Existentialism and the Philosophers In Depth

What Is Existentialism? --- Madison Smith (H03)

    "Philosophy of existence." Existentialism. 

Existentialism is defined as a philosophical theory that argues that every individual is free and responsible. Someone determines their own actions by free will. The concept also correlates with the thought that a human exists before their existence even has meaning. 

Soren Kierkegaard was the first person to actually contribute to the philosophical idea of existentialism. He was a well-known writer in the Danish "golden age." All of his work covers material in many different boundaries. These include philosophy, psychology, and theology. Kierkegaard being a deeply religious man, he was set in his ways. Even though he fundamentally founded existentialism, he refused to be called an existentialist. It was against what believed in. In Kierkegaard's existentialism, there was three types. The aesthetic. The ethical. And the religious. His existential beliefs are basically described as the "realization of how feeble and insignificant the existence of man is when confronted with the reality of death." 

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher in the 19th century. He contributed to the concept of existentialism shortly after Kierkegaard. Just like him, Nietzsche did not accept the term existentialist. Both philosophers wrote that "human nature and human identity vary depending on what values and beliefs humans hold." Another one of Nietzsche's existentialist quotes was the "will to power." This means humans have the power and desire to create and destroy as they please. 

Jean Paul Sartre was the most influential philosopher associated with existentialism. He was also the only philosopher that actually did not mind being referred to as an existentialist. Sartre's most famous work is Being And Nothingness. This piece can be summarized as basically the book of existentialism. The work can also be purchased still to this day. After his most famous work was published, he tried to further his fame by attempting to conform existentialism in his later work, Critique of Dialectical Reason.

All this talk of existentialist philosophers is probably leaving you wondering what existentialism even is. 

Existentialism: Crash Course Philosophy #16 - YouTube

As mentioned in the intro, it all has to do with someone's existence. Their actions all determine their life and what happens. For most, existentialism has a negative connotation. Many individuals associate it with anxiety, dread, worrying, and mortality. The reasoning is unknown. Existentialism is also commonly confused with the concept of nihilism. Basically, nihilism is the concept that life is meaningless and there is no purpose at all.  

"Man defines their own reality" 

Existentialism is also linked with your consciousness. It is known as the "root of existentialist drive." Many see consciousness as one source of a man's freedom. Nothing prevents consciousness from making choices about an individual's well-being. 

Have you ever heard of someone going through an existential crisis? These are especially common in people in their 40s-50s. This is when someone finds themselves questioning all their life's choice. Their relationships. Their careers. The point of everything that goes on in their daily life. All of it. Thanks to Sartre, that is another belief that he carried on in one of his works. 

Existence precedes essence. According to John Locke, you are born as tabula rasa (a blank slate). It is up to you to discover your life's purpose and give it meaning. Many existentialists believed that there is no "divine intervention", fate, or any outside forces that are pushing you in any specific direction. It is all you. Existentialism was most popularized in the 20th century by Sartre after the tragic World War II. 

Works Cited: 

The Role of Consciousness in the Movement of Existentialism (ukessays.com)

What Is Existentialism? An Ethics Explainer By The Ethics Centre

Existentialism (mcgill.ca)