"Flipped Learning Insights: Living Without a Script Through Existentialism"

 "Existentialism in Action: Finding Meaning and Freedom in Everyday Life"

This blog post is prepared as part of a flipped learning activity assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad Sir to deepen our understanding of Existentialism through self-directed exploration and critical reflection. The task involved exploring web resources, watching selected videos on Existentialism, and reflecting on the key thoughts that resonated from each video. Additionally, I was asked to select my favorite video, assess my learning outcomes, and pose thought-provoking questions based on the materials. This activity aimed to improve our comprehension of Existentialist philosophy, enhance our ability to discuss and write about it, and encourage us to think critically about concepts such as freedom, authenticity, and personal responsibility.

Part 1. I am impressed by the following thoughts:

Video 1: 

I am impressed by the idea that life does not come with a fixed meaning. We have the freedom to choose our own path and create meaning through our actions. The triangle of Individuality, Freedom, and Passion helped me understand that being true to myself, making my own choices, and living with interest and commitment are important for a meaningful life.

Video 2 :

The idea that realizing life has no fixed meaning does not mean giving up on life is very powerful. Camus explains that feeling life is absurd is natural when we think deeply. Instead of escaping from this feeling, he suggests accepting the absurd and choosing to live honestly. Even without clear answers, we can take responsibility for our choices and create our own way of living.

Video 3 :

This video explains that the absurd is not in humans or the world alone, but in the conflict between our need for meaning and the silent universe. Camus teaches that instead of escaping this truth through blind faith or false hope, we should face reality honestly. He rejects the “leap” into comfort and encourages us to live with clarity, courage, and responsibility, even when life gives no answers. Living without illusion, according to Camus, is the highest form of strength.

Video 4 : 

This video explains that Dadaism was not meaningless destruction but a strong reaction against a broken society after World War I. The Dadaists rejected old values, language, and even traditional ideas of art because those values had led to violence and war. By using absurdity, nonsense, and shocking art, they questioned what society accepts as “normal” or “true.” Dadaism shows that sometimes breaking rules is necessary to expose false beliefs and to protect the human spirit from a failed system.

Video 5 : 

The thought that impressed me most is that existentialism is not nihilism—it does not say “nothing matters,” but teaches that we must create our own meaning through our choices. This idea shows that even in difficult times, individuals have the power to shape their own lives.

Video 6 : 

This video explains that existentialism is not the same as nihilism. Nihilism gives up on meaning, but existentialism actively fights against meaninglessness. Thinkers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Camus believed that even when the world feels empty, humans must create values and purpose through choice and action.

The thought that impressed me most is that existentialism is a form of rebellion, not surrender. Instead of passively accepting emptiness, it teaches us to live consciously, take responsibility, and keep choosing meaning, even in an indifferent world.

Video 7 : 

This video explains that life does not come with an instruction manual, and that this is actually a good thing. Existentialism teaches that instead of following ready-made rules given by society, religion, or tradition, we must create our own purpose.

The thought that impressed me most is the idea that “existence precedes essence,” which means we are not born with a fixed role—we become who we are through our choices. This idea shows that although life feels uncertain, it also gives us freedom to live authentically and shape our own identity.

Video 8 : 

This video explains that children are natural existentialists, because they instinctively question rules and challenge authority. It shows that rules are often “made up” by people, not absolute truths, and that each individual must decide their own values and meaning. Nietzsche’s idea of the Ubermensch (Superman) is introduced to show radical freedom—the ability to act according to one’s own will.

The thought that impressed me most is that even a five-year-old can realize that rules are not absolute, which highlights how freedom and self-determination are central to human life, even from a very young age.

Video 9 : 

The video explains that existentialism is about living authentically and taking responsibility for your own life. It emphasizes that life has no pre-given meaning, so we must create our own purpose through our choices and actions. Rather than following routines or society’s expectations blindly, we should engage fully with the present and embrace both the joys and struggles of existence. By being true to ourselves and facing reality honestly, existentialism teaches us how to live a meaningful life, turning the challenges of freedom and uncertainty into opportunities for personal growth.

Existentialism teaches that life has no pre-given meaning, so we must create our own purpose by living authentically, making our own choices, and embracing the present.

