Existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding meaning and purpose through free will and personal responsibility. It believes that people search for their identity and meaning as they make choices which shape who they are. A key concept is that existence precedes essence, meaning people define themselves through their actions rather than having a predetermined essence.

1. EXISTENTIALISM
NAME: RILLORTA, BLESLEI ANN CARI
COURSE: MeD PEHM
CORSE TITLE: FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION

4. •In simpler terms, existentialism is a philosophy
concerned with finding self and the meaning of life
through free will, choice, and personal responsibility.
The belief is that people are searching to find out who
and what they are throughout life as they make choices
based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. And
personal choices become unique without the necessity
o f a n o b j e c t i v e f o r m o f t r u t h .

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTENTIALISM
• Existence before essence. Life is only understandable in terms of an individual’s
existence.
• Reason is unable to deal with the depths of life. There are 2 parts of this idea:
reasonis relatively weak and imperfect (people often do not do the right thing) ;
there are dark places in life which are “non- reason, to which reason scarcely
penetrates (meaning we often commit acts which seem to defy reason, to make no
sense)
• The encounter with nothingness. According toexistentialist, for individuals alienated
from God, from nature, from other people and even from themselves, what is left at
last but nothingness. This idea arises the question “Does existence ultimately have
any purpose?”
• Freedom. All the mentioned characteristics above, according to existentialism it is all
anchored on freedom.

18. QUESTIONS
1. What is the main idea of existentialism?
2. What is the belief about existentialism?
3. What is existentialism?
4. How does existentialists view life?
5. Do you think that human ethics is learned or natural? Why?