What is existentialism? | A-Z of ISMs Episode 5 - BBC Ideas – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary
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Interactive Transcript & Highlights for Dictation
1.The A-Z of isms
2.existentialism
3.There they are, the quintessential existentialists, lounging in a Parisian left-bank café the meaninglessness of life
4.There is some truth behind every detail of this but in its totality it’s a misleading caricature
5.It owes much to Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, both philosophers, writers and famous public intellectuals in France, from the Second World War until Sartre's death in 1980
💡 Tap the highlighted words to see definitions and examples
Key Vocabulary (CEFR B2)
difference
B2The quality of being different.
Example:
"Why are we here? How can we make a difference?"
important
A2Having relevant and crucial value.
Example:
"and just as important now as in post-war Paris."
subscribe
A2To sign up to have copies of a publication, such as a newspaper or a magazine, delivered for a period of time.
Example:
"Thanks for watching. Don’t forget to subscribe! :)"
discussing
A2To converse or debate concerning a particular topic.
Example:
"discussing the meaninglessness of life."
stereotype
A2A conventional, formulaic, and often oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of (a person).
Example:
"There is some truth behind every detail of this stereotype"
hedonistic
A2Devoted to pleasure; epicurean.
Example:
"hedonistic consumer on a shopping spree."
prosperity
B2The condition of being prosperous, of having good fortune
Example:
"Political freedom and material prosperity"
wonderful
A2Tending to excite wonder; surprising, extraordinary.
Example:
"Wonderful though life can be, it has no ultimate purpose,"
senseless
A2Without feeling or consciousness; deprived of sensation
Example:
"senseless universe."
classic
A2A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
Example:
"the classic "existential crisis"!"
| Word | CEFR | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| difference | B2 | The quality of being different. |
| important | A2 | Having relevant and crucial value. |
| subscribe | A2 | To sign up to have copies of a publication, such as a newspaper or a magazine, delivered for a period of time. |
| discussing | A2 | To converse or debate concerning a particular topic. |
| stereotype | A2 | A conventional, formulaic, and often oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of (a person). |
| hedonistic | A2 | Devoted to pleasure; epicurean. |
| prosperity | B2 | The condition of being prosperous, of having good fortune |
| wonderful | A2 | Tending to excite wonder; surprising, extraordinary. |
| senseless | A2 | Without feeling or consciousness; deprived of sensation |
| classic | A2 | A perfect and/or early example of a particular style. |
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