Existential Fatalism
Existentialism claims that the most innate part of human’s is our ability to make our own choices and choose our own courses of action, assigning meaning to the events in our lives. Fate is the belief that our actions, if they are completely honest, will lead us to our ultimate goal in life.
Fate, in itself, is completely subjective to the human being. For example, my ultimate goal in life is to find my “soul mate” or perfect female companion. Innately, I place this as the highest importance above all other goals, dreams, aspirations, or what have you. I cannot explain why it is this way, even after critical analysis scientifically, introspectively, analysis of past experiences, and the combination of all of them. For the inexplicable reason, this is my Fate and it is what would bring me the most pleasure out of life and enchance other aspects, personality traits, interests, and goals I place great importance on in my life.
For others, their Fate may be to attain a place of power. For an inexplicable reason, more than anything, power brings them the most pleasure. Now, idealistically, that place of power would be used for a common good and would benefit other human beings. For example, power is often associated with being in an authoritative position, so being the head farmer on a farm that produces food, being a leader in a counseling group for parents who lost their children to cancer, or being the head of a charity are possibilities for a person’s Fate under power.
Apply this definition of Fate to an Existential mindset—the freedom to make your own choices and assign meaning to the events in our lives—and you have Existential Fatalism.
The Existential aspect of choice plays a big role, primarily because one can choose to lie to himself and not express himself, repressing how he truly thinks or feels in order to not offend another person or to fit into a societal norm. If this episode of repression or denial continues without being addressed or expressed through any various form (e.g. confrontation, conversation, art, writing in a journal, etc), then that person is, in turn, not being honest with himself. As I have stated, Fate is the belief that our actions, as long as they are completely true and honest, will lead us to our ultimate goal in life. With this being said, if one is not honest with himself, this derails him off of his path to reach his fated goal—the innate, subjective Purpose we are all meant to fulfill to reach our individual idea of contentment.
Being derailed off of your fated path comes in forms of depression, repression, substance abuse, irrational fits of rage/anger, negative projection, and different forms of insecurity. Expression, introspection, and self-honesty are the easiest ways to deal with these derailments, and get you back on your fated path.
With that being said, if you are derailed from your path, it does not mean you can never get back on it. Fate, by definition, does not change; your choice whether to accept it changes. By lying to yourself, lying to others, and not expressing yourself, you are rejecting your Fate. By embracing who you are, expressing yourself, your opinions, your feelings, and your thoughts, you are on your way to reaching your fated goal.
This of course opens up questions of, “How will I know when I reach my fated goal?” Which is of course subjective to the human being. Our experiences and perceptions of those experiences make up our levels of growth, understanding, psyche, and so forth, so the more experiences and analysis of those experiences you have, the more room for growth there is. The more you grow as a person, the easier it will be to recognize what your fated goal actually is, what it looks like to attain it, and what it is to be experiencing the path of your Fate.
Comments and criticisms of any form are welcome.
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