Abstract

Thus we are urged to take Existentialism seriously. Judging simply from the literature under consideration, we should have to say that this is what is happening. This seriousness takes several different forms. One: it means tracing the genealogy of the movement. The assumption here may be that Existentialism is here to stay and therefore we had better recognize its line of descent and its in-laws. In a very brief sketch, albeit an obviously knowledgeable one. Jean Wahl has discussed the background-figure, Kierkegaard, and such contemporary leaders as Jaspers and Heidegger. He is not interested in going back of Kierkegaard, although he allows that a full account would have to reckon with Schelling and to a lesser extent with the young Hegel.