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Full Idea
The central sermon of existentialism is essentially a romantic one, namely, that there is in the world nothing to lean on.
Gist of Idea
Central to existentialism is the romantic idea that there is nothing to lean on
Source
Isaiah Berlin (The Roots of Romanticism [1965], Ch.6)
Book Ref
Berlin,Isaiah: 'The Roots of Romanticism' [Pimlico 2000], p.142
A Reaction
He tracks this back to Kant's view that our knowledge of the world arises out of our own minds. So what is there to lean on? Rational consistency? Natural human excellence? God? Pleasure? Anonymous duty? I like the second one.
| 7662 | Romanticism is the greatest change in the consciousness of the West [Berlin] |
| 7664 | The Greeks have no notion of obligation or duty [Berlin] |
| 7663 | Judaism and Christianity views are based on paternal, family and tribal relations [Berlin] |
| 7665 | Most Enlightenment thinkers believed that virtue consists ultimately in knowledge [Berlin] |
| 7676 | If we are essentially free wills, authenticity and sincerity are the highest virtues [Berlin] |
| 7677 | Central to existentialism is the romantic idea that there is nothing to lean on [Berlin] |
| 7460 | The great moments are the death of Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Romanticism [Berlin, by Watson] |
| 20544 | Berlin distinguishes 'negative' and 'positive' liberty, and rejects the latter [Berlin, by Swift] |