The philosophy of Existentialism

Welcome! I am so excited to explore existentialism with you today. It is a philosophy that gets right to the heart of what it actually feels like to be alive, making choices in a vast and sometimes baffling universe.

Before we dive into the big ideas, I would love to know: what brought you to learning about existentialism today, and do you have any previous background in philosophy?

I'm a complete beginner, just curious about the big questions.

It's wonderful to have you here! Starting from scratch is actually the perfect way to approach existentialism because this philosophy isn't about memorizing dusty academic rules—it's about looking directly at your own life.

Your path

Radical Freedom and Personal Responsibility

The Absurd and Search for Meaning

Major Figures and Historical Context

The Great Flip: Existence vs Essence

To understand existentialism, we first have to look at the idea it rebelled against: . For thousands of years, traditional thinkers believed that everything in the world has a predefined purpose or blueprint. Think of a pocket knife. Before the artisan ever crafts it, they have a design, a function, and a purpose in mind for it. Its "essence" (being a tool to cut things) exists before the physical knife itself is even manufactured. Traditional philosophy argued that humans are just like that pocket knife—whether designed by a Creator, nature, or fate, we were born with a pre-packaged purpose.

But the existentialists looked at the world and flipped this completely on its head. They argued that for human beings, existence precedes essence. We are not like pocket knives. We are tossed into the physical world first—we exist, breathe, and show up—and only then, through our choices, actions, and lived experiences, do we construct our "essence" and define who we are.

Continue to how we construct our own meaning through our actions

You've hit on the absolute core of the existentialist mission. If there is no pre-written cosmic script for your life, then you are the author of your own story, and every single thing you do is a stroke of the pen.

The Canvas of Action

For existentialists, meaning is not something you sit around and quietly think into existence. You can't just contemplate your way to a meaningful life. Instead, meaning is actively built through your daily choices and concrete actions. Think of yourself as an artist facing a completely blank canvas. The canvas has no inherent picture, no faint pencil outlines to trace, and no paint-by-numbers guide. It is empty. If you simply sit in front of it and analyze what a beautiful painting could look like, the canvas remains blank. The masterpiece only begins to exist when you physically pick up the brush, dip it in paint, and make a stroke. In the exact same way, you define who you are through what you actually do. If you want to be a kind person, you don't just feel warm thoughts; you perform acts of kindness. Your is the sum total of your actions.

Sartre's Philosophy in a Notebook

The man who crystalized this radical way of thinking was the French philosopher . Walking the streets of Paris, holding court in smoky cafés, and writing furiously in paper notebooks, Sartre became the rockstar of 20th-century philosophy by daring people to face this ultimate, sometimes terrifying creative freedom.