Alright. So. This is my favorite philosophy. I do consider myself an existentialist because I have adapted this philosophy as a lifestyle and way of thinking upon my first reading of it. So let me take you to school.
Existentialism. What is it? It's a philosophical belief that existence precedes one's essence. Simple right? But what is essence? Essence is a Socratic idea that states that everyone and everything is defined and made unique and that "thing" or "one" by a certain characteristic. For example, take a shovel. If you were to take a shovel and change the handle or the blade, it'd still be a shovel; however, if you were to take away the blade of the shovel, it wouldn't be a shovel anymore. Thus, the essence of the shovel is the blade for, without the blade, it'd only be a stick. The existentialist therein asks what the difference between existence and essence is. According to the existentialist, one's own existence comes before the definition of what their essence is. No shit, right? Right. If one's own existence precedes the definition of one's essence, then there is no belief in fate or predestination. That's why I love this philosophy, because it allows freedom of growth. I can grow and shape my life how I please in order to find and define my essence. To me that's calming.
Now for some history. In the early nineteenth century, Soren Kierkegaard created a new philosophical principal called existentialism. Kierkegaard broke existentialism into two stages: the aesthetic and the ethical. The first stage is the aesthetic in which one tries satisfy one’s desires with the goal of realizing the need for something greater than physical pleasures. Moreover, the second stage is the ethical in which one tries to satisfy their life by living in a way one would believe to be ethical. In short, existentialism can be defined as a philosophical way of living in which one would decide their own path and morals based on what they learn to be true. Later, in the twentieth century philosopher Jean Paul-Sartre elaborated that existentialism is when one exists before becoming influenced by other people, cultures or religions.
Moreover, unlike Kierkegaard who was a devout Christian as well as an existentialist, Sartre was an atheist as well as an existentialist. Essentially, Sartre stated that existentialism is the idea that we exist before we are influenced. In his essay, “Existentialism is a Humanism” Sartre argues for existentialism against the religious perspective. Sartre states that “from the Christian side, we are reproached as people who deny the reality and seriousness of human affairs.” Essentially what Sartre is saying is that the existentialist is often critiqued because it appears they hold no value in life. On the contrary, Sartre states that the existentialist believes “that existence comes before essence – or, if you will, that we must begin from the subjective.” Because of this, the existentialist like Sartre approaches life believing we define our reason for existing without a predestined path.
Fun right?
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