Question

What is 'existentialism'? Which philosophers are existentialists that you read about?

Answer 1

Existentialism developed and flourished in Europe during the 1940s and 1950s, after the war was over. In this period many people felt disillusioned with organized religion and society. Existentialism is broadly concerned with the analysis of existence and of the way humans find themselves existing in the world. It is a philosophy centered on finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. An existentialist believes that a person should be able to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions. Some of the philosophers who are existentialist are Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Albert Camus.

Existentialism major premises are:

• The major premise of existentialism is that the natural sciences (like biology and psychology) or by moral categories (found in religion and social codes) are inadequate to find the meaning of existence and the nature of humanity. In their opinion ‘authentic living’ is a better option.
• Existentialists believe there is no destiny or pre-determined purpose of our lives.
• People have a complete free will and can make choices about their daily actions in order to make those actions meaningful and ordered despite the lack of meaning and order in the universe. For an existentialist, this is authentic living.