Existentialism and Human Development

This video outlines the implications of existential thought for the topic of human development. Its main theme is: What does existential philosophy have to contribute to our understanding of human development, both personally and collectively? Disclaimer: These images and the background music are not mine, especially since ownership of anything is a completely arbitrary and illusory construct.

[@yousefdamra9950]

Certaintly the best youtube video i have ever seen.

[@ericdodson2644]

yousef damra Wow, thanks, yousef... I'm honored. And thanks for taking the time to watch. Eric D.

[@neerajkmanoj90]

​@Wolf Slayer I'm wondering if 'something' triggered you as well that made you comment, just like something triggered me to make this comment.

[@braylonderrick6927]

I guess it is kind of off topic but does anyone know of a good place to stream new series online ?

[@judsonbrian9023]

@Braylon Derrick I watch on FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)

[@ReidPink]

One of the more important videos I've seen. I'd say, "I wish people would spend the time you've spent thinking through existential questions--maybe that would ameliorate some of the problems engendered by a nihilistic attitude toward life" but the paradox ensues that I'm operating from a state of discontent by making such a comment. Btw I love your disclaimer: "...since ownership of anything is a completely arbitrary and illusory construct." You're making our life together richer, one view at a time. Keep it up!

[@Matter0fPerception]

One of the best videos on existentialism. Thank you for this.

[@thebil]

Eric, you are my personal hero. You should let more people see your videos, they are simply amazing.

[@ericdodson2644]

thebil Well, thanks, thebil. It's always gratifying when people get something worthwhile out of these videos. Part of the reason why more people aren't seeing my videos is that I don't do social media like Facebook™, Twitter™, etc.... so I don't get promotion for my videos that way. I guess that I pretty much suck at self-promotion. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Eric

[@muscxlover93]

Everyone needs to see this video

[@tyronejayemarchant4523]

Out of all the talkers of philosophy on youtube you do it the best! Please keep making more!

[@ericdodson2644]

Tyrone Jaye Marchant Thanks Tyrone. I'm really trying to make this stuff accessible and interesting to people, so it's gratifying when people enjoy these videos as much as you are. So... thanks for watching! Eric

[@tyronejayemarchant4523]

Top notch stuff! :)

[@pendejo6466]

Its PERFECT that you're a comic as well. Comics are the philosophers of our time, especially when you think about making concepts accessible with wide dispersion, as compared with whatever the hell it is they do on the academic side. Comics are also on the up and up, more so than say journalists.

[@ericdodson2644]

Pendejo Thanks as always, Señor Pendejo... Yeah, that's part of what I like about doing comedy... it's one of the rare places in our culture where people are allowed to be more honest than usual. Basically, I see comedians as our modern-day shamans -- people who are allowed to violate taboos and who dwell in multiple worlds simultaneously, such as the normal, mundane world, and the weird, wild, semi-magical world of what's funny (which is a pretty primeval physical reaction when you think about it). I think that you can ideas across, and even invite people to experience transcendence, much more easily when you're also making them laugh. Perhaps I like philosophy for the same basic reason... hmm... I might have to think about that one. Anyhow, thanks as always for watching.... Eric

[@DanielKR]

We need videos like this precisely to reinforce our faith in life. So very eloquent. Thank you so much for this Eric. Deeply inspirational.

[@ivokwee]

Beautiful. No need to read the books, gonna see all your KZbin movies! I think I am becoming more and more an existentialist. Thanks a million Prof. Dodson!

[@ericdodson2644]

Ivo Kwee You're welcome. Of course, the books are pretty cool, too. And you might come to different conclusions than I have. The real adventure is come come into your own unique understanding. Just a thought. In any case, good luck. Eric

[@ToscanaFotoFestival]

Ciao Ivo, quest'anno ti fai vedere? Altrimenti un abbraccio!!!

[@76pinetree]

Just wanted you to know I used this video in a communiversity class four times now. I see this video as great curriculum for the individual journey and for helping others in their journey. Using very small specific portions of the video over a long period of time to facilitate dialogue. It is working very well as a jumping off point.

[@ChibsMeditation]

As a meditation teacher and coach I blend existentialism with Mindfulness, and I was wondering if anyone else did the same. I came across this video and it looks like I've found my channel! You've gone way deeper with your thinking than I ever have, thanks for making my research so much easier now!

[@MayurKoitiya]

This channel is the definition of *Underrated* :) amazing video

[@davidhoggan5376]

Fantastic video Eric. Keep up the rad work!

[@benmcconaghy3313]

Excellent video. From the psychotherapeutic point of view, which relates to personal development, I have found the work of Rollo May to be extremely useful. May 's work is very accessible and is a marvellous way into exploring existential thought and its liberating and life affirming potentiality.

[@John-ic9nh]

I really enjoy your videos Eric. I find your take on various thinkers and topics within Existentialism to be refreshing, entertaining, and even exciting. Thanks for reminding me of my need (or at least neglected want) to purchase literature of the Existentialist thinkers :)

[@ericdodson2644]

Trent Juarez And thank you, Trent, for taking the time to watch them. Eric

[@michaelhoward4520]

Eye opening video. Presented very well. Keep up the great labor of love.Carpe Diem!

