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| − | '''Existentialism''' is a philosophical and cultural movement. One of its central concepts is that a [[human]] being's "existence precedes essence." Generally, this says that we do not have fundamental attributes, such as morality or a soul, and that humans develop these attributes in a meaningless manner as their lives progress. | + | '''Existentialism''' is a philosophy which denies the dependency of human existence on [[God]], and instead views human existence as an independent and meaningless form. <ref>Existentialism Today[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/#5]</ref> It asserts that we do not have fundamental attributes, such as morality or a soul, and that humans develop these attributes in a meaningless manner as their lives progress. |
| | + | The name derives form one of its central concepts, the notion that a [[human]] being's "existence precedes essence." |
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| − | ==Philosophical Movement==
| + | The earliest existentialist was [[Søren Kierkegaard]]. The movement did not, however, develop its name or popularity until the 20th century when it was popularized by [[Jean Paul Sartre]] and [[Simone de Beauvoir]]. <ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/]</ref> |
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| − | The earliest existentialist was the [[Christian]] [[philosopher]] [[Søren Kierkegaard]]. The movement did not, however, develop its name or popularity until the 20th century when it was popularized by the self-proclaimed liberal philosopher [[Jean Paul Sartre]] and his partner [[Simone de Beauvoir]]. <ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/]</ref> | |
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| − | At its core, modern existentialism as expressed in culture today denies the dependency of human existence on [[God]], and instead views human existence as an independent and meaningless form. <ref>Existentialism Today[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/#5]</ref>
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| | ==Reference== | | ==Reference== |