Existentialism

2 Pages 410 Words

Existentialism has been defined as a philosophical movement or tendency,

emphasizing individual existence, freedom and choice that influences many diverse

writers in the 19th and 20th centuries. The philosophical term existentialism came

from Jean Paul Sartre, a French philosopher. He combined the theories of a select few

German philosophers, the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, the metaphysics of

G.W.F. Hegel and Martin Heidegger, and the social theory of Karl Marx. This

philosophy became a worldwide movement. One phenomenon of this theory is its

proliferation. Since its creation it has remained a part of contemporary thought. One

explanation for this is its applicability to contemporary life and society. It focuses on

the utter existence of man itself.


According to Sartre, a true existentialist believes there is no God and thus man

becomes alone with only ourselves as a guide to making the decisions that define our

existence. Our existence not only defines, but also must be defined. Subjectivism

provides this definition. Subjectivity refers to the radical freedom to choose with or

without a God, but also that this radical freedom becomes a responsibility to use or

not use.


Another definition, provided by Webster’s dictionary defines existentialism as a

philosophical movement especially of the 20th century that stresses the individual

position as self determining agent responsible for his or her own choices. It becomes

very clear through the definitions provided, that existentialism focuses on two things,

the individual and choice. Breaking apart the word itself, you come up with another

word, exist, to have actual being, and also existent, which is to have existence. The

suffix –ism denotes and action or practice. A minimal definition of existentialism

might be, an individual practicing his or her right to make choices for him/herself, ...