Existentialism : A Philosophical Movement

Existentialists find value in a personal point of view (thou rather than it). Like atheistic existentialists they hold a distinction between the subjective and objective worlds.

In this article the meaning of Existentialism is explained as the author, Randall Niles, describes how existentialism is a 20th century philosophy that centers itself on the analysis of human existence. He explains the popular slogan “existence precedes essence” by the very first founders of Existentialism, Jean Paul Sartre. The notion of the slogan is described by explaining how humans come into existence when they are first born, and spend their lifetime changing their essence and nature so it satisfies them. The philosophy of Existentialism is further analysed by explaining how humans find themselves and the ultimate meaning of their life by acknowledging their responsibility and making decisions accordingly. Moreover, it also explains

Existentialism is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre, was published in 1945 at the height of Existentialism's cultural resurgence. As Sartre states in his opening line, his purpose is to “offer a defence of existentialism against some charges that have been brought against it.” (Sartre, 1945) At a time where Existentialism was heavily associated with wearing black and smoking (Fahlenbrach, 2012) Sartre felt the need to draw attention to its philosophical and more meaningful aspects, beyond it simply being a passing trend. Sartre outlines, “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. That is the first principle of existentialism” (Sartre, 1945) This is rooted in what Sartre believes to be the basis of all Existential

The world is a simple place, but often at times, it seems more complicated than it really is. People exist in a world where others do not know about them because the world is so big. Existentialism is the belief that a person creates one’s self with the influence of external factors. However, more importantly, it is how a person is able to cope with these factors that allow a person to live their life. Existentialism is a key factor that is prominent throughout the story. The main characters in the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, are all influenced by outside factors that include a pregnancy substitute to make babies and pre-plan their futures, living in a controlled environment and by making the citizens live in a constant hallucination of “happiness”.

Sartre was the prominent philosopher of the existentialism movement. As an atheist, Sartre supported against the existence of God, and argued that for pre-determined human essence to exist, a designer must exist. Whereas, medieval philosophers like Plato, believed in the existence of God and that we had an essence before existing. Sartre rejects

The most important theme in Existentialism writing is choice. According to Sartre , the primary distinction of human being is the freedom to choose. Existentialists believe that human beings do not have a fixed nature (essence), as other animals and plants do; each human being makes choices that create his or her nature. Therefore, choice is central to human existence ,and it is inescapable. Even the refusal to choose is choice(ibid.,

The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sarte is known to have established existentialism in France after the liberation of Paris in 1944. Existentialism is the philosophy that states that the values people choose influences the choices they make and how they interpret the meanings of their decisions. When existentialism was introduced in the United States, it challenged Americans to access their ethical standards from a different perspective.

Existentialism is a philosophy in which people believe that their actions determine their own expansion as a person. The Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia states, “Sartre nevertheless insisted that his existentialism is a form of humanism, and he strongly emphasized human freedom, choice, and responsibility”

Sartre’s atheist existentialism presented in his lecture mainly states that there is no human nature in which man can place his trust; therefore, man is free to choose and is the definer of himself through his own choices and actions. Sartre begins by listing some prevalent oppositions against existentialism. For example, the Communists blame it for inducing “quietism and despair,” because the idea that there is no code of ethics to tell man what he ought to do and become generates fear that might discourage people from committing themselves to action. Christians reproach existentialism for

Furthermore, not all existentialists are atheists like Sartre. Yet, they still agree with some of his stances. The belief that a human creates themselves, or their essence, is a primary component of existentialism.

In Existentialism is a Humanism, Sartre defines existentialism and explains his belief of “existence before essence.” He says that human beings don’t have a pre-established purpose or something that we have to be. He goes in more detail by saying, “… man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards. If man as the existentialist sees him is not definable, it is because to begin with he is nothing. He will not be anything until later, and then he will be what he makes of himself.” (Sartre 4) We have free will and choose what we become and how we define ourselves, not anyone else. The other argument is that we were pre destined to live a certain way. An example of this would be that a pencil was made with the purpose to write. In this case essence comes before existence. In addition, he goes into the role abandonment plays in existentialism.

Jean Paul Sartre is a philosopher that supports the philosophy of existentialism. Existentialism is a twentieth century philosophy that denies any crucial human nature and embraces that each of us produces our own essence through our free actions. Existentialists like Sartre believe there isn’t a God that determines people’s nature. So, existentialists believe that humans have no purpose or nature except the ones that they create for themselves. We are free and responsible for what we are and our engagements; even though we are mindful that this can cause agony.

“The existential theory is concerned for the personal "commitment" of this interesting existing unique in the "human circumstances”.

Soren Kierkegaard is known, almost universally, in the philosophical community as the Father of Existentialism. His works all seek to answer a fundamental question of existence, one that plagued humanity since the times of Aristotle and beyond; How should we life our lives? More specifically in his publication, Either/Or, Kierkegaard introduces two life philosophies, one of the aesthetic and one of the ethic. These viewpoints, argued and symbolized by two characters, “A”, and Judge Wilhelm. Kierkegaard uses these characters as vehicles for explaining the two viewpoints but does not actually take a side, instead leaving his true intentions ambiguous. A’s and Judge Wilhelm’s philosophies, on the surface, look fundamentally different, however, looking past what they are explicitly stating, a deeper realization emerges. That being A and Judge Wilhelm are actually two sides of the same coin. Bounded by, and implicitly frightened by what Kierkegaard calls boredom, or, in other works of his, as despair.

I consider myself an existentialist. There are two basic approaches to this philosophy: either one rejoices in the freedom of the idea that a higher power is not imposing rules and purpose onto our existence, or, one sinks beneath the burden of responsibility that this bequeaths. Existentialists like Sartre, who can only see the bleak and meaningless aspects of living, have missed the opportunity that this philosophy gives to structure and guide their lives based on their own inner moral principles. I think that the inability to cope with inherent absence of meaning points to a dependence on the guidance of a higher power: in effect, a reluctance to take responsibility for oneself. I see existentialism as an incredibly liberating