Question

According to the Alban text, existentialists view communication as something that tends to be positive. Group of answer choices.

Option 1: Existentialists believe in the inherent positivity of human interactions.
Option 2: Communication is seen as a means to alleviate existential anxiety.
Option 3: The Alban text suggests that existentialists view communication skeptically.
Option 4: Positive communication is considered essential for existentialist philosophy.

Answer 1

Existentialists view communication as a way to express individual freedom and shape existence. It can be seen as a means to alleviate existential anxiety, reflecting the deep responsibility and freedom in existentialist thought.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the Alban text, existentialists do not necessarily view communication as inherently positive. The key idea in existentialist philosophy, as stated by Sartre, is that 'existence precedes essence'. This means individuals are not born with predetermined characteristics but define their own essence through actions and decisions, including communication. Existentialists emphasize human freedom and the responsibility to make choices that create our world and essence. Therefore, communication is seen more as a vehicle for expressing one's freedom and shaping existence. Option 2: Communication is seen as a means to alleviate existential anxiety, seems to resonate with existentialist thought the most. It is through communication that individuals confront their freedom, make choices, and assign meaning to their lives, potentially alleviating the anxiety that comes with the vast freedom of existentialist belief.