The definition of transcendentalism and existentialism

[silverwolf0]

I hear these two terms over and over again in popular media and want to know what they mean specifically in popular media. I've googled and wiki'd them but the definitions are at best abstract and at worse very convoluted with differing opinions and tons of false info or what sounds like false info. I just want to know the simple hollywood version of these philosophies as portrayed by the media, regardless of how off base to the real thing they may be.

 

[Maklershed]

Well I could be off since it's been awhile since I've taken any kind of course on religion or philosophy but I believe transcendentalism means that you believe your spirit or consciousness can move to a higher plane of existence and you should live your life in pursuit of facilitating that goal. While existentialism means that you think all is for naught. You're gonna die, you're gonna be forgotten, everything decays, time goes on, so live for the now.

 

[Trancendental]

[quote name='Maklershed']Well I could be off since it's been awhile since I've taken any kind of course on religion or philosophy but I believe transcendentalism means that you believe your spirit or consciousness can move to a higher plane of existence and you should live your life in pursuit of facilitating that goal. While existentialism means that you think all is for naught. You're gonna die, you're gonna be forgotten, everything decays, time goes on, so live for the now.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure existentialism ever says "live for the now". It's more that "life is meaningless". Guys like Satre weren't exactly Mr. Carpe Diem.

 

[c0rnpwn]

Yeah, the names are kind of self evident if you unpack the root words.

Transcendentalism, to transcend (and in philosophy/antiquity this means to go beyond life to a higher plane of existence like what Maklershed said). Existentialism, relating to knowledge, truth, etc. as derived from man as opposed to older methods of philosophy (such as in Ancient Greek philosophy where Truths occur outside of man, floating like objects in the void). There's a lot of existentialism, ranging from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to Sartre, Camus. Cogito ergo sum, Übermensch, blah blah blah. They all have their different takes on it, so it's hard to get more specific without branching off.