Single Idea 19619

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 1. Existentialism]

Full Idea

We begin to live authentically only where philosophy ends, at its wreck, when we have understood its terrible nullity, when we have understood that it was futile to resort to it, that it is no help.

Gist of Idea

To live authentically, we must see that philosophy is totally useless

Source

E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 1 'Farewell')

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.50


A Reaction

The existentialist dream of trying to find an 'authentic' way of life. That idea means nothing to me. You would need to be utterly immersed in the life of a community with which you identified to live authentically, and that life has almost vanished.