The Human Being as an Individual

Philosophy

Existentialism

A philosophical movement focused on human existence freedom responsibility and the search for meaning.

Existence Precedes Essence

Sartre's idea that people are not born with a fixed nature but create themselves through their choices.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Existentialist philosopher who argued that humans are radically free and responsible for their actions.

Søren Kierkegaard

Philosopher considered the father of existentialism who emphasized personal choice faith and anxiety.

Martin Heidegger

Philosopher who developed the concept of Dasein and explored authenticity anxiety and death.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Philosopher who believed the world is driven by a blind irrational force called the Will.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Philosopher who developed the concept of the will to power and encouraged self-overcoming.

Emmanuel Levinas

Philosopher who argued that responsibility to other people comes before personal choice.

Being-in-itself (En-soi)

Sartre's term for objects that simply exist without consciousness or self-awareness.

Being-for-itself (Pour-soi)

Sartre's term for human consciousness which is self-aware free and capable of choice.

Dasein

Heