Existentialism in Night and Peanuts

Essay on Existentialism in Night
Existentialism in Night In his essay "Existentialism", Jean Paul Sartre discusses the main beliefs of existentialism. Perhaps the most important belief
of existentialism is that there is no human nature, and there is no God. This means that each individual man has control of his own destiny. The
definition of each individual man is the sum of his life and all he has accomplished in his life. He is also responsible for all the choices and actions he
makes in his life. These types of choices and actions can be seen in the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel. This book is a story about a boy, Wiesel, who is
taken to a concentration camp with his family. It follows him and his father through their trials and movement from Auschwitz...show more content...
The poor man Moshe the Beadle helps him; they would sit for hours and talk. Sartre would call this existentialism. Wiesel took control of his own
destiny and future, despite his father's wishes. He doesn't let his father's efforts discourage him. He begins to learn the cabbala, which is an
existentialist decision since the main idea of existentialism is creating your own self.
Another example of an existentialist decision occurs in the concentration camp of Buna, when a young boy is to be hanged with two adults. Many of
the Oberkapos had little boys that they liked and had hang around for sexual purposes. Someone at the camp was suspected of blowing up the
electric station, and eventually they found it to be the Dutch Oberkapo, and he was arrested. This Oberkapo had a little boy (not his son), and he
would not say whether or not the man had done it, so they decided to hang him. Many of the men are thoroughly disturbed by the fact that the boy
being hanged was so young. Many of the young boys grew meaner than some adults, but "the Dutchman's little servant was loved by all. He had the
face of a sad angel" (60). The Lagerkapo who is supposed to do the hanging refuses, and SS officers have to step in and perform the execution. This
Lagerkapo shows an existentialist decision because he takes control of his own life. He does not want his life to include the hanging of a small boy.
Remember, according to Sartre, a man's life includes
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Essay about The Philosophy of Existentialism
'The most dangerous follower is he whose defection would destroy the whole party: that is to say, the best follower.'– Friedrich Nietzsche
Being recognizable and distinctive nowadays is something most individuals seek after. To become important or standing out in any community is not
something today's individuals have created or whatsoever! Ever since the twentieth century and even before, that belief and eagerness to prove your
existence has been noticeably present. Not only between common people has this been there, also philosophers had sincerely thought about that
humanly keenness to prove that one is different and essential, and tried to philosophically explain it.
The term used for that theory is existentialism; as explained by...show more content...
Another observation is that most of these philosophers were either religious moralists (a philosopher who specializes in moral issues related to
religion), agnostic relativists (who are people that believe the existence of a higher power can't be proven or disproven, as well as believe that some
elements of experience are relative in terms of what they depend on, for example), or the last and most common type are amoral atheists (who are
people that don't believe in the existence of a higher god, however don't have their own sets of morals and ethics that they follow).
This, we can most clearly regard in the two most famous philosophers of the 19th century that have been one of the first; SГёren Kierkegaard and
Friedrich Nietzsche. Later on during the 20th century, Martin Heidegger (a German philosopher) influenced other existentialist philosophers like Albert
Camus, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, was a religious philosopher that believed in god however was interested
in the individual silent struggle of humans with their so seeming meaningless life, and the way they used diversion to escape this world's boredom.
Nietzsche on the other hand, the German philosopher, was a pure anti–Christian that argued that "God is dead" (according to the change that has
happened in the European churches at that

Essay about Existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophical movement that stresses individual existence. Human beings are totally free and responsible for their own acts.
Another main idea of existentialism is the limitation of reason and the irreducibility of experience to any system. Man is not a detached observer of
the world; rather, he "exists" in a special sense – he is "in the world." Stones, trees, and other objects do not share this existence, and man is open to the
world and the objects in it. There is no set limit to how many choices man must make, and no particular set of rules or values one must follow. Rather,
there is simply a framework in which action and choice are to be viewed, implying that there are right and wrong ways of...show more content...
From the Christian standpoint, existentialists are charged with denying the reality and seriousness of human undertakings, since, if they reject God's
commandments and the eternal verities, there no longer remains anything but pure caprice, with everyone permitted to do as he pleases and incapable,
from his own point of view, of condemning the points of view and acts of others.
In any case, what can be said from the very beginning is that by existentialism we mean a doctrine which makes human life possible and, in addition,
declares that every truth and every action implies a human setting and a human subjectivity.
As is generally known, the basic charge against existentialists is that they put the emphasis on the dark side of human life. Consequently,
existentialism is regarded as something ugly; that is why existentialists are said to be naturalists; and if they are, it is rather surprising that in this
day and age we cause so much more alarm and scandal than does naturalism, properly so called. The kind of person who can take in his stride such a
novel as Zola's The Earth is disgusted as soon as he starts reading an existentialist novel; the kind of person who is resigned to the wisdom of the
ages–which is pretty sad–finds us even sadder. Yet, what can be more disillusioning than saying "true charity begins

