Existentialism is essentially about having to make choices. Every action and every non-action is the result of a choice to do, or not to do, something. The summation of those decisions - to act or not to act - is you - who you are.
"I was only following orders". Not so, you have the choice to follow or not to follow the orders. Only YOU can make the choice.. Your life is a succession of decisions. And those decisions create who you are.
.
.
by R McLachlan December 28, 2004
Life may be pointless. We will die and leave no marking on the world.
But that's no bloody reason to stop trying. In struggle humans are beautiful creatures. We are each our own invention fighting against the waves of Entropy to give our life meaning. And THAT is why life is worth living.
But that's no bloody reason to stop trying. In struggle humans are beautiful creatures. We are each our own invention fighting against the waves of Entropy to give our life meaning. And THAT is why life is worth living.
by Galen Deepinglen August 4, 2004
When someone is having an existential crisis but it does not merit the full capacity of an existential crisis; or, your existential crisis is something that could easily be solved by reading elementary material. -(i.e. question 1 of the Baltimore Catechism)
Ryan was questioning the meaning of his existence when he realized he had come down with a case of the ‘existenties’.
by Existance October 17, 2018
It is the self-realixation that one exist in a meaningless life, and that all lives ultimately lead to the same conclusion, death. It doesn't mattter how you live, because in the end, you will be no different that anyone else.
by Moondust August 15, 2003
Ho Hum... Well this is a really tricky subject as most Existential and continental philosopher's would disagree with each other, and even then they would disagree that they disagree… and I don’t know why!
Nietzsche would say God is no longer important in our moral reasoning (Understand that the “God is Dead” Stuff isn’t a atheist point) Kierkegaard would totally disagree and say that the connection with God is what confines us to a true moral code. From what I understand is that they argue that we cannot be confined by prior groups or assumptions. That freedom and the morality of the choice of freedom we take is paramount. They hold Hegelian’s, Kantian’s and Marxist thinkers as the scourge of the earth but then theirs Sartre who was a bit of a Marxist so I don’t know…. and on a lighter note I would say Nietzsche though not anti-Semitic was a little scary in his moral reasoning, all that stuff to do with charity… even republicans wouldn’t hold that to be true.
Nietzsche would say God is no longer important in our moral reasoning (Understand that the “God is Dead” Stuff isn’t a atheist point) Kierkegaard would totally disagree and say that the connection with God is what confines us to a true moral code. From what I understand is that they argue that we cannot be confined by prior groups or assumptions. That freedom and the morality of the choice of freedom we take is paramount. They hold Hegelian’s, Kantian’s and Marxist thinkers as the scourge of the earth but then theirs Sartre who was a bit of a Marxist so I don’t know…. and on a lighter note I would say Nietzsche though not anti-Semitic was a little scary in his moral reasoning, all that stuff to do with charity… even republicans wouldn’t hold that to be true.
by RedVanguard December 16, 2004
An "Existential Crisis" is when and individual person starts to question their entire existence and questioning if being alive even has a point or if it's all pointless. It also is hard to get out of because when you are debating if reality has a purpose it gets in the way of everyday things, like Making Cereal or Recording Videos or any sort of activity.
Existential Crisis's include the EXITING topics of...:
-The inevitability of death
-The crushing loneliness of realizing all humans inherently are and will die alone
-The absurd meaninglessness of the universe and as far as we know there is no reason or purpose for human existence
-The inevitability of death
-The crushing loneliness of realizing all humans inherently are and will die alone
-The absurd meaninglessness of the universe and as far as we know there is no reason or purpose for human existence
by X_Random_X September 8, 2015
Existential Angst is the relation to one being aware of the possibility that life lacks meaning, causing an extreme form of anxiety, and a feeling of despair or hopelessness.
One who is an Existentialist may also have the Angst from the realization of one's true freedom. The normal example for this would be like one standing on the edge of a cliff. Someone with anxiety may fear falling off, but someone with Existential Angst, however not only fears falling off but dreads the possibility of throwing themselves off in a sense that "nothing is holding them back".
One who is an Existentialist may also have the Angst from the realization of one's true freedom. The normal example for this would be like one standing on the edge of a cliff. Someone with anxiety may fear falling off, but someone with Existential Angst, however not only fears falling off but dreads the possibility of throwing themselves off in a sense that "nothing is holding them back".
I often feel scared that life is pointless or lacks meaning causing my Existential Angst.
I was afraid that I might jump off the edge of the cliff falling to my death because I had an impulse of amorality from my Existential Angst.
I was afraid that I might jump off the edge of the cliff falling to my death because I had an impulse of amorality from my Existential Angst.
by Nietzsche Brain November 18, 2013