Chapter 12 - May

Question 0

What are common elements among existential thinkers?

Answer 0

• existence (emerging or becoming) takes precedence over essence (static immutable substance)
• opposing split of object & subject
• search for some meaning
• ultimately responsible for our own fates
• antitheoretical (theories dehumanize us & reduce us to objects)

Question 1

What did Kierkegaard emphasize?

Answer 1

The balance of freedom and responsibility

Question 2

What were the basic concepts of May’s theory?

Answer 2

- Dasein (being-in-the-world)
   • Umwelt (relation to environment)
   • Mitwelt (relations to others)
   • Eigenwelt (relation to self)
- nonbeing 
   • fear it - shrivel up our being
   • embrace it - open up our being

Question 3

How does May conceptualize anxiety?

Answer 3

Experience anxiety when we become aware that our existence or some value identified with it may be destroyed (fear of nonbeing)

• normal anxiety: proportionate to threat, not repressed, able to be confronted on conscious level
• neurotic anxiety: disproportionate to threat, involves repression & other forms of inteapsychic conflict

Question 4

What is May’s definition of guilt?

Answer 4

• from Umwelt: alienation from nature
• from Mitwelt: feeling inadequate in relations with others
• from Eigenwelt: denial of or failure to fulfill potentialities

Question 5

What is intentionality?

Answer 5

May’s notion of a structure that gives meaning to experience and allows us to make decisions about the future

Question 6

How did May view care, love, and will?

Answer 6

• care: when something matters
• love: active regard for another’s development and delight in their presence
• will: ability to organize oneself toward some direction or movement

Question 7

How does modern society view love and will, and how does May suggest we correct this?

Answer 7

We define love as sex and will as determination or willpower; May felt the two need to be unified to have the true essential meaning of each become apparent

Question 8

What forms of love did May acknowledge?

Answer 8

• sex (desire for pleasure)
• eros (desire for creation through lasting union)
• philia (intimate nonsexual friendship)
• agape (concern for others beyond personal gain; godly love)

Question 9

How did May define freedom?

Answer 9

Capacity to know our destiny and know we can make choices

• existential freedom: freedom to do, grow, change, and choose (often limits essential freedom)
• essential freedom: freedom to be

Question 10

How did May define destiny?

Answer 10

The design of the universe speaking through the design of each one of us

Question 11

What were May’s views on myth?

Answer 11

Western society suffers for lack of myths and turns to cults, addiction, and popular culture looking for something to believe in
- similar to Jung’s notion of collective unconscious & archetypes

Question 12

How did May view psychopathology?

Answer 12

As separation from World, Others, &/or Self (Umwelt, Mitwelt, Eigenwelt)