Existentialism’s first move is to make every man aware of what he is and to make the full responsibility of his existence rest on him.
existentialismquotes
Where Gnosticism regards the world as demonic and hostile, existentialism considers it natural and indifferent. In short, Jonas is far less intent than Voegelin in making Gnosticism modern.
Where Voegelin seeks to show the Gnostic nature of modernity, Jonas seeks to show the modern nature of Gnosticism. Jonas draws parallels between ancient Gnosticism and modern, secular existentialism to prove that Gnosticism is existentialist, not that existentialism is Gnostic. For Jonas, both philosophies stress above all the radical alienation of human beings from the world.
Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself. Such is the first principle of existentialism.
