Question 1
Existentialism has helped to solve the despair that comes with postwar in many ways. One way is that existentialism has taught people to be more concerned with their welfare unlike the past where people were required to depend on the supernatural principles. With existentialism, people have many choices to make and this philosophy has made people to make the right choices every day. Before the war, many people believed their lives were controlled by science and they therefore had no concern for the way they lived. They did not find any reason to fight for life. With the theory of existentialism, people have more concern for their life and they struggle to sustain it.
Question 2
Religion has helped to instill hope to many people in many ways. The most important role that religion has played in bringing hope is in teaching that there is life after death. People therefore have hope that even if they die, they will have another chance to live. Another aspect is that of being charged according to the actions that we do. Basing on this, people now have a reason to work hard for better rewards after death. Another way that the religion has instilled hope is that God rewards those who work hard at achieving something pertaining their lives. For this reason, people will strive to have better lives and have longer lives with the hope of getting protection from God.
Post
I find it interesting that people totally relied in science before the war and did not regard to life in any way. People did not struggle to protect their lives in any way. After the war, the theory of existentialism made people to think for their lives unlike in the past where people left the course of their lives to be controlled by the supernatural and science. Existentialism has played a crucial role as people have now realized the importance of struggling for better lives. It is interesting that former philosophers did not regard existence with individual view.
Bibliography
Natanson, M. (1968). Literature, philosophy, and the social sciences. The Hague: Martin Nijhoff.
