Existentialism

Definition

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual's unique experience and the freedom to make choices that determine one's own essence and meaning in life. It challenges the Enlightenment's focus on reason and objective truth, instead emphasizing the subjective nature of human existence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Existentialism rejects the idea of a predetermined human nature, arguing that individuals create their own essence through the choices they make.
2. Key existentialist thinkers include Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus.
3. Existentialists emphasize the importance of personal responsibility and the anxiety that can arise from the freedom to choose one's own path.
4. Existentialism challenges the Enlightenment's focus on reason and objectivity, instead emphasizing the subjective, emotional, and experiential aspects of human existence.
5. Existentialism has had a significant influence on various fields, including literature, art, and psychology, by emphasizing the unique and individual nature of human experience.

Review Questions

• Explain how existentialism challenges the Enlightenment's focus on reason and objective truth.
  • Existentialism rejects the Enlightenment's belief in the primacy of reason and objective truth. Instead, existentialists argue that human existence is fundamentally subjective and that individuals create their own essence through the choices they make. Existentialists emphasize the importance of personal experience, emotion, and the freedom to choose one's own path, rather than relying solely on rational, objective knowledge.
• Describe the role of freedom and responsibility in the existentialist view of human existence.
  • Existentialists believe that individuals have the freedom to make choices that define their own existence and essence. However, this freedom also comes with a profound sense of responsibility, as each choice an individual makes contributes to the creation of their own identity. Existentialists argue that this freedom and responsibility can lead to feelings of anxiety and anguish, as individuals must confront the weight of their choices and the uncertainty of the future.
• Analyze how the existentialist emphasis on subjectivity and individual experience challenges Enlightenment theories of knowledge and the self.
  • The existentialist focus on subjectivity and individual experience stands in stark contrast to the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, objectivity, and universal truths. Existentialists argue that the self is not a fixed, rational entity, but rather a constantly evolving project that is shaped by the unique choices and experiences of the individual. This challenges Enlightenment theories that posit a stable, universal self and a singular, objective reality. Existentialists believe that knowledge is inherently subjective and that individuals must take responsibility for creating their own meaning and purpose in life, rather than relying on external, rational frameworks.

Related terms

Subjectivity: The personal, first-hand experience and perspective of the individual, rather than objective, external reality.

Freedom of Choice: The belief that individuals have the freedom and responsibility to make choices that define their own existence and essence.

Authenticity:

The idea that individuals should live in accordance with their own values and beliefs, rather than conforming to societal norms or expectations.