Existentialist Thought: Dealing with Life’s Fundamental Questions

Existentialist Thought: Dealing with Life’s Fundamental Questions

Blog Article

Existentialist thought is one of the most fascinating and influential schools of thought of the 20th century. It poses the most fundamental of life’s mysteries: What does it mean to exist? Can we discover purpose in a meaningless universe? Philosophers like Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus have investigated these profound ideas, providing us with valuable insights into how we can deal with the challenges of existence in a world without inherent value.

At the heart of existentialism is the idea that we exist before we find purpose. This means that we are born without any predefined meaning, and it is up to us to create meaning in our lives. As Sartre put it, “We are condemned to be free,” implying that while we have the absolute freedom to shape our destiny, this freedom also comes with the burden of choice. For some, this is an intimidating idea, but for existential philosophers, it’s an encouragement to accept life’s difficulties and pursue a life of authenticity, without being constrained by societal expectations.

This philosophy invites philosophy us to be responsible for our decisions, to accept life’s irrationalities with bravery, and to find meaning in the things we do, whether it’s through creativity, relationships, or simply the daily experience of life. While life may not have a higher, predefined purpose, existential thought reminds us that we have the ability to determine our own meaning. And in doing so, we can achieve deeply meaningful lives, even in the face of life’s unknowns.