Existence and Being

Existence and Being

Topic of Choice

April 9, 2016

In the study of philosophy and theology, ancient and medieval mystics, prophets, scholars, and saints emphasized ontology. The desire was to probe and plumb one’s way into the essence of things, arriving at the core of life. In contemporary intellectual circles the emphasis has experienced a reverse effect. Today we emphasize the existential components of life. We ask questions in relation to how life is to be experienced and lived out, all in relation to the self. Many have attempted to reduce philosophy to the study of language and social power relations, leaving theology out of the conversation entirely. Receiving increasing derision, metaphysics is viewed as foolish speculation and vain inquiry. As a result, we have lost much of our situational, factual, and authoritative reference points as human beings. The emphasis has been redirected into the subjective feelings and thoughts of the individual. The existential, when divorced from the ontological has no deep foundation to ground itself on. It is the essence that gives meaning and purpose to the existence of a thing. Criticizing metaphysical questions, that aim to reach the heart of essence, is simply a way to cover the fear of approaching such questions. To engage in metaphysics is a kind of intellectual surrender, since it admits to some sort of transcendent reality; something “beyond.” Contemporary man wants nothing of the sort. Everything must be existential, in the sense that it must grapple with that which readily effects the here and now situation we find ourselves in. It is a hopelessly circular struggle that collapses on itself. In shunning metaphysics we sacrifice existence itself on the alter of the immediate.