What does it mean to truly exist? Are we free, or are we trapped by forces beyond our control? If life has no inherent meaning, how do we create our own?
EXISTENTIALISM Summarized: A Concise Guide to Freedom, Meaning, and the Absurd in Philosophy, Life, and Society is your essential roadmap to existential philosophy, revealing how radical thinkers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, and de Beauvoir confronted the biggest questions about life, freedom, and authenticity. Written for both curious newcomers and seasoned students, this book distills modern existential thought into clear, practical insights-shedding light on the depths of human angst, the lure of nihilism, and the power of authentic living.
Through vivid explanations and real-world examples, you'll witness how ideas like the absurd, moral responsibility, and radical freedom can liberate you from societal constraints and empower you to craft your own destiny. Learn how to identify "bad faith," break free from stifling norms, and embrace an engaged, purpose-driven perspective-even when faced with meaning and the absurd. Whether you're grappling with personal dilemmas or seeking clarity in a complex world, these timeless concepts offer fresh, transformative ways to approach life's challenges.
Inside, you'll explore the personal struggles and triumphs that gave rise to existentialism, from Kierkegaard's existential leap of faith to Camus's rebellion against the cosmos. You'll see how each thinker redefines self-discovery and confronts the ultimate question: In a reality with no inherent blueprint, how do we choose to live?
If you've ever yearned for a deeper sense of self-beyond social expectations-this concise guide can spark the clarity and
resilience you crave. Begin your journey today-embrace
existential philosophy and discover the path to
authentic living in a universe that refuses easy answers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Existentialism Jargon
What Is Existentialism?
Historical Context: Existentialism Before Existentialism
Kierkegaard: The Birth of Subjective Truth
Nietzsche: The Death of God and the Will to Power
Heidegger: Being and Time
Sartre: Radical Freedom and Responsibility
Camus: The Absurd and the Myth of Sisyphus
Simone de Beauvoir: Existentialist Ethics and Feminism
Other Existentialist Thinkers
Freedom and Responsibility
Authenticity and Inauthenticity
Anxiety, Angst, and Dread
Alienation and the Modern World
The Absurd and Meaninglessness
Nihilism and Existential Rebellion
The Concept of the Other
Temporality and Finitude
Existential Ethics
Faith, Atheism, and the Existentialist God
Existentialism and Everyday Life
Love, Relationships, and Existentialist Ethics
Art, Literature, and Existentialism
Existentialism and Politics
Existentialism and Psychology
Existentialism and Postmodernism
Criticisms and Challenges to Existentialism
Existentialism in the 21st Century
Existentialism and Artificial Intelligence
Existentialism and Climate Change
Personal Existentialism: How to Live Authentically
The Journey Forward: Becoming an Existentialist Thinker