Existential Nihilism Research Paper
Now sometime ago, I wrote in a post that I would be studying up on Eastern religions and their concept of God; because, typical arguments against
God in the West only really work towards the monotheistic Western deity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, I have been reading up quite a bit
between my studies at university. I can't say that I'm finished studying up on these interesting and highly complex religions, but I will go over where I
am, personally, at the moment.
Let me start out by saying, I was always leaning more towards existential nihilism to begin with and less towards humanism. Humanism sounds great,
but for various reasons I found it problematic. Maybe I just don't share Humanism's optimism, but I digress.
So let's talk about Buddhism. Buddhism, unlike many religions...show more content...
Why? Well, for one there is no better and easier way to learn about areligion than to go to their religious service. Secondly, I seek to mediate properly,
as mediation has many beneficial effects. Thirdly, and most importantly, I am an open minded person.
I am starting to realize that the Buddhist view of human nature seems to be quite accurate. Human beings are not "fallen." Still, every intentional action
has moral significance, and we would all be happier if we learn to control are mind. In a nutshell, it's not the situation that's the problem, it's what we
think about a given situation that's a problem. If you think a situation is horrible, terrible, or unlivable it is. If you think the situation isn't that bad after
all you won't suffer as much. Now, if you don't believe me about the thinking part, consider asking any psychologist. I have.
The Western monotheistic deity I, certainly, see as false. (See many of my other posts.) Still, I am playing around and toying with different ideas. I am
not saying I am converting to Buddhism, but so far, it's been

Existentialism : What Is It? Essay
Salena LeDonne
23 December 2016
Period 6
Mr. Reidinger
Existence: What Is It? One of the most persistent, haunting dilemmas is the uncertainty of the meaning of life. Although there is no single answer to
this enigma, there are countless theories concerning it. For example, one philosophical approach is known as Existentialism. Jean Paul Sartre, a
well–known existentialist, introduced his 3–word ideology, existence precedes essence in his lecture titled Existentialism is a Humanism which was
presented during 1940's Europe, a time when people needed a new foundation of thinking. From then, the theory gained popularity and became the
backbone of future pieces. For example, even Charles M. Shultz's cheery cartoon series Peanuts has camouflaged existential crises through it's
characters, particularly Charlie Brown and Snoopy. According to The Atlantic journalist Sarah Boxer, Peanuts offers more philosophical insight than
one might expect, "the strip's cozy suburban conviviality, its warm fuzziness, actually conveyed some uncomfortable truths about the loneliness of
social existence" (1). Both Charlie and Snoopy are much like the characters found in existential literature, as they are alienated by their peers and, "like
the existential human in a world of silent or absent deities, Schulz's characters exist in a world of silent or absent adult authority" (Radke).
Additionally, Sartre writes a short story titled The Wall, which reinforces the same principles of Existentialism.

Existentialism : A Very Short Introduction Essay
"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It 's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The
choice to let our true selves be seen" (Brown). In the book Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn writes about one of the leading
philosophical movements in the twentieth century: existentialism. This theory emphasizes that each individual is entirely free, making them
responsible and accountable for their actions or choices. With this idea, your choices are solely based on your own judgment, not anyone else's. The
book focuses on seven leading figures, Jean–Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Soren Kierkegaard, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice
Merleau–Ponty, and Camus who contributed to and greatly influenced the movement (Flynn). The seven individuals were popular philosophers who
studied many topics, as well as contributed to and founded different theories with a great focus on existentialism. The book discusses key themes of
free will and personal responsibility as well. Free will is the ability to choose from among various alternatives and options. Throughout life, each
individual has the ability to choose how they live their life because of their position as a self–determining agent, although making them responsible for
the authenticity of their decisions. Authenticity can be defined as something that is original or genuine, not a copy of anything else. It resides in one of
the themes of

