Definitions for existentialism
ˌɛg zɪˈstɛn ʃəˌlɪz əm, ˌɛk sɪ-ex·is·ten·tial·ism

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. existentialism, existential philosophy, existentialist philosophynoun

   (philosophy) a 20th-century philosophical movement chiefly in Europe; assumes that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves

GCIDERate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. existentialismnoun

   a philosophical theory or attitude having various interpretations, generally emphasising the existence of the individual as a unique agent with free will and responsibility for his or her own acts, though living in a universe devoid of any certain knowledge of right and wrong; from one's plight as a free agent with uncertain guidelines may arise feelings of anguish. Existentialism is concerned more with concrete existence rather than abstract theories of essences; is contrasted with rationalism and empiricism; and is associated with Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre, as well as others.

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. existentialismnoun

   A twentieth-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices, with foundations in the thought of SÍren Kierkegaard (1813-55) and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and notably represented in the works of Karl Jaspers (1883-1969), Gabriel Marcel (1887-1973), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80).

   The heyday of existentialism occurred in the mid-twentieth century.

2. existentialismnoun

   The philosophical views of a particular thinker associated with the existentialist movement.

   Sartre's existentialism is atheistic, but the existentialism of Marcel is distinctly Christian.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Existentialism

   Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence. Existentialist philosophers explore the problems related to the meaning, purpose, and value of human existence, and personal agency. The individual person's phenomenological starting point is direct experience of life. The concepts of existentialism are existential crisis, a sense of dread, and anxiety in the face of an absurd world, authenticity, courage, and virtue.Existentialism is associated with several 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who shared an emphasis on the human subject, despite often profound differences in thought. Among the earliest figures associated with existentialism are philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, all of whom critiqued rationalism and concerned themselves with the problem of meaning. In the 20th century, prominent existentialist thinkers included Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger, Simone de Beauvoir, Karl Jaspers, Gabriel Marcel, and Paul Tillich. Many existentialists considered traditional systematic or academic philosophies, in style and content, to be too abstract and removed from concrete human experience. A primary virtue in existentialist thought is authenticity. Existentialism would influence many disciplines outside of philosophy, including theology, drama, art, literature, and psychology.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. existentialism

   Existentialism is a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. It mainly focuses on the individual, personal choice, human freedom, and the challenges and responsibilities of human existence. It suggests that humans are fundamentally different from other beings, as they are conscious and capable of making choices that affect their existence.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Existentialism

   Existentialism is a term applied to the work of a number of late 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual. In existentialism, the individual's starting point is characterized by what has been called "the existential attitude", or a sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world. Many existentialists have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophies, in both style and content, as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience. Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered to have been the first existentialist philosopher, though he himself did not use the term existentialism. He proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely. Existentialism became popular in the years following World War II, and strongly influenced many disciplines besides philosophy, including theology, drama, art, literature, and psychology.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. Existentialism

   Philosophy based on the analysis of the individual's existence in the world which holds that human existence cannot be completely described in scientific terms. Existentialism also stresses the freedom and responsibility of the individual as well as the uniqueness of religious and ethical experiences and the analysis of subjective phenomena such as anxiety, guilt, and suffering. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.)

How to pronounce existentialism?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

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   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

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   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Tessa

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How to say existentialism in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of existentialism in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of existentialism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of existentialism in a Sentence

1. Bob Dylan:

   Prine's stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mindtrips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs.

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=existentialism
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=existentialism
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Existentialism
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=existentialism