Existentialism is a European philosophy that started in the mid-1800s and hit its stride in the years around World War II. It has two parts: Life has no inherent meaning. Nothing we do matters in an absolute sense. There is no God, no objective morality, and no cosmic “purpose” in life. That’s OK. Or even better than okay, because it means that life can have the meaning that we give it—that we are more important than any pre-conceived notions about our lives. If you have only the ... Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. It focuses on the question of human existence, and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of existence. It holds that, as there is no God or any other transcendent force, the only way to counter this nothingness (and hence to find meaning in ... Get a comprehensive summary of existentialism. Explore its key tenets, influential proponents, and historical timelines in this insightful overview. Existentialism is one of the most influential and powerful philosophical movements of modern times. It emerged in the mid-19th century as a response to a world in turmoil, and its ideas have had a profound impact on our understanding of the human condition.
