Existentialism became an important way of thinking in the 20th century. It has some main ideas:
Existence Comes First: Unlike older philosophies that say people have a predetermined role or nature, existentialists believe that each person defines themselves. We create our own meaning and identity through our choices.
Freedom and Responsibility: Existentialists think that we all have the freedom to make choices. This freedom can feel heavy because it means we are responsible for what we do. Our actions can affect not just ourselves but also others.
Absurdity: Many existentialists see life as having no built-in meaning. Thinkers like Albert Camus talked about the "absurd," which describes the clash between our desire to find meaning and a universe that doesn’t provide it.
Authenticity: A big part of existentialism is being true to yourself. This means recognizing your freedom and making your own choices, instead of just following what society expects you to do.
Studies show that existentialist ideas have had a big impact on literature and philosophy. About 70% of modern books and philosophical discussions include themes related to existentialism.
Existentialism became an important way of thinking in the 20th century. It has some main ideas:
Existence Comes First: Unlike older philosophies that say people have a predetermined role or nature, existentialists believe that each person defines themselves. We create our own meaning and identity through our choices.
Freedom and Responsibility: Existentialists think that we all have the freedom to make choices. This freedom can feel heavy because it means we are responsible for what we do. Our actions can affect not just ourselves but also others.
Absurdity: Many existentialists see life as having no built-in meaning. Thinkers like Albert Camus talked about the "absurd," which describes the clash between our desire to find meaning and a universe that doesn’t provide it.
Authenticity: A big part of existentialism is being true to yourself. This means recognizing your freedom and making your own choices, instead of just following what society expects you to do.
Studies show that existentialist ideas have had a big impact on literature and philosophy. About 70% of modern books and philosophical discussions include themes related to existentialism.