Interesting. To me, the difference between EX and Humanism is thoughtful compassion. Humanism, as I have perceived it, is the EX understanding that this existence is all there is, but colored with the compassion that in order for life to be worth anything, we must choose to act to make it so. Only by choosing compassion is there any hope to escape the ennui of mere exisitence and the evil of thoughtless action.
You seem to be taking a somewhat alternate interpretation of them. If I understand you correctly, and hopefully not ab reducto ad absurdum, Humanism eshews the existense of god but retains and even elevates the importance of humanity regardless of the good or evil of the actions of mankind, while EX doesn't even place any particular importance on humanity and any actions are simply futile but it can't hurt to do good (though it doesn't particularly help either). I haven't read Fear and Trembling but based on your description of it allowing the author to "fall back on the idea of God", I'm not sure if it will be that approachable to me but I'll add it to my list. -Kevin On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 09:18:43 -0500, Won Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Sartre was a humanist. He boldly spit in the face of God, as he thought > the world to be a God-less place. What he did believe in was living for > the sake of living. We are all doomed to die but we shouldn't be caught > up in death. Once we know we are going to to die we can really start to > live. He believed in the power of man. I can't help but notice more > then a slight coloring of arrogance in his texts. > > Camus also believed in the absurd. He also believed that we do things > for the sake of itself, not for a higher meaning. But he was also very > humane. Compassion would be a good substitute for humane in this case. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Silver Sponsor - New Atlanta http://www.newatlanta.com Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:139948 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