Video 10 : 

The video highlights the key ideas of existentialism, showing that life has no pre-written blueprint and meaning is not given but created. Humans naturally seek purpose, yet the universe offers none, creating the experience of the Absurd. Existentialism teaches that existence precedes essence—we are born as blank slates and define ourselves through our choices. Absolute freedom comes with responsibility, and avoiding it by following external authorities or societal rules is called living in “Bad Faith.” True authenticity comes from making decisions based on personal values, and while life has no inherent meaning, this lack is empowering, giving us the freedom to shape our own purpose, justice, and identity.

Part 2  My Favourite Video : 

Video 9 ( Why I like Existentialism? Eric Dodson)

I found Video 9 to be the most impactful because it clearly explained the core ideas of Existentialism in a simple and relatable way. The examples used helped me understand how freedom, choice, and personal responsibility shape our lives, making the philosophy feel practical rather than abstract.

It  delves into the profound relevance of existentialism in everyday life, showing how it helps us break free from the autopilot of habitual routines. The central idea is that life has no pre-written instruction manual, and meaning is not something discovered externally—it is actively created through our choices and actions. Many of us live in a protective “trance,” going through repetitive habits like commuting, scrolling on social media, or following routines without conscious awareness. Existentialism teaches that these routines shield us from the weight of our freedom and the responsibility to define our own lives.

The video emphasizes the architecture of personal meaning, asserting that every action—no matter how small—is a building block of the life we design. To live authentically, we must have the courage to drop the social mask, resisting pressures to conform and refusing to let others dictate our values. Life is framed as a dual experience of the wonderful and the terrifying: the anxiety of change, vulnerability, and responsibility is inseparable from the joy, passion, and fulfillment that conscious living brings.

Existentialism demands radical honesty and presence, encouraging us to fully inhabit each moment rather than letting life pass by unnoticed. By embracing freedom, facing fear, and taking responsibility, we transform daily existence from passive repetition into intentional, meaningful choices. The video ultimately conveys that existentialism is not just a philosophical theory but a practical guide to reclaiming autonomy, turning ordinary life into a dynamic, purposeful journey.

Part 3 Learning Outcomes from the Existentialism Video Series

This activity has significantly improved my comprehension of Existentialist philosophy. Before engaging with the video series, I had only a superficial understanding of concepts like existence preceding essence, the absurd, radical freedom, and authenticity. Watching the videos helped me grasp how these abstract ideas apply to everyday life, including decision-making, ethical responsibility, and the challenge of creating personal meaning in a world without prewritten instructions. I now appreciate that Existentialism is not a gloomy or hopeless philosophy but a practical framework for conscious living, guiding individuals to face life deliberately and courageously.

As a result, I feel much more confident discussing and writing about Existentialism. The videos provided clear explanations, examples, and reflections that strengthened my ability to explain complex concepts such as bad faith, nihilism versus existentialism, and the weight of personal choice. I can now engage in philosophical discussions more effectively, using real-life illustrations to convey the relevance of these ideas, and I feel prepared to write essays or reflections on the subject with clarity and confidence.

Finally, this exercise brought clarity to concepts that were previously confusing or abstract. Ideas like the absurd—the tension between humanity’s search for meaning and a universe that offers none—and the relationship between freedom and responsibility became tangible and understandable. The series helped me see how existentialist thinking encourages self-reflection, personal accountability, and active engagement with life, rather than passive conformity to societal expectations or inherited beliefs. Overall, this activity transformed my understanding of Existentialism from a set of theoretical ideas into a practical guide for authentic living and conscious decision-making.

Part 4 Five Questions 

1. What does it mean that life has no instruction manual, and how does this idea make us think differently about our daily routines and rules?

2. What does Sartre mean when he says we are “condemned to be free,” and how does knowing this change the way we make choices in life?

3. What is “the absurd” in existentialism, and how does understanding it help us deal with the fact that the world doesn’t give clear answers?

4. What does “existence comes before essence” mean, and how does it let us create our own identity, purpose, and values?

5. Why is being authentic (true to ourselves) important in existentialism, and how can it help us make good choices and not just follow what others want?

Conclusion:

Watching these 10 videos has helped me understand existentialism in a much deeper way. I have learned that life does not come with a ready-made instruction manual, and it is up to each of us to create our own meaning and purpose. Existentialism teaches that freedom is both a responsibility and a power, and being true to ourselves—rather than blindly following rules or other people’s expectations—is the key to living authentically. These videos made complex ideas like “the absurd,” “existence precedes essence,” and “being condemned to be free” much clearer. Overall, this activity has strengthened my confidence to think, talk, and write about existentialist philosophy, and it encourages me to reflect on my own choices and values in everyday life.

References 

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2016/09/existentialism-video-resources.html