Existentialism
🎯Core Idea:
Existence comes first, essence comes later.
Humans are not born with any predetermined purpose or identity.
They create themselves — by their choices, actions, and experiences.
Historical Context
- Origin: Existentialism emerged as a major philosophical movement in the 20th century, especially after the devastation of World Wars, when old certainties collapsed, and people began questioning meaning, freedom, and individual responsibility.
- Main Proponent: Jean-Paul Sartre — one of the most influential existentialist thinkers.
Main Principles of Existentialism
- Human Beings are Free and Responsible
- Unlike a machine that follows fixed rules, a human being is free to make choices.
- No divine plan or social structure fully defines who we are — we define ourselves.
- “Man is Nothing at Birth”
- At the time of birth, a person is just a biological existence — no identity, no purpose.
- Over time, through the choices we make, we create our own essence.
Real-world analogy:
Imagine a blank diary.
- When you are born, your diary is empty.
- Each choice you make, each action you take — fills the pages.
- Eventually, the diary reflects who you have become.
Thus, existence (being born) precedes essence (who you become).
- You are What You Do
- Sartre’s famous line: “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.”
- Your identity is not something you are born with — it is something you build.
- Uniqueness of Individuals
- Since each person makes different choices, each person creates a unique world and a unique self.
- No two humans are exactly alike in existential terms.
Simple Flowchart for Understanding Existentialism
Birth → Existence (Blank State) → Choices & Actions → Formation of Identity → Creation of Meaning
Thus, existentialism puts the entire burden of creating meaning on the individual.
Summarising existentialism in one line:
“Existentialism says: You are not born with a purpose — you create your purpose through your choices and actions.”