existentialism and Nihilism are the same.
Well, Obvious answer is a big NO. Existentialism and Nihilism are not the same concept, even every Existentialist fight against Nihilism in one and another way. Now, let's see What Nihilism means by different scholars…
In contrast to these Nihilistic ideas Existentialism is more of pursuit of individuality and accepts the absurdity of life with all its meaninglessness and still finds the answers in the Irrational Universe. And according to Camus Rebellion is the only response to the absurdity of life.
7 : Let us introduce Existentialism again!
This video briefly touches upon the major key concept of Existentialism which begins from the History of Existentialism. Key concern of Existentialist philosophy. Also examines Sartre's famous statement 'Existence precedes Essence.' And lastly it throws some light on the difference between Existentialism and Nihilism.
'Existence precedes Essence' a phrase used by Jean Paul Sartre in his book named "Is Existentialism a Humanism"(1945). Before we understand this phrase it has become necessary to understand the term 'Essence.' According to Aristotle..
"Every independent substance
has its essence"
So, Essence is a particular characteristic or properties which are required in anything to identify What is the nature of that substance. As a human being we are Rational Animal and Human are free to create a unique essence form themselves.
So, From Theological point of view God is omnipotent, designed and created the universe. So, Theists believe that Essence precedes Existence. But Atheist and Existentialism believe that Existence precedes Essence. Our free choices help us to create a unique essence for our Existence.
Video 8 : Explain like I'm Five: Existentialism and Nietzsche
This is a very interesting video which tries to simplify the very concept of Existentialism by making conversation with children and by asking some basic questions about the essence of life.
Video 9 : Why I like Existentialism? Eric Dodson
Video 10 ; Let us sum up: From Essentialism to Existentialism
- Bergmann, J., & Sams, A. (2012). Flip your classroom: Reach every student in every class every day. Eugene: ISTE.
- Stone, Greg. Why Camus Was Not An Existentialist. 2016, philosophynow.org/issues/115/Why_Camus_Was_Not_An_Existentialist.
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