not living for himself, and has no real reason for living. .
Existentialism appeared in modern thought in response to the scientific mentality that all things have meaning and can be.
explained. With the advent of scientific thought, man sought to look at himself scientifically, to determine the true reason he.
(personally) was born, and that all humanity existed. Before the prevalence of scientific thought, religion had been the.
explanation for the existence of man, or at least given a cause for his creation. Religion said that God had created humans. .
They lived because God willed that it should be so, and because He provided the means for them to survive. Since most.
humans believed in some sort of religion until the advent of scientific thought, it was never questioned that this was the sole and.
most noble reason man could have for existing. But this changed, as science taught them that the sun rose because the earth.
rotated, and life was an explainable biological process, and science could allow us to understand the earth, and become our.
own creator and providers, independent of any deity. .
Suddenly, a new fear dawned, as men sought for an answer, and could find none, stuck with the emptiness of their apparent.
situation. The search for meaning presupposes that there is something greater than ourselves that we contribute to, and with.
science, humans had destroyed the thing that could have given them meaning- the thing that had been greater than them, and.
that they had been a part of. .
Gregor Samsa lived a meaningless life, with no attempt to create or grow past himself. From an existentialist view, his.
metamorphosis meant nothing, as it changed his outlook on life in no way. His true situation (in its true essence) was merely.
perpetuated in his change, and his life was as it had always been- devoid of real purpose, with no self-respect, and no.
self-worth. He had never done a thing that he had wished for, perhaps waiting for someone to show him an answer, instead of.