The basic moods of existence

the resonance of being in the human mind. An outline of natural existence psychology

Abstract

An overview is provided of the psychological constituents of the emotional
register, and particular focus is given to the longer-lasting existential
moods – our being-attuned to being – as we as humans experience
it. 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 mean. The outer as well as the inner nature of humans and
human existence have been underexposed in the field of classical and
modern existential thinking. The aim here is to remedy this shortcoming
by presenting an empirically anchored outline of 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 a human being.