Existentialist writers have had some really interesting talks with Marxist ideas.

Both of these philosophies look at human life, but they do it in different ways.

To me, the main point is how thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus deal with the balance between individual freedom and the influence of society and the economy.

1. Individual vs. Collective

• Existentialists focus on personal freedom, choices, and taking responsibility.
• Sartre famously said that "existence precedes essence," meaning that people create their own meaning through their actions.
• On the other hand, Marxism emphasizes the importance of belonging to a group and how economic factors shape people’s behavior.
• This can lead to disagreements: existentialists celebrate personal freedom, while Marxists believe true freedom can only happen if we tackle economic inequality.

2. Social Alienation

• Both groups talk about feeling alienated or disconnected, but they see it differently.
• Marxists think alienation comes from capitalism, where workers become disconnected from what they produce and from each other.
• Existentialists, however, discuss a different kind of alienation: individuals feeling lost and without purpose in a confusing world.
• For example, in "The Stranger," Camus shows how a person can feel separate from society’s rules and expectations, raising questions about what it means to be real or authentic.

3. Revolution and Authenticity

• In Sartre's work, "Critique of Dialectical Reason," he tries to blend existentialism with Marxism.
• He argues that while people need to recognize their own freedom, they are also influenced by their history and society.
• Sartre believes that fighting for change can help people live more authentically.
• This idea suggests that personal and collective freedom can go together.

4. Class Struggle and Existential Dilemma

• Existentialist writers sometimes criticize Marxism for being too focused on social class.
• They argue that viewing life only through class struggle ignores the richness of individual choices.
• Still, many existentialists agree that understanding economic conditions is important for having real freedom.

In conclusion, the relationship between existentialism and Marxism helps both ideas grow.

Existentialists push for being true to oneself, while Marxism points out the importance of social factors.

This ongoing conversation is still important today, especially as we think about individual rights within a larger society.