Angst

Definition

Angst is a deep feeling of anxiety, apprehension, and unease that is often associated with existential concerns and the human condition. It is a central concept in Continental philosophy, particularly in the works of Søren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger, as it represents the fundamental human experience of being-in-the-world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Angst is a central concept in the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, who viewed it as the necessary precursor to authentic self-realization and spiritual growth.
2. Martin Heidegger expanded on the concept of angst, describing it as the fundamental mood that reveals the human being's essential finitude and thrownness into the world.
3. Angst is often contrasted with the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, progress, and the mastery of nature, as it represents the inherent limitations and anxieties of the human condition.
4. The experience of angst can lead to a profound sense of existential crisis, as individuals grapple with the weight of their freedom and the responsibility of making choices in the face of an uncertain future.
5. Angst is a key concept in the Continental philosophical tradition, as it challenges the Enlightenment's belief in the power of reason and the ability to fully understand and control the human experience.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of angst challenges the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and progress.
  • The concept of angst, as developed by Kierkegaard and Heidegger, challenges the Enlightenment's belief in the power of reason and the ability to fully understand and control the human experience. Angst represents the inherent limitations and anxieties of the human condition, such as the recognition of one's own mortality and the uncertainty of the future. This stands in contrast to the Enlightenment's focus on reason, progress, and the mastery of nature, as angst highlights the fundamental finitude and thrownness of the human being into the world. The experience of angst can lead to a profound sense of existential crisis, as individuals grapple with the weight of their freedom and the responsibility of making choices in the face of an uncertain future, rather than relying on the certainties promised by Enlightenment ideals.
• Describe the relationship between angst and the concept of authenticity in Continental philosophy.
  • In the Continental philosophical tradition, angst is often seen as a necessary precursor to the achievement of authenticity. Authenticity, in this context, refers to the state of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite the pressures of society or social expectations. Kierkegaard, for example, viewed angst as the necessary starting point for an individual's journey towards self-realization and spiritual growth. Heidegger, too, saw angst as the fundamental mood that reveals the human being's essential finitude and thrownness into the world, which in turn allows for the possibility of authentic existence. By confronting the anxiety and uncertainty inherent in the human condition, individuals can move beyond the comforts of conformity and embrace the responsibility of making choices that are true to their own authentic selves.
• Analyze how the concept of angst reflects the Continental philosophical tradition's critique of Enlightenment rationalism.
  • The concept of angst is a key component of the Continental philosophical tradition's critique of Enlightenment rationalism. The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, progress, and the mastery of nature stood in stark contrast to the deep sense of anxiety, apprehension, and unease that the Continental philosophers associated with the human condition. Angst, as developed by thinkers like Kierkegaard and Heidegger, represents the inherent limitations and uncertainties of the human experience, which cannot be fully grasped or controlled through the application of reason alone. By highlighting the fundamental finitude and thrownness of the human being into the world, the concept of angst challenges the Enlightenment's belief in the power of reason to provide definitive answers and secure a stable, predictable future. Instead, angst points to the weight of individual freedom and the responsibility of making choices in the face of an uncertain and often absurd world, which requires a more nuanced and existential approach to philosophy and the human condition.

Related terms

Existentialism: A philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual's unique experience and the importance of personal choice and responsibility in the face of a seemingly absurd or indifferent universe.

Authenticity: The state of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite the pressures of society or social expectations.

Dread: A profound sense of fear, apprehension, or anxiety that is often associated with the recognition of one's own mortality and the uncertainty of the human condition.