Rodents to Freedom

[Philosophy Now]

Matthew Coniam says that Groundhog Day explains existentialism more entertainingly than Sartre.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/32/Rodents_to_Freedom

[Gary Childress]

Matthew Coniam says that Groundhog Day explains existentialism more entertainingly than Sartre.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/32/Rodents_to_Freedom

I enjoyed the film when it came out, more so after reading this and comparing the parallels with the writings of Camus and Sartre. Camus and Sartre must have been at the apex of Nietzsche's "death of God". Instead of the Übermensch we get the less spectacular acceptance of life as it is for human beings, and trying to find some reason to hold on, if not only because infinite nothingness is more unendurable than life itself.

[Walker]

Matthew Coniam says that Groundhog Day explains existentialism more entertainingly than Sartre.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/32/Rodents_to_Freedom

I enjoyed the film when it came out, more so after reading this and comparing the parallels with the writings of Camus and Sartre. Camus and Sartre must have been at the apex of Nietzsche's "death of God". Instead of the Übermensch we get the less spectacular acceptance of life as it is for human beings, and trying to find some reason to hold on, if not only because infinite nothingness is more unendurable than life itself.

In the end, Phil from Groundhog Day finally left his humdrum limitations and stepped into the Freedom From The Known when his attention spontaneously shifted to empathy and compassion, and away from the self-centeredness of mastery (self-perfection) that had become his reason to be.

Man has throughout the ages been seeking something beyond himself, beyond material welfare – something we call truth or God or reality, a timeless state – something that cannot be disturbed by circumstances, by thought or by human corruption.

Man has always asked the question: what is it all about? Has life any meaning, at all? He sees the enormous confusion of life, the brutalities, the revolts, the wars, the endless divisions of religion, ideology and nationality, and with a sense of deep abiding frustration he asks, what is one to do, what is this thing we call living, is there anything beyond it?

And not finding this nameless thing of a thousand names which he has always sought, he has cultivated faith – faith in a saviour or an ideal – and faith invariably breeds violence.

Freedom From The Known (The first words)
Jiddu Krishnamurti