What is existentialism? Understand the philosophy of freedom, choice and self-shaping

An in-depth discussion of Existentialism, a philosophical trend that emphasizes personal freedom, responsibility and the meaning of life. Understand its core concept “existence before nature,” authenticity and anxiety, and explore how it shapes your values ​​and life choices. Join our 8values ​​ideological test now and discover your philosophical thought stand.

In the journey of life, have you ever stopped, stared at the vast starry sky, thinking about "Why do I exist?" or "What is the meaning of my life?" These grand questions are not unique to modern people, but profound questions throughout human history. Thinking about these issues becomes especially urgent as traditional beliefs and established orders gradually shake and we find ourselves thrown into a world that seems to lack inner meaning. It is in this context that existentialism comes into being, in a thorough and profound way, puts the individual at the center of philosophical inquiry, emphasizing everyone's freedom, choice and the enormous responsibility that follows.

Existentialism is not just an academic theory, it is also a philosophical attitude about how to live and how to face challenges in life. It refuses to see human beings as the existence of preset nature or established roles, but rather as a subject that constantly creates and defines itself. By understanding the core ideas of existentialism, you will gain a whole new perspective to look at your life and bravely shape your future.

Existence precedes the essence—the cornerstone of self-definition

The most core and most revolutionary claim of existentialism is that " existence precedes essence ." This concept subverts the view that "essence precedes existence" in traditional Western philosophy. In traditional philosophical thoughts, such as Aristotle or medieval scholastic philosophy, that anything has a pre-existing, fixed nature or nature that determines its "what is". For example, the designer of a paper cutter first conceives its purpose (essence) before making it (existence).

However, existentialists believe that this is not the case with human beings. We were not born with a preset “manual” or “blueprint”. Instead, we exist first - being "thrown" into the world. Only after we exist, through every choice and action we make, can we begin to define ourselves and shape our essence. As Jean-Paul Sartre said, "A man is nothing unless he creates himself." This means that your identity, values, and goals in life are not determined by external forces or any prior truth, but are constantly created and established by yourself.

This emphasis on self-definition makes everyone have unlimited possibilities to be whoever they want to be. This is the core of existential philosophy’s power and liberation. Want to have a deeper understanding of how your personal tendencies and values ​​affect your choices? We provide free 8values ​​political orientation tests to help you explore yourself.

Freedom and Responsibility—Heavy Gifts

Since "existence precedes essence", human beings have absolute freedom . We are no longer subject to the will of the gods, social norms or any presupposed “human nature”. This freedom is thorough, it means that we are choosing every moment, even if we choose not to choose, it is a choice in itself. However, this seemingly beautiful freedom is a heavy gift to existentialists. Sartre described it as “ decided as free .” We have not created ourselves, but once we exist, we must be fully responsible for everything we do, without any excuse or reason to shirk it.

This responsibility not only concerns the individual itself, but also extends to the entire human race . When you make a choice, you are shaping an image of “what should be” for not only yourself, but for all human beings. For example, if you choose to devote yourself to a social cause, or decide how to treat others, these actions invisibly define the value and possibilities of humanity. Existentialism therefore emphasizes that our freedom is situational , not abstract and infinite, but is always rooted in the specific physical, historical and social contexts in which we live. It is in these limitations that our choices become meaningful and specific.

Anxiety and absurdity - the alarm bell of existence

Facing absolute freedom and the enormous responsibility that follows, humans often experience a profound emotion— anxiety or fear (Dread). This anxiety does not point to something concrete and definable (that would be "fear"), but to the void and uncertainty of existence . This "dirty of freedom" will come to our hearts when we realize that life has no preset meaning and that we must bear the burden of creating meaning alone.

At the same time, existentialism often explores the concept of " absurdity ". Absurdity arises from the fundamental conflict between human beings’ eternal pursuit of clarity, reason, order and meaning, and an essentially silent, disordered, unexplained world. Albert Camus believes that life itself is ridiculous, but this awareness does not necessarily lead to despair. On the contrary, it is by facing the absurdity that we can resist and create our own meaning in a universe without gods and without eternal truth. This act of creating meaning is the ultimate victory of mankind over nothingness.

True nature - live out your true self

In order to overcome existential anxiety and absurdity, existentialists advocate an “ authenticity ” lifestyle. Innocence means being true to oneself and living according to one’s own values ​​and beliefs, rather than blindly obeying social norms, traditions or expectations of others.

In contrast, it is " bad Faith " or "self-deception". When a person escapes his freedom and responsibility, pretends that his meaning or purpose is given by external forces (such as social roles, genetics, environments), or refuses to accept the uncertainty of life, he falls into a bad faith. For example, Sartre once used the example of a waiter to describe the waiter who equates himself with an item by playing the role of "waiter", thus evading the responsibility of being a free subject.

