A philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.
Existentialism is a derivative of nihilism coined by Søren Kierkegaard in in the 1800s. Rather than focusing on abstract questions Kierkegaard focused his questions around human existence. To me, this is much more goal oriented. Instead of asking the question “do I have free will?” Kierkegaard asks “how can I, as a creature that exists, experience freedom or obtain free will?“.
Man is what he is not and is not what he is. -Sartre
Later on in the 1900s, a much more prominent figure Jean-Paul Sartre become a leading exponent of existentialism for his belief that existence precedes essence. What he means by that is before anything can have meaning, it must first exist. Therefore, you exist, and then you gain essence. He also said…
Hell is other people. -Sartre
Basically Sarte means that you become aware of yourself in the presence of others (as someone that is subject to judgement). Hell is other people encapsulates the idea that the presence of the Other causes a loss of freedom for the self and that a portion of our self-identity and existence becomes dependant on how we are perceived. In Sartre’s No Exit, this loss of independence is “Hell” since it denies the self the opportunity to define itself independently of external influences. Therefore, Sartre isn’t talking about interactions or relationships themselves as torturous, but rather is highlighting an existential condition where one’s self-definition is bound and compromised by the Other. This is something that needs to be actively recognized and addressed.
Use this view as a lens to view social interaction and reflect on why people make the decisions that they do considering the Other (linked to Nash Equilibrium).
Summary
In summary, what this means to me is…
If life has no meaning, it is the individuals responsibility to find one.
