The Existential Philosophy Of Kertesz Imre

This paper is a systematic study of Kertesz Imre's philosophical thought about the human existence, via examining his literary works, particularly his major novels. It aims to discuss Kertesz Imre's reflections of the massacre in the past and the human existence at the present, to outline his existential philosophy, in an attempt to obtain illuminations about ourselves, our existence and our society.The paper is divided into five parts.The introduction reviews the literary creation and the research status of Kertesz Imre, presenting the purpose, significance, methodology and the main content of this research project.Chapter one, entitled"Auschwitz and the Functional Beings", examines Kertesz's most valuable discovery about the Auschwitz. Kertesz reveals in his works the tragic existence in the concentration camp where both the Jews and the Nazi were turned into the functional beings and none could obtain the self-realization.Chapter two,"Auschwitz and the Totalitarianism", discusses Kertesz's philosophical representations of what has made the functional beings. According to Kertesz, the Auschwitz is the extremalization of a totalitarian society; it is the totalitarianism that makes people the functional beings.Chapter three,"Auschwitz and the Criticism of Modernity", focused on Kertesz's exploration of the close relation between the totalitarianism and modernity, further analyzes Kertesz's philosophy about the totalitarianism and the consequent human existence. His criticism of modernity as a most dangerous factor that produces the totalitarianism reveals the admirable depth of his works.The final part summarizes the philosophy of Kertesz and reaffirms the main opinions of this paper. Kertesz's philosophy comes not from the metaphysical meditation, but from his own experience and observations and the sufferings of countless Jewish people. It is, therefore, universal and also realistic. Although Kertesz has not yet provided solutions to the problems revealed in his works, he is still optimistic about the future of human society.