Existentialism is a way of thinking that started in the 19th and 20th centuries. It focuses on big questions like:
Two important thinkers in existentialism are Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Søren Kierkegaard is often called the "father of existentialism."
He believed that making choices is really important.
Kierkegaard talked about a “leap of faith,” which means taking a personal risk to find what’s real for you.
In his book Either/Or, he talks about two ways to live:
Kierkegaard challenged people to pick their own paths instead of just following what society expects.
His ideas helped inspire characters in stories, like Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky’s work, who struggles with tough decisions.
Friedrich Nietzsche introduced some shocking ideas.
He talked about the "will to power," which means the desire to grow and be strong.
He famously said, "God is dead," pointing out that many traditional values were fading away.
This created a space where people could make their own values.
Writers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus were influenced by Nietzsche.
One of Nietzsche’s ideas was about “eternal recurrence.” This means imagining that you have to live your life over and over again, which can make you think about how you’re living now.
Kierkegaard and Nietzsche both pushed people to look inside themselves and value their individuality.
Many writers embraced their ideas, like Franz Kafka.
In his story The Metamorphosis, the main character deals with feelings of being separate and unsure about who he is.
Similarly, Albert Camus wrote The Stranger, where the main character, Meursault, seems indifferent to what happens in life.
This connects to Nietzsche’s idea that there aren't set rules for right and wrong.
In short, Kierkegaard taught us about making personal choices and finding our own truths.
Nietzsche challenged us to create meaning in a confusing world.
Together, their ideas set the stage for many works of existentialist literature that still matter to us today.
Existentialism is a way of thinking that started in the 19th and 20th centuries. It focuses on big questions like:
Two important thinkers in existentialism are Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Søren Kierkegaard is often called the "father of existentialism."
He believed that making choices is really important.
Kierkegaard talked about a “leap of faith,” which means taking a personal risk to find what’s real for you.
In his book Either/Or, he talks about two ways to live:
Kierkegaard challenged people to pick their own paths instead of just following what society expects.
His ideas helped inspire characters in stories, like Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky’s work, who struggles with tough decisions.
Friedrich Nietzsche introduced some shocking ideas.
He talked about the "will to power," which means the desire to grow and be strong.
He famously said, "God is dead," pointing out that many traditional values were fading away.
This created a space where people could make their own values.
Writers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus were influenced by Nietzsche.
One of Nietzsche’s ideas was about “eternal recurrence.” This means imagining that you have to live your life over and over again, which can make you think about how you’re living now.
Kierkegaard and Nietzsche both pushed people to look inside themselves and value their individuality.
Many writers embraced their ideas, like Franz Kafka.
In his story The Metamorphosis, the main character deals with feelings of being separate and unsure about who he is.
Similarly, Albert Camus wrote The Stranger, where the main character, Meursault, seems indifferent to what happens in life.
This connects to Nietzsche’s idea that there aren't set rules for right and wrong.
In short, Kierkegaard taught us about making personal choices and finding our own truths.
Nietzsche challenged us to create meaning in a confusing world.
Together, their ideas set the stage for many works of existentialist literature that still matter to us today.