ChatGPT on Existentialism

[This is the first of three articles I’ve written about ChatGPT. You can find the others here: Chat Bot Says it Wants to be Alive. Get in Line, Pal, Semblance of Meaning]

Dall-E: Nietzsche and a thousand laptops

I understand that publishing a dialogue I had with ChatGPT may not seem as creative work (and it isn’t). But I am in genuine awe and feel the need to share it. I was quite aware of people’s astonishment with ChatGPT, so I decided to challenge it by asking some questions around a niche topic where I believe I have a fair amount of knowledge. Specifically, I asked the tool about Existentialist philosophers, and I tried my best to avoid confirmation bias, challenging its responses when I could. At the end of the conversation, I felt that the tool gave me an insight about theistic Existentialism that I had not considered before. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I studied philosophy in college, and this chat bot taught me something — not a dry fact, but an actual insight — about my interest of study. The particular insight was this: A theistic Existentialist may believe in the existence of a higher power, while also maintaining that this higher power does not imbue the universe with meaning. In the past, I struggled with the idea that an Existentialist thinker may believe in a God, but ChatGPT helped me understand the concept a little bit better. What a statement…

Below is the shortened conversation, with the moment of insight bolded.

Sarp: I want to ask you some questions about the philosophy of Existentialism. Are you familiar with the term?

ChatGPT: Yes, I'm familiar with Existentialism. It's a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice, and the search for meaning and purpose in a world devoid of inherent meaning.

Sarp: Great. Who are some of the most influential Existentialist thinkers?

ChatGPT: Some of the most influential Existentialist thinkers include Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Simone de Beauvoir.

Sarp: You included Heidegger in your list. But Heidegger rejected the term Existentialist. Am I wrong?

ChatGPT: Yes, you are correct. Martin Heidegger rejected the label of Existentialist, although his philosophy is often associated with the movement. He preferred to be considered a "phenomenologist". Nevertheless, his ideas on individual existence and the human condition have influenced Existentialist thought.

Sarp: How about Nietzsche? I thought he lived decades before the term was even coined.

ChatGPT: Yes, you are correct. Friedrich Nietzsche lived long before the term "Existentialism" was coined and did not consider himself an Existentialist. However, his ideas on the search for meaning, the rejection of metaphysics, and the critique of traditional morality have had a significant influence on Existentialist thought and continue to be studied in that context.

Sarp: Dostoevsky was devoutly Christian, right? But Existentialism was formalized as an atheistic philosophy. How can both be true?

ChatGPT: Fyodor Dostoevsky was indeed a devout Christian, but his works dealt with themes and issues that are central to Existentialist thought, such as the search for meaning, the struggle with freedom, and the human condition. Although Existentialism is often associated with atheism, it is not limited to a particular religious or philosophical viewpoint, and individuals of various religious and philosophical backgrounds have been drawn to its ideas. Some Existentialist thinkers, such as Martin Buber and Gabriel Marcel, have been religious, while others, such as Jean-Paul Sartre, have been atheists.

Sarp: Does this mean you are challenging my assertion that Existentialism was an atheistic philosophy?

ChatGPT: Not necessarily. While some of the most well-known Existentialist philosophers were atheists, the movement itself is not limited to atheism. Existentialism is primarily concerned with individual freedom and the search for meaning in a world that is devoid of inherent meaning. While some Existentialist philosophers rejected religious beliefs, others have sought to incorporate religious beliefs into their philosophical systems. The question of the existence of a higher power or ultimate meaning is a matter of personal belief and interpretation within the Existentialist framework.

Sarp: I am not sure I understand. Is it possible to imagine a world that is devoid of meaning while still accepting the existence of a higher power?

ChatGPT: Yes, it is possible to imagine a world that is devoid of inherent meaning while still accepting the existence of a higher power. In such a world, meaning and purpose are seen as being generated by individuals rather than being imposed from the outside. Within this perspective, the existence of a higher power would not automatically confer meaning on the world, but individuals would still have the freedom to create meaning and purpose for themselves. 

Sarp: In other words, there can be a power that created the universe, but did not imbue it with meaning. Is that what you mean?

ChatGPT: Yes, that is correct. Within the Existentialist framework, the existence of a higher power or a creator of the universe does not automatically confer meaning or purpose to the world. Instead, meaning and purpose are seen as being generated by individuals and are a product of their choices and actions.

Sarp: Is this what Dostoevsky believed?

ChatGPT: Fyodor Dostoevsky's religious beliefs and the way he incorporated them into his philosophical thought are complex and multifaceted. However, it is possible to interpret his works as exploring the idea that meaning and purpose are not inherent in the world, but must be created and pursued by individuals. This idea is similar to certain interpretations of Existentialism, which emphasize individual freedom and choice. However, Dostoevsky's religious faith and belief in a higher power would have led him to a different understanding of the ultimate source of meaning and purpose than some of the secular Existentialist philosophers.

[…]

Sarp: You mentioned that Wallace's Christian faith is at odds with the secular tendencies of some Existentialist thinkers. But when I asked you about Dostoevsky, you did not make the same argument. Why is that?

ChatGPT: That is a good point, and I apologize for any confusion. To clarify, both David Foster Wallace and Fyodor Dostoevsky's religious beliefs were at odds with the secular tendencies of some Existentialist thinkers. Dostoevsky was devoutly Christian and his faith influenced his philosophical perspective, while Wallace was a Christian and his faith also played a significant role in his writing and philosophical outlook. Both writers were interested in exploring the human condition and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world, which are central concerns of Existentialist thought. However, their religious beliefs would have led them to a different understanding of the ultimate source of meaning and purpose than some of the secular Existentialist philosophers.

[ChatGPT is a public offering and very simple to use. I recommend experimenting with it at chat.openai.com]