Existential Neighborhood: chapbooks

Existential Intelligence is the sensitivity and capacity to engage questions about human existence – how we got here, whether we have a purpose, and whether there is meaning in Life. Existential intelligence embraces the exploration of aesthetics, philosophy, religion and values like beauty, truth, and goodness. A strong existential intelligence allows human beings to see their place in the big picture, be it in the classroom, community, world, or universe.

First proposed by Howard Gardner, existential intelligence is one of nine theorized intelligences and is considered to be amoral – that is, it and the other eight categories of human intelligence can be used either constructively or destructively.

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Friday, June 18, 2010

More Visual Poetry

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my consideration of the visual as a poetic opportunity.

Thanks to the readers who shared their own thoughts on this rich topic.

Busy lives ebb, flow and rollick. Mine has just calmed enough to allow additional thought and research time for visual poetry. To my delight, someone else has been on it - and for awhile. I discovered this is visual poetry in a late night web session. I am entranced. ALL those artists out there exploring the notion.

It is so encouraging. Check it out. I am pleased to say my submission was accepted and soon my chapbook of visual poetry will be in the company of many entertaining, magnificent, thought-provoking others.

More later, when my order of assorted chapbooks arrives.

Existentialism Basics

Existentialism is the term that describes a philosophy that became popular after the World Wars. It reasserted the importance of human individuality and freedom in the face of traditional academic philosophy; criticized as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience.

The 19^th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard was posthumously regarded as the father of existentialism. He maintained that the individual is solely responsible for giving his own life meaning and also living life fully, despite the obstacles of existence – distractions that include despair, angst, absurdity, alienation, and boredom.

Existential philosophers agree on the value of the individual, but disagree on other points, including how we can achieve a fulfilling life and what obstacles must be overcome toward that goal. Another point of contention revolves around the potential consequence of the existence or nonexistence of God.