Existentialism

existentialism:

Existentialism is a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, emphasizing individual existence, freedom of choice, and the search for meaning in what appears to be a meaningless or absurd universe. While existentialist themes can be traced back to 19th-century philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, the movement reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in post-war France. Existentialist literature focuses on the individual’s struggle to create meaning and identity in a world that offers no inherent purpose or predetermined essence.

The term “existentialism” was popularized by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, though many thinkers associated with the movement initially rejected the label. Existentialism arose partly as a response to the horrors of two world wars, the Holocaust, and the apparent collapse of traditional values and certainties. Writers and philosophers associated with existentialism sought to explore what it means to be authentically human in a world where traditional sources of meaning—religion, nationalism, fixed social roles—had been called into question.

Core principles of Existentialism include:

1. Existence Precedes Essence: Unlike objects that are created for a specific purpose, human beings exist first and must create their own essence or meaning through their choices and actions. Humans are not born with a predetermined nature or purpose.

2. Radical Freedom and Responsibility: Humans are fundamentally free to choose their actions and are fully responsible for the consequences. This freedom is both liberating and terrifying, as it places the entire burden of creating meaning on the individual.

3. Anxiety and Angst: The recognition of absolute freedom and responsibility creates anxiety (Angst), a fundamental condition of human existence. This anxiety arises from the awareness that one must constantly choose without having absolute moral guidelines.

4. Authenticity: Individuals must strive to live authentically by acknowledging their freedom and taking responsibility for their choices, rather than conforming to social expectations or external authorities.

5. Absurdity: The human condition is essentially absurd—the universe provides no inherent meaning, yet humans continue to seek purpose and understanding. This creates an inevitable tension that must be confronted.

6. Facticity and Thrownness: While individuals are free to choose, they must do so within the constraints of their given circumstances—their historical moment, social class, physical limitations, and other factors beyond their control.

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) became the most prominent existentialist philosopher and writer. His philosophical work Being and Nothingness (1943) established many key existentialist concepts, while his novels like Nausea (1938) and plays such as No Exit (1944) dramatized existentialist themes. Sartre’s famous declaration that “existence precedes essence” and his exploration of “bad faith”—the denial of one’s freedom and responsibility—became central to existentialist thought.

Albert Camus (1913-1960), though he rejected the existentialist label, wrote powerfully about the absurd condition of human existence. His novels The Stranger (1942) and The Plague (1947), along with his philosophical essay The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), explored how individuals might live meaningfully despite the universe’s indifference. Camus argued that one must imagine Sisyphus happy, finding purpose in the struggle itself rather than in any ultimate resolution.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924), writing earlier than the main existentialist period, prefigured many existentialist themes in works like The Trial (1925) and The Castle (1926). His protagonists face inexplicable, absurd situations that reflect the alienation and anxiety of modern existence.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) explored existentialist themes through a feminist lens, particularly in The Second Sex (1949), which analyzed women’s situation as the eternal “Other” and called for authentic existence through freedom and responsibility. Her novels, including The Mandarins (1954), examined the practical application of existentialist principles to personal and political life.

Existentialist literary techniques included:

• Psychological Realism: Detailed exploration of characters’ inner lives, particularly their anxiety, guilt, and attempts to create meaning
• Symbolic Situations: Concrete situations that represent universal aspects of the human condition
• Philosophical Dialogue: Characters often engage in lengthy discussions about freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of existence
• Ironic Narrative: The gap between characters’ self-understanding and their actual situation
• Fragmented Structure: Reflecting the disordered, absurd nature of existence

The influence of existentialism extended beyond literature to theater, psychology, theology, and popular culture. The movement’s emphasis on individual responsibility and authentic choice influenced writers like Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, and Richard Wright. Existentialist themes of alienation, meaninglessness, and the search for authenticity became central concerns of mid-20th-century literature and continue to resonate in contemporary fiction, drama, and film.

While existentialism as a cohesive movement declined by the 1960s, its core insights about human freedom, responsibility, and the need to create meaning in an apparently meaningless universe remain influential in literature, philosophy, and psychology. The movement’s emphasis on the primacy of individual experience and choice helped shape subsequent developments in humanistic psychology, postmodern thought, and contemporary literary theory.