Existentialism Essay example
In his 1946 essay Existentialism, Jean–Paul Sartre undertakes the task of defending existentialism against what he defines as "charges" (341) brought
against it. Sartre begins to outline the "charges" brought against existentialism and further, existentialists. Following the medieval quaestio–form, Sartre
begins with the statement of the objection, a short discussion, and then his reply to each. The first of the charges is that of quietism. "First, it has been
charged with inviting people to remain in a kind of desperate quietism because, since no solutions are possible, we should have to consider action in
this world as quite impossible" (341). Historically, quietism was a Christian philosophy that advocated withdrawal from worldly...show more content...
Before I begin to discuss the replies Sartre provides for each objection raised, it is important to establish what Sartre believes existentialism to be. That
is, it is important to understand exactly what Sartre is defending. Sartre begins his definition by defining the two groups of existentialists: Christian
existentialists and atheistic existentialists. Sartre aligns himself with the atheistic existentialists for the remainder of the essay. What the existentialist
philosophers have in common, and where Sartre begins his definition, is the idea that existence precedes essence. The reader is provided the
example of a paper cutter. A designer has a plan for a paper cutter in his/her mind and sets about creating it with the preconceived notion of its
function. This preconceived notion is the essence of the object and thus for the object (a paper cutter) essence precedes existence. That is to say the
paper cutters being is predetermined. It would follow that for essence to precede the existence in a person, there must be an individual to conceive of
the beings essence and thus bring about its existence. However, Sartre declares that there is no God and

Example Of Existentialism
Existentialism is a movement in philosophy and literature that began in the mid to late 19th and reach its peak in mid–20th century, and was largely
spread through the works of French existentialist like Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir (Mastin L, 2008). There is no agreed
definition of existentialism, as those who are considered as "existentialist" do not share the same exact thought on the subject though the starting point
may be fairly linked. Jean Paul Sartre, defines existentialism as a school of thought where one's existence comes before his essence. Being an atheist
existentialist, he argues that there is no God and that man existed first and defines himself afterwards. Thus "there is no human nature, because there is
no God to have a conception of it. Man simply is" (Jean Paul Sartre,...show more content...
Eliza Binte Elahi (2014), explains that metaphysics deals with questions that can't be answered by Science, like the existence of God or the
difference between reality and perception thus questioning the pure existence of human beings on earth. TS Eliot is considered to be a fine example
of a metaphysical poet as "he wrestles with noumenal experiences using extended metaphor, as the 'Things of God's cannot be known in any other
way'" (Dr Niamh C, 2012). According to his biography, one of his famous poem "The Waste Land", was written when he was facing some hardships
in his life; his marriage was falling and he was suffering of nervous disorder. The physical and mental distress of the poet may provide an indication
about the state of mind in which "The Waste Land" was written, which seems to have greatly influenced the choice of the title of the poem itself. The
sub title "The Burial of the Dead" is equally troubling providing an obscure and dark atmosphere about the poem. It seems like the titles chosen act as
a foretaste of what is to come

Existentialism Essay
Jean–Paul Sartre says "man is nothing else but what he makes of himself" (762). This existentialist view depicts the idea that one is not
based on the essence of a soul, but rather, based on decisions made throughout life. Sartre also believes that every man is responsible for all men. One
may choose his marriage partner, however, in choosing to marry, one chooses monogamy. Decisions that individuals make will collectively create a set
of principles and beliefs for all of man.
Many people believe that a person's decisions are a reflection of his soul and personality. However, it is more likely that the conclusion a person
reaches is due to the influence of different ideas, as well as the circumstances surrounding the choices....show more content...
There is no longer the sense of "God judging man" so one must make his own decisions and based on them he is "condemned to be
free" (765–766). Sartre believes that man is condemned because he did not choose to exist, but is also free because he is completely responsible
for his actions.
Existentialism does not allow room for mistake. A person has no one to blame for bad decisions or misunderstandings. One cannot say, "I have
had bad luck" because existentialism does not believe in fortune or misfortune, but only in personal decisions. This enhances the true reality of
life. Situations create the future and therefore hopes and dreams are a mere loss of reality. The future is produced by a person's decisions and so one
should not dream but rather, make decisions that will lead to a beneficial life in the future.
Sartre also says "a man who lies and makes excuses for himself by saying 'not everybody does that,' is someone with an uneasy conscience,
because the act of lying implies that a universal value is conferred upon the lie" (764). This further illustrates the concept that there is an
unwritten law for man, and creates the idea of good and bad. There are choices that are universally made when a person is placed in the same situation,
with the same circumstances. Sartre believes that man should base his decisions on the thought that all of mankind is watching and will guide

