Existentialism: What It Is and How It’s Been Misunderstood

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice and the inherent meaninglessness of life. It is misunderstood by many people who see it as a depressing and nihilistic view of life. However, existentialism can be seen as a way to deal with the anxieties of existence and offers the possibility of growth and change. Despite its weaknesses, existentialism remains an appealing philosophy to many people.

What is existentialism and what are its basic ideas

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice and the inherent meaninglessness of life. It is misunderstood by many people who see it as a depressing and nihilistic view of life. However, existentialism can be seen as a way to deal with the anxieties of existence and offers the possibility of growth and change. Despite its weaknesses, existentialism remains an appealing philosophy to many people.

If you want to know how exactly Existentialsim started, check out this article:
Existentialism: How this philosophical movement came into being

How was existentialism misunderstood by the public

Agreed, existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice and the inherent meaninglessness of life - that's clear. But.

Probably, like many other people, you have a bad impression of existentialism. And there is a reason for that.

The problem with existentialism - it can be nihilistic, depressing and isolating

Existentialism is often misunderstood as a discouraging philosophy. This is because it can be seen as nihilistic, denying the existence of objective meaning in life. However, existentialism does not necessarily lead to despair or depression. Rather, existentialists often emphasize the importance of living in the present moment and enjoying life despite its inherent difficulties.

One problem with existentialism is that it can be isolating. Since existentialists believe that each individual is responsible for finding their own meaning in life, they can feel alone and lost if they do not find meaning in their lives. Existentialists often encourage people to form close relationships and communities to combat this sense of isolation.

Another problem with existentialism is that it can be nihilistic. This is because existentialists believe that life has no inherent meaning or purpose. This may be encouraging to some people, but it can also lead to despair and depression. Existentialists often stress the importance of living a meaningful life despite the inherent meaninglessness of existence.

Why people also found it difficult to accept existentialism

Another problem was that this new philosophical movement was quite different from what people thought before. Existentialism was directed against traditional values and beliefs. It was seen as a threat to the established order, which said that there was an objective meaning and purpose in life.

Existentialists were often persecuted even for their beliefs. Many existentialists had to go into hiding or exile. Some existentialists, like Jean-Paul Sartre, were even put in prison.

Dangers of Exitenialism and Fair Criticism

Like any belief system, existentialism has its dangers. As we have already mentioned, it can be nihilistic and depressing. It can also lead to isolation and anxiety. In extreme cases, it can even lead to an existential crisis in which a person feels that he or she has no meaning in life.

Also, you could say that it would be hard for society to function if everyone was an existentialist because we would constantly be questioning the rules and traditions that hold us together.

Sartre, for example, went so far as to sympathize with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. We do not want to take sides here in the old "which political system is better: communism or capitalism" debate, but to point out that Sartre represented an ideology that was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

Another criticism of existentialism is that it offers no solutions to life's problems. It merely acknowledges that life is difficult and sometimes meaningless. This can be seen as a negative view of life.

Why People Still Find Existentialism Appealing Despite Its Weaknesses

Existentialism is misunderstood by many people who see it as a depressing and nihilistic view of life. However, it can be seen as a way to deal with the anxieties of existence and offers the possibility for growth and change. Despite its weaknesses, existentialism remains an attractive philosophy for many people.

One of the most important tenets of existentialism is that life is ultimately meaningless. This may sound like a negative view, but existentialists believe it is actually encouraging. By accepting that life has no inherent meaning, we are free to find our own meaning and purpose in life. Existentialists believe that this freedom is essential for a meaningful life.

Despite its weaknesses, existentialism remains an attractive philosophy for many people. This is because existentialism offers a unique perspective on life that can be empowering and liberating. In addition, existentialism encourages people to take responsibility for their own lives and find their own meaning in life. This can be a difficult but rewarding process, and many people find existentialism attractive for this reason.

The Potential for Growth and Change in Existentialism

We have said many times in this article that existentialism gives you the potential for growth and change.

Since there is no fixed destiny that you have in this world - or even in the universe at large - you can change your mind about what you want to do with your life at any time.

You can also change your goals as you have new experiences, learn more about yourself, and grow as a person.

Many people find this appealing because it gives them a sense of control over their lives that they may not have had before.

It's a complex subject that many people find difficult to understand, but if you're struggling with finding meaning in your life, then it might be worth exploring existentialism further. Existentialists believe that each individual is responsible for finding their own meaning in life, and this can be a difficult but rewarding process. In addition, existentialism holds the potential for growth and change, which many people find attractive. If you are interested in exploring existentialism further, there are many resources to help you get started.

Thank you very much for reading. We hope we were able to give you some clarity about existentialism.

If you are interested in exploring existentialism further, the following three books are a good place to start.

These books provide an introduction to existentialism by explaining its history and major concepts.

Another useful source is an article on the website Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Yes, really: a university project. The linked articles is a challenging but interesting read.

If you're looking for an online course, you should find something on udemy.com find

However, we have found that there are great resources on YouTube as well. One of the best summaries is this one: