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.