Existentialism: Choice In The Concentration Camps
Existentialism concentrates on many things like freedom of oneself and responsibility as I said before but the one thing Existentialists stress the most;
choice. Almost everyone in these two stories had a choice from the lamplighter lighting the lights every night to the people in the concentration camps
and that choice decided what was going to become of

Essay Existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism refers to the philosophical movement or tendency of the nineteenth and twentyth centuries. Because of the diversity of positions
associated with existentialism, a precise definition is impossible; however, it suggests one major theme: a stress on individual existence and,
consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice {3}.Existentialism also refers to a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of
human existence in the world that stresses its concreteness and its problematic character. Existentialism is often seen as an irrationlist revolt against
tradiational phylosphy. Although this may be true to a certain point, existentialism has played a key role in the way...show more content...
Nineteenth–century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard
{4, 333} reacted against this tradition, insisting that the individual's highest good is to find his or her own unique vocation. In terms of moral choice,
existentialists have argued that there is no objective, rational basis for decisions; they stress the importance of individualism in deciding questions of
morality and truth. Most existentialists have held that rational clarity is desirable wherever possible but that life's most important questions are not
accessible to reason or science. The first to anticipate existentialism's major concerns was seventeenth–century
French philosopher Blaise Pascal, who denounced a systematic philosophy that presumes to explain God and humanity. He saw life in terms of
paradoxes: The human self, combining mind and body, is itself a contradiction. Later, Kierkegaard rejected a total rational understanding of humanity
and history, stressing the ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation. Nineteenth–century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche espoused tragic
pessimism and life–affirming individual will. Heidegger argued that human beings can never hope to understand why they are here; instead, each
individual must choose a goal and follow it with passionate conviction, aware of the certainty of death and the ultimate meaninglessness of one's life.
Twentieth–century French philosopher Jean

Essay about Existentialism
"The world is, of course, nothing but our conception of it."
This quote, by Anton Chekhov, seems obvious and easy to relate to. However, it perfectly describes the concept of existentialism, which is neither
obvious nor relatable. Existentialism is "a modern philosophical movement stressing the importance of personal experience and responsibility and the
demands that they make on the individual, who is seen as a free agent in a deterministic and seemingly meaningless universe" ("Existentialism").
Existentialism is a difficult philosophy to grasp, but by exploring examples in literature and art, one can come to a better understanding of its basic
tenets.
The first tenet of existentialism is individualism and alienation, which is revealed...show more content...
Before his metamorphosis, his days were mindless, and since all he did was work, he was alienated from his family, who did not appreciate him; also
due to his obsession with work, he did not partake in society, either. After his metamorphosis, no one understood Gregor, making him entirely alone.
Just as The Metamorphosis demonstrates the alienation tenet of existentialism, "A Hunger Artist," also byFranz Kafka, describes the theme of
individualism. The hunger artist is a man who "performs" for his audiences by locking and displaying himself in a cage where he then proceeds to
starve himself. His fasts last for long periods, stretching for forty days at some points. He is obviously alone and isolated in the cage, but he is also
alienated from society. This is because he rejects the practice of eating, which he does because he just does not like food. The hunger artist represents
famous musicians, writers, painters, and other artists, who are alone because they are misunderstood and essentially isolated from the realm of society.
This perfectly describes the existential tenet of individualism and alienation. "The Yellow Wallpaper," by Charlotte Gilman also shows this tenet. "The
Yellow Wallpaper" is about Jane, a woman suffering from what one might interpret as postpartum depression. Her husband, John, who is a doctor,
prescribes

