Existential moods as resonances of being: Anchoring existential psychology in nature—An outline

Existential moods such as emptiness, meaninglessness, and anxiety for freedom and nothingness are not universal or timeless features of human existence but arise primarily from urbanity and modernity; most people worldwide do not experience autonomy, freedom, or relativity. Classic existentialist thought (Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre) neglects both the outer and inner nature of humans. The authors propose a natural existential psychology grounded in modern neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, comparative psychology, and phenomenology to remedy this shortcoming and provide further knowledge about basic existential moods and species-specific resonances of being-in-the-world.

Study at a glance

Abstract

An overview is provided of the psychological constituents of the emotional register, and special focus is given to the longer-lasting existential moods—our being-attuned to being—that we as humans experience. The classic concepts of existentialism (Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre) are reviewed and challenged. Moods, such as emptiness, meaninglessness, existential anxiety for freedom and nothingness, have not always been dominating aspects of human existence, nor are they today. These moods primarily stem from urbanity and modernity; but worldwide the majority of people do not know what autonomy, freedom, and relativity means. The outer as well as the inner nature of humans, and of human existence, are underexposed in classic and modern existential thinking. The aim here is to remedy this shortcoming by presenting an empirically anchored outline of a natural existential psychology, which, based on modern neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, comparative psychology, and phenomenology, provides further knowledge about our basic existential moods and our species-specific resonances of being-in-the-world.