Existentialism Definition Encyclopedia Britannica

Various philosophies known as existentialism arose in europe in the 20th century beginning about 1930.

Existentialism definition encyclopedia britannica. The key problems for existentialism are those of the individual himself of his situation in the world and of his more ultimate significance. Britannica explains in these videos britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions. Many of the theses that existentialists defend or illustrate in their analyses are drawn from the wider philosophical tradition. Nihilism from latin nihil nothing originally a philosophy of moral and epistemological skepticism that arose in 19th century russia during the early years of the reign of tsar alexander ii the term was famously used by friedrich nietzsche to describe the disintegration of traditional morality in western society.

The traditional distinction between mind and body or soul and body is completely eliminated. Existentialism any of various philosophies most influential in continental europe from about 1930 to the mid 20th century that have in common an interpretation of human existence in the world that stresses its concreteness and its problematic character. This week in history in these videos find out what happened this week or any week in history. Its subject consists of fundamental issues of practical decision making and its major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be morally evaluated.

The life of a flower is predictable the seed is planted and the flower grows flourishes and dies. Ethics the philosophical discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong. Britannica classics check out these retro videos from encyclopedia britannica s archives. Existentialism existentialism historical survey of existentialism.

A chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad. At about this time a different form of subjectivism was gaining currency on the continent and to some extent in the united states. The fundamental characteristic of existentialist ontology is the primacy that study of the nature of existence gives to the concept of possibility. Existentialist anthropology is strictly connected with its ontology.

Its leading figure the french philosopher jean paul sartre 1905 80 propounded his ideas in novels and plays as well as in his major philosophical treatise. The problem of what humans are in themselves can be discerned in the socratic imperative know thyself as well as in the work of the 16th century french essayist michel de montaigne and. Existentialism existentialism substantive issues in existentialism. In the 20th century nihilism encompassed a variety of philosophical.

Definition of existentialism. Nature of existentialist thought and manner. They are generally oriented toward two major themes the analysis of human existence and the centrality of human choice. Existentialism was as much a literary as a philosophical movement.

That priority dominated the philosophy of kierkegaard and also was amply utilized by husserl. Both the ontology and manner of human existence are of concern to existentialism.