Existentialism in its purest form is any philosophy which states that existence precedes essence; that is to say, that there is no inherent purpose in life (though normally this is not carried through to nihilism.). It also states that the physical world does not necessarily precede the conscious state, as a conscious mind must find itself in a world to attain consciousness in any meaningful state.
Nihilism is an extreme version of existentialism, as are most forms of solipsism.
by crabbadon October 19, 2007
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A philosophy which emphasizes the importance of choice. It suggests that we only exist (as human beings) if we make our own decisions independently of outside influence. However, while this freedom allows us complete control over our own destinies, it also suggests that we are the sole control over our destinies and are, as a result, isolated from God, society, and ourselves. This leads many to the conclusion that existentialism is depressing.
Officer: go over there!

Guy1: No.

Guy2: Just do what he says man.

Guy1: No I believe in existentialism. I make my own decisions.
by ersher August 28, 2008
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A philosophy which emphasizes the significance of existence and those actions which enable one to experience their own existence, such as making decisions or feeling emotions.

-or-

loneliness.
"I feel alone."
(existentialism)
by Motivational Void. February 7, 2010
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"yolo" for philosophers
Man, I can't believe I just bombed that test. #existentialism
by datscience July 4, 2013
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you can use this word in pretty much any context and it will make you sound pretentious and/or confuse the person you're talking to.

it's a technique refined and highly over-utilized by pseudo-intellectuals.
"thoughts of existentialism breezed through my cavern of a mind as i walked under the concave arches in the courtyard of my prestigious university."

"there i was, caught in an existential dilemma. i decided to run the red light."

"i felt that the existentialist undertones in the simpsons represented the decay of religion in society."
by kirkegaard March 6, 2006
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there is a spoon
but you don't have to acknowledge it if you don't particularly want to.



see wickywicky
and then click on my other definitions by patty-o-pinch-me-youdie
i practise exdfcansdfndsjfism
you mean existentialism?
yeah
oh...dumbass.
what! i can do whatever i want!
doesnt change that fact that you're a dumbass..
by patty-o-pinch-me-youdie May 17, 2004
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The philosophy concerning the theory of the isolation of the individual in an indifferent world.
Existentialism = "Every living thing dies alone." (donnie darko)
by m slaw January 28, 2008
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