[@DanielKR]

+Michael Howard I agree - seize the day, one day at a time!

[@Zunari56]

Fantastic video! Thank you for putting in the work to make these.

[@ericdodson2644]

Skovac And thank-you, Skovac, for taking the time to watch... Eric

[@TheProgressiveParent]

thank you for making this interesting an informative presentation, glad to hear you have recovered from your illness, good health to you!

[@ericdodson2644]

TheProgressiveParent Thanks.... yeah, that was a pretty nasty, long-lasting bout of illness. I hope that I'm done with that sort of thing for a while. Whew!

[@willofortune7048]

Feel , by heart .

[@MichaelWolffhechel]

Always interesting to see your videos, Eric! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to returning with some of my own soon :o). Keep them coming!

[@ericdodson2644]

Michael Wolffhechel Thanks, Michael. Yeah, since I've been sick, I've accumulated a pretty big back-log of ideas... which I'm currently working on. Anyhow, thanks so much for watching.... (and for being the first person to comment on this one). Also, good luck to you with your own video production.....Eric

[@ChelseaRaeDeBeer]

Oh and you are the greatest thing to emerge from the abyss BTW

[@LumendeLumen]

Thanks for introducing me to Daikaiju. :P

[@ericdodson2644]

+A Merry Can Yeah, they're really great -- and incredibly under-rated.

[@shailendrashankhpal5563]

Thanks

[@androidanonymous8988]

thank u for the video

[@satnamo]

If I love gods then that love is god. I get to have faith in life.

[@Stealthkiller17]

The original sin was, that man decided for himself, what was right and what was wrong.

[@ChelseaRaeDeBeer]

Do you have any published works?

[@Jide-mx3wm]

Eric loved the video ; but loved Simone de Beauvoir's contribution the most ; I think she put a break on Sartre's premise which could go anywhere ( at least in his ones on freedom mentioned in the video:by her affirming the need for balancing our freedom with that of others ; what I will take away from your video is to continue more fervently in turning myself into a work of art all the while keeping a prudent eye on allowing others to creatively be without interruption.

[@scottsheffield6474]

I know I'm probably late, but the Einstein quote at 15:27 is disputed.

[@austinpore3834]

Hey I'm wondering would you ever be interested in doing a video on geothe

[@Mj-pf6by]

What's the name of the piece of music you open this video with?

[@husseinmohammed8654]

Daikaiju - the trouble with those mothra girls

[@itsyourboiikenny]

What is the mosaic you use at 12:10? Also did create the quote "The mosaic of life would be nothing without its dark tiles" yourself? Thank you.

[@ericdodson2644]

I don't know... it's just something I found on the Internet. Yeah, I made up that quote... Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch... Eric D.

[@itsyourboiikenny]

Oh thanks for the speedy reply. I'll be sure to credit you if I ever use the quote. We watched this video in my philosophy class today, and I quite enjoyed it.

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks. Actually, you don't need to credit me if you use the quote. It's just way life's way of passing through me, so I don't really feel like I need to be territorial about it. Anyhow, thanks again for watching and taking the time to comment. Eric D.

[@otisuyttenhove4226]

A bit late, but wow this vid was great.

[@justinramsey524]

dude daikaiju! hell yeah

[@ericdodson2644]

Yeah, they're really great... maybe the most under-rated band in the world.

[@michaelkalish2013]

Interesting summation with a couple of interesting points. Unfortunately, a number of the foundational premises are simply fabricated out of thin air; i.e., human happiness isn’t the foundational point human life. Why not? The embracing of toxic emotional states is necessary to be “whole” - so, should physical disease be “embraced” for physical health? Nonsense. One would indeed need some sort of “faith” - belief without evidence - to adopt this philosophy as a guide to life. Existentialism has a number of positive points but the myth of “self-creation” free of predetermined causes is simply a new spin on a very old myth.

[@jasonkh3943]

Existentialism? Don't even get me Sarted lol classic

[@00212]

we humans are pretty much hardwired to sense the world around us partially rather than holistically, but do you have any suggestions about how we can improve our holistic approach to life?

[@ericdodson2644]

+burak gani öztürk I think that at this point, the best thing would be for us to start letting go of the common belief that we really know what our limitations are (such as what seems "hardwired" or historically recurrent). As long as we keep clinging tenaciously to those kinds of limiting beliefs, then they'll continue to be our prison -- both for us personally, and for the human race as a whole.

[@00212]

+Eric Dodson thank you for taking time to answer.

[@pendejo6466]

Bro, do you even Les Shestov?

[@ericdodson2644]

Pendejo I haven't had contact with Shestov, although I imagine that he's another great, interesting thinker... So many interesting books, so little time... Pues... ¡espero que tengas un buen dia, amigo!