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'''Existentialism''' is a chiefly 20th century [[philosophy]] that emphasizes existence for its own sake alone, disregarding [[God]] and [[morality]] and almost anything else. [[Rene Descartes]] famously declared, "I think therefore I am"; but an existentialist might exclaim, "I am therefore I think."  Arbitrary actions are a favorite of existentialists, as they resist moral codes of behavior.

'''Existentialism''' is a [[philosophy |philosophical]] system that originated in the 19th century, and grew in the 20th century, that focuses on the individual striving in a seeming meaningless Universe, and how (and if) one is able to come into grisps with this. Existentialism, though denying an objective meaning to life, believes that we as individuals can create our own subjective meaning of life, which differs it from [[nihilism]] which believes in neither.

Although existentialism is often thought as an atheistic philosophy, as described above, it is worth noting that the father of existentialism was a Danish Christain philosohpoer named [[Søren Kierkegaard]].  See: [[Christian Existentialism]].

There are two main types of existentialism, Atheistic Existentialism which will be the focus here, and [[Christian Existentialism]].

Atheistic Existentialism on the other hand denies the dependency of human existence on [[God]] and 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.  Beyond that, existentialism means different things to different people and thus can often be the subject of debate by students of [[atheistic]] philosophy.

Atheistic Existentialism on the other hand denies the dependency of human existence on [[God]] and 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.  Beyond that, existentialism means different things to different people and thus can often be the subject of debate by students of [[atheistic]] philosophy.

The name derives form one of its central concepts, the notion that a [[human]] being's "existence precedes essence."   

The name derives form one of its central concepts, the notion that a [[human]] being's "existence precedes essence."

 

The Danish Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) is said to be the father of existentialism. He was born into a wealthy family which allowed him to pursue intellectual interests and distance himself from the everyday man.  He is known for his pseudonymous, which was a symbol for an existing individual.  He was against the philosophy of Hegel, whom he accused of bringing Christianity from something which must be lived through to a dogmatic system.  He is known for his terms of 'knight of faith,' 'leap of faith,' and 'truth in subjectivity.'

 

The four considered the earliest existential writes are Kierkegaard, [[Nietzsche]], [[Dostoyevsky]], and [[Jean Paul Sartre]].  Other writers were [[Karl Jaspers]] and [[Martin Heidegger]].  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>

The four considered the earliest existential writes are Kierkegaard, [[Nietzsche]], [[Dostoyevsky]], and [[Jean Paul Sartre]].  Other writers were [[Karl Jaspers]] and [[Martin Heidegger]].  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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