Existentialism : A Philosophical Theory Essay
What is existentialism? Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existences of one against it 's freedom of choice and will. It is also
interpreted that humans come into the world without a nature. Humanity has no universal established in advance principles or ethics common to all of
humankind. Since there is no preformed essence or definition exists of what is means to "be human," a person must form its own conception of any
existence by maintaining the actions of and responsibility for its actions and choices. Consequently, a human being gains his/her essence through
individual choices and actions. It is simply through the process of living life that one can define only itself. Existence in one does not include the
consequence one will make.When we are created in the world we are created without knowledge , we are produce to learn things throughout life and
chose the way and how we are going to live our lives. We have no choice but to make our decisions for ourselves even if they are morally incorrect.
The acceptance of one's decision will maintain on what happened to and how one interpret the outcome. Though when humans are morally incorrect,
we are unlikely to admit it.Another concept of existentialism is resentment , the resentment of one of it 's past cannot be ignored though one future can
change. In No exit by Jean– Paul Sartre each character is placed in the same room with no way out, it introduces existentialism in many ways.

Existentialism Is Humanism Essay
How to live authentically is a question that arises when speaking of existentialism and humanism. Authenticity describes the mode of being true to one
self, living an honest and free life. Both Nietzsche and Sartre propose ideas and perspectives on the nature of human life and their existence. As human
beings, Sartre and Nietzsche identify how we, possibly unknowingly, alienate ourselves from the modes of living authentically instead of accepting into
authentic practices. In Sartre's "Being and Nothingness" and "Existentialism is Humanism", the philosopher discusses the importance of achieving
freedom and characterizing one's identity. In Nietzsche's "Gay Science Excerpts" and "History Essay", he discusses the emergence of individuality
...show more content...
First, she reduces anything the man says down to only facticity and fails to transcend any further, secondly, she postpones her responsibility of
deciding towards the man, "The young woman leaves her hand there, but she does not notice that she is leaving it." (p.56) She is so occupied in
conversation that she has disconnected herself physically from her emotional being, which as Sartre states, she neither consents this action or resists it.
This example portrays a paradox between the two personages involved in bad faith to be the same person; the deceiver is the one that is deceived, the
contradiction of knowing the truth and yet denying it. It is to say, that to live authentically you must take responsibility towards being sincere and
truthful to oneself.
Sartre recognizes the importance of freedom and individuality through his ontology. He differs human beings' actuality through a comparison between
human and an object. An object is produced with the intention of having a purpose behind it, where as humans are defined by the first principle of
existentialism, "...man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the word

Reaction Paper On Existentialism
The world we live in is an odd one; some cope with its absurdities through intensive faith, others through utter disregard of all its meaning.
Existentialism, however, leads us down a peculiar path that blurs these concepts into one unique belief system. While we might be faced with
situations beyond our complete control, we do have the power to control how we handle said situations and whether or not we choose to cultivate
significance from them. The search for significance is very primitive and so are the answers that have accompanied it throughout human history.
Obviously, life doesn't have a clearly stated purpose to it; it is up to each individual to create their own relative purpose and find their own happiness
in a life of suffering. This is exactly what Existentialism proposes, that it is not possible to know the truth, so it is up to the individual to create his or
her own, and then create their own purpose. Merriam–Webster defines the philosophy theory of Existentialism as a "...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." But Existentialism is not
a concept that can simply be defined in one fell swoop. Throughout our studies of philosophy, I found there to be two main concepts that act as the
foundation for the basic

existentialism Essay
Existentialism provides a moving account of the agony of being in the world. The spirit of existen– tialism has a long history in philosophy. But it be–
came a major movement in the second half of the 20th century. Existentialism is not a systematic body of thought like Marxism or psychoanalysis.
Instead, it is more like an umbrella under which a very wide range of thinkers struggled with ques– tions about the meaning of life.
Much of the appeal and popularity of Existential– ism is due to the sense of confusion, the crisis, and the feeling of rejection and rootlessness that
Euro– peans felt during World War II and its aftermath.
Existentialism's focus on each person's role in cre– ating meaning in their life was a major influence...show more content...
His being does not emerge from necessity. If a human being rejects the false pretensions, the illusions of his existence hav– ing a meaning, he
encounters the absurdity, the fu– tility of life. The human being's role in the world is not predetermined or fixed; every person is com– pelled to make
a choice. Choice is one thing the human being must make. The trouble is that most often the human being refuses to choose. Hence, he cannot realize
his freedom and the futility of his existence.
Basically existence is of two types: authentic and inauthentic forms of existence. Authentic existence is contrasted with dynamic and is the being–for–
itself, rising from the human being's bad faith, by which the human being moves away from the bur– den of responsibility, through this beliefs in
dogma and by regarding himself as subject to outside in– fluences and his actions to be predetermined.
There is a striking contrast between the authentic and the inauthentic forms of being; the authentic being is the being of the human being and the inau–
thentic being is the being for things. Yet, authentic being is only rarely attained by the human being; still it is what the human being must strive to
gain. The inauthentic being–in–itself is characteristically distinctive of things; it is what the human being is diseased with for his failure to see
himself as and act according as a free agent and his impotency to