Innocence requires us to bravely acknowledge and accept the fact that we are free and responsible individuals. This includes accepting the necessity of death, as well as all the contradictions, uncertainties and ambiguity in life. The authentic life is not about reaching a fixed end, but a continuous process of self-shaping that encourages us to constantly ask questions, explore and redefine ourselves. Only by living in a genuine way can we achieve true personal growth and satisfaction.

Main thinkers and schools

Although existentialism reached its peak in France in the mid-20th century, its ideological roots can be traced back to Europe in the 19th century. A series of outstanding thinkers, including philosophers, writers and artists, have shaped this profound philosophical movement:

• Søren Kierkegaard : known as the "father of existentialism". He emphasizes personal choices, the paradox of faith, and the aesthetic, ethical and religious stages in life. Although he was a devout Christian, his thoughts had a profound impact on later secular existentialism.
• Friedrich Nietzsche : famous for his criticism of traditional values ​​and the declaration that "God is dead." He proposed the concepts of “will-to- power ” and “ superman ” (Übermensch), encouraging individuals to transcend traditional moral constraints and create their own values ​​and meanings.
• Martin Heidegger : His Being and Time explores the concept of Dasein , the unique way of existence of human beings. He emphasized " Being -in-the-world" and believed that anxiety reveals the nothingness of existence.
• Jean-Paul Sartre : One of the most influential existentialists of the 20th century. He clearly put forward the slogan "existence precedes the essence" and emphasized the "radical freedom" of mankind and the responsibilities it brings and "bad faith".
• Simone de Beauvoir : Sartre's lifelong companion and important collaborator, and an outstanding feminist philosopher. Her book The Second Sex uses an existential perspective to deeply analyze women's situation and liberation. She emphasized the realization of freedom through action and proposed an ethical concept based on “ recognition ”.
• Albert Camus : Although he rejects the label of "existentialist", his works such as The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus deeply explore the themes of absurdity, resistance and freedom . He advocates finding meaning in absurdity and becoming a "absurd hero".

Although these thinkers have different opinions, they all focus on the fundamental issues of human beings and emphasize the role of individual subjective experiences and actions in constructing meaning. Explore how different ideologies affect society and individuals? Please see our website for a detailed introduction to all 8values ​​results ideology .

The profound impact of existentialism

The influence of existentialism goes far beyond the field of pure philosophy, and it penetrates deeply into literature, art, film, psychology and social trends since the 20th century.

In the fields of literature and art , existential themes such as alienation, anxiety, nothingness and the pursuit of meaning are fully reflected in the works of writers such as Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Beckett. Film directors such as Ingmar Bergman, Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan also explore the dilemma of existence, the weight of freedom and the struggle of individuals in an uncertain world through their works.

In the fields of psychology and spiritual therapy , existentialism pioneered existential psychology and therapy . Psychologists such as Rollo May and Viktor Frankl apply existential insights to clinical practice to help people cope with psychological dilemmas by facing anxiety, finding meaning and taking responsibility. Frankel's "Logotherapy" emphasizes the power of discovering meaning in suffering.

Existentialism has also profoundly influenced social criticism and political thought . It encourages individuals to question social norms, criticize collectivism’s “crowd” thinking, and emphasizes the ethical responsibility to achieve freedom for others . This focus on personal freedom and social responsibility has inspired the development of diversified political thoughts such as feminism and the social liberation movement.

The difference between existentialism and nihilism

Since they all involve the questioning of the meaning of life, existentialism is often misunderstood as nihilism. Nihilism believes that life has no inner meaning or purpose . Although existentialism admits that the world itself has no presuppositional meaning , it strongly opposes falling into despair and inaction.

On the contrary, existentialism believes that it is precisely because life has no preset meaning that we have the freedom and ability to create meaning . It is a philosophy of action that calls on us to actively engage in life and give unique value to our existence through our choices, commitments and actions. Existentialism is optimistic because it places the fate of mankind in its own hands.

Conclusion: Shaping your life path

Existentialism sends us a core message: Your life is not a pre-written story, but a narrative created by you . By emphasizing personal freedom, individual responsibility, and the pursuit of meaning , it empowers us to face the uncertainties and challenges in life.

In this rapidly changing age, questions about identity, meaning and freedom are more urgent than ever. Existentialism provides a powerful ideological framework that helps us cope with the anxiety of modern life, encourages us to bravely shoulder the burden of independent choices , and ultimately light up a lamp for our lives in a seemingly disordered world.

Now, it’s time to look at your values ​​and define your life path. Whether you are experiencing an "existential crisis" or desire to understand yourself more deeply, existentialism invites you to face the "absurd" nature of life with courage and live your unique true self.

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