When is something existential? Defining this word can be a hobby. Its origins, going back to classic Latin, suggest it is an essence or a state of continuous ‘being’. Today, it has many applications as a moral circumstance, an historical value, an empirical experience or a moment of reality.
Mariner’s interest in this word goes back to his college days when he had a philosophy class. The word has many faces. A common use today is as a form of empiricism, where all knowledge comes from experience. Social activists often use the word as a transition point where an idea becomes reality. (a quote from a political aide who said, “If we don’t do something about this, it will become existential.”). Philosophers use the word as a way to describe an entity – like how a rabbit interacts with reality is what makes it a rabbit. (Remember, this is a hobby).
What makes using the word ‘existential’ difficult is that it is two-faced, that is, it is one moment with multiple conditions. For example, someone could say “My experiences are who I am, meaning that they exist because they experience it”. Another individual could say, “My existence is how i react to reality”. A subtle difference for sure but the context of one begins with the person and the other begins with reality.
The classic definition of existential means ‘relating to reality’. That’s it. It is a condition, not an act; it is an interaction, not a conclusion; it is a noun, not an adverb.
He hopes the reader has enjoyed this existential moment.
Ancient Mariner
I had an existential experience on my morning walk. The trees and flowering weeds were there whether I saw them or not. Perhaps I should rephrase that. I think the trees had the existential experience, and I had a thought while on a walk in reality. Isn’t every walk a walk in reality? I wonder why the term existential came into use when the word reality is more clear. There must have been an existential need for another word. Or to put it another way–there must have been a real need for another word.
I did enjoy this existential moment, and also my morning walk–both were a real pleasure!
I’m bewildered. I was hoping for a nice simple definition, but now I’m more lost than before. I say, let’s just ban this devilish word. We’ll all be better for it. I still have no idea what it means.