existentialist

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existentialist

An existentialist philosopher sits in a café, contemplating a cup of coffee.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Relating to or involving existentialism: Describing ideas, works, or movements that are connected to the philosophical school of existentialism, which focuses on individual existence, freedom, and choice.
    • Characteristic of existentialist thought: Having qualities that emphasize the individual's experience of being in the world, personal responsibility, and the absence of predetermined meaning.
  2. Noun:

    • A philosopher who emphasizes freedom of choice and personal responsibility: A thinker who advocates for the core principles of existentialism, such as the primacy of individual existence, the necessity of creating one's own meaning, and the burden of freedom.
    • An adherent of existentialism: A person, not necessarily a professional philosopher, whose beliefs or attitudes align with existentialist philosophy, particularly the view that human existence in an indifferent universe is fundamentally unexplainable by reason alone.
Examples of Usage
  • Adjective:

    • The novel is known for its existentialist themes of alienation and absurdity.
    • She wrote an existentialist critique of modern society.
  • Noun:

    • Jean-Paul Sartre was a famous French existentialist.
    • As an existentialist, he believed we must define our own purpose through our actions.
Advanced Usage
  • Existentialist angst/anxiety: A profound feeling of dread or anxiety arising from the contemplation of one's own freedom and the meaninglessness of the universe, central to existentialist thought.

    • The character's existentialist angst drives the entire plot of the film.
  • Existentialist literature/philosophy: A body of work that explores themes central to existentialism.

    • Kafka's *The Metamorphosis is often studied as a key work of existentialist literature.*
Variants and Related Words
  • Existentialism (n): The philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice.

    • Existentialism argues that existence precedes essence.
  • Existential (adj): Pertaining to existence, especially human existence. (Note: This is a broader term; not all that is 'existential' is specifically 'existentialist'.)

    • She faced an existential crisis about her career.
Synonyms
  • Adjective: Existential (in a philosophical context).
  • Noun: Absurdist (specifically relating to the branch of existentialism focusing on life's inherent meaninglessness).
Related Phrases
  • Existentialist thought: The collective ideas and principles of existentialist philosophy.

    • His work is deeply influenced by existentialist thought.
  • Existentialist perspective/viewpoint: A way of interpreting the world through the lens of existentialist philosophy.

    • From an existentialist perspective, every choice defines who we are.
existentialist

An existentialist philosopher sits in a café, contemplating a cup of coffee.

Adjective
  1. relating to or involving existentialism
    • existentialist movement
    • existentialist philosophy
    • the existentialist character of his ideas
Noun
  1. a philosopher who emphasizes freedom of choice and personal responsibility but who regards human existence in a hostile universe as unexplainable