Heidegger and Existentialism with Bryan Magee (1977)

In this program, world-renowned author and professor Bryan Magee and William Barret of New York University examine the basic theory of existentialism as founded by Martin Heidegger, and later propagated by Jean-Paul Sartre. Barret discusses Heidegger’s notions of being, existence as task, cosmic roots, and alienation. Sartre’s concept of absolute human freedom is discussed as having promoted human dignity and individualism in the impersonal modern society.

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This is from the series Modern Philosophy.
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[MyRealName]

We lack the quality these men possess so effortlessly and genuinely. No politics no hidden agenda just a meaningful and polite conversation

[NikoHL]

I'm an ordinary 60 something year old and find this programme fascinating... I wish we had similar today (2024). Sadly today we just have celebrity rubbish..

[poststructuralisthero]

TV in 1977 differs from TV in 2017... This "Modern Philosophy" series is great.

[glassarthouse]

Hearing a guy with a Brooklyn accent talk about Heidegger is a trip man. LOL

[arnoutvandenbergh]

William Barret is the author of the brilliant book "The Irrational Man" with which he introduced existentialism in the United States of America. i recommend everybody who is interested in existentialism to read this book. It is simply the best on this subject.

[patriciaormsby]

William Barrett was my phil. prof at NYU. Thanks for posting.

[Operafreak]

Magee is a wonderful interviewer, as well as writer. His " Wagner and Philosophy" is one of the very best books on Wagner. As for Barrett, I keep coming back to " Irrational Man" since I first picked it up at Kennedy in New York in the sixties.

[Robertbrucelockhart]

The quality of this video from 40 years ago is amazing.

[smoothmover]

An excerpt from Bryan’s ‘Making the Most of it’ (2018) If it could be revealed to me for certain that life is meaningless, and that my lot when I die will be timeless oblivion, and I were then asked: “Knowing these things, would you, if given the choice, still choose to have been born?”, my answer would be a shouted “Yes!” I have loved living. Even if the worst-case scenario is the true one, what I have had has been infinitely better than nothing. In spite of what has been wrong with my life, and in spite of what has been wrong with me, I am inexpressibly grateful to have lived. It is terrible and terrifying to have to die, but even the prospect of eternal annihilation is a price worth paying for being alive.

[aysoodaagh]

Beyan magee states his points more clear and touchable and it's such a pleasure to listen to them talking together.

[lauramarkovic]

I listen to this instead of music while working, Both voices so pleasant.

[stephenloxton]

Brilliant stuff and great to have this reminder of proper work from the BBC. Bryan Magee should have had more credit for this and his other series - Modern Philosophy and The Great Philosophers.

[anonjan]

This is a good philosophical conversation.

[arnoutvandenbergh]

Heidegger, when asked by Deyfuss (visting Heidegger in Germany), what he thought about Being and Nothingness, Heidegger answered, according to Dreyfuss, that he thought Sartre's Being and Nothingness was "Dreck" ('muck'). The reason was, of course that it was cartesian as it could be. Quite correctly Barrett characterised Being and Nothingness therefore as a "melodrama between two cartesian consciousnesses".

[iandonnelly]

And look at TV in 2020....I love this series....

[JohnMoseley]

I think, and I'm probably not alone in this, that if we didn't die we might, as a species, be even more inclined to philosophise. Anxiety about the shortness of life makes us hurry to achieve things. This is how a lot of people try to give their lives significance: 'I built a business, ' 'I had a family, ' 'I wrote a great novel, ' etc. Without this pressure towards clear material achievements, would we be more willing to think about the sheer strangeness of existence and knowledge? 'The world is too much with us, ' pace Wordsworth. EDIT: I think I must have watched this video before, so the Wordsworth quote was in my head. This time, I wrote it before Magee said it!

[teresajohnson]

Magee is simply BRLLIANT when he interviwes philosophers!!! Just FANTASTIC! THANK YOU!!🙂👌👏

[orangeiceice]

Wherever these gentleman are, I hope they know I am continuing to celebrate and learn this today

[betul]

well i must confess that it was an amusing and interesting interview to watch.. I myself don't know nearly anything about philosophy and I actually don't enjoy reading such books.. but this was really good man..

[QueenSugil]

Such a sweet man. Genuine and amiable <3