# existentialism ## Basic idea 20th-century European movement holding that existence precedes essence — humans first exist, then define themselves through choice. Meaning is not given; it must be made in the face of an indifferent or absurd universe. ## Key tenets * Existence precedes essence (Sartre). * Radical freedom and the inescapable responsibility it brings. * Authenticity vs. bad faith / inauthenticity. * The Absurd — the gap between our craving for meaning and the world's silence. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://isubasinghe.gitbook.io/isithas-wiki/philosophy/existentialism.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.