Subjectivity in Existentialism is a Humanism
In Existentialism is a humanism, French philosopher and existentialist Jean–Paul Sartre defends existentialism from 20th century critics who believed
that its overly subjective nature promotes anguish, abandonment, and despair. Sartre explains these common misconceptions about existentialism and
argues that it is not a pessimist point of view, but the complete opposite. In what follows, I will explain how Sartre not only invalidates the surging
misconceptions, but how he also turns his explanation into an optimistic and humanitarian work.
During the 20th century, many philosophers including Communists and Christians were criticizing a surging attitude commonly known as
"existentialism". Communists, for example, argued that the emphasis that existentialism has on individual choice leads to contemplation rather than to
action. Christians reproached the way that existentialists overlook the dignity that originates from being created from the image of God. Also, publics
viewed subjectivity in existentialism as a bad thing because if human values originate from subjective human choices, then all human action is
arbitrary. They argued that from one 's own subjective point of view, whatever one does is the right thing. Therefore, this creates the notion that life
does not have predetermined values. In other words: to an existentialist, there is no such thing as a standard of values because there is no God or
perfect being to

Existentialism, By Jean Sartre Essay
Existentialism is an entity unable to be coined to a simple term or phrase; it is the embodiment of many topics, but all coexist under these similar
themes – man is a conscious, absurdity, nothingness, death, alienation, and anxiety. Jean–Paul Sartre was a prominent existentialist from Paris, France;
in his existentialist works, he held strongly to the ideal people do not have to continue with the ailments in their lives. He also believed capitalism
enslaves humans , stopping them from reaching their full potential. He was a self–proclaimed communist, who spread subliminal anti–capitalist
messages in his novels, such as Nausea. He primarily focuses on the themes anxiety and meaninglessness in his writings; such as in Nausea, where
Antoine, Anny, and The Self–Taught Man all face their own solitude and undergo a transformation, resulting in the realization, the world is strange and
somewhat meaningless. Jean Sartre's character , Antoine, a French writer goes through life being scared of his own existence, and expresses his
peculiar experiences and interactions through the form of a diary. Antoine interacts with many other characters, and experiences an entity he calls
"nausea", which is a representation his anxiety. This feeling captivates him the most when he is in uncomfortable settings or forced to interact with
others. Antoine is in the process of writing a novel about Marquis de Rollebon. At one time we was excited to finish the novel, but he quickly loses all

Existentialism : A Philosophical Movement
"The existential attitude begins with a disoriented individual facing a confused world that the cannot accept" – Robert Solomon Existentialism is best
considered a philosophical movement established after World War II. People in this movement examined the problem of life for human beings. Each
existentialist believes that life is absurd and has no meaning. Their common concern was with the "human condition". Existentialists have differing
evaluations of the human condition but all of them believe that "existence precedes essence". This means that people are born without pre–existing or
pre–determined circumstances or rules by which to conduct their lives. Sartre was an atheist and therefore didn't believe in the morals set forth by the
divine creator God. People come into the world lacking essence, and simply exist and can make choices to determine their essence. All existentialists
reject systems which propose to have answers to the definitive questions of life. Existentialists believed that believing in an all–encompassing system
such as Christianity was detrimental to a person's true capability of being free. People who believe in God believe that "essence precedes existence",
which is the opposite of existentialist belief. Soren Kierkegaard's father believed that a youthful denunciation of God had brought a curse upon his
family and that all his children would die before the age of thirty–four, which was true for all but Kierkegaard and one brother. Kierkegaard studied

Existentialism in Night and Peanuts

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Existentialism in Night and Peanuts