Changes

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 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.

==Philosophical Movement==

==Philosophical Movement==

The earliest existentialist was the [[philosopher]] [[Friedrich Nietzsche]].  The movement did not, however, develop its name or popularity until the 20th century when it was popularized by the philosopher [[Jean Paul Sartre]].<ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/]</ref>

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 philosopher [[Jean Paul Sartre]] and his partner [[Simone de Beauvoir]].<ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/]</ref>

At its core, existentialism 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>

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>

==Reference==

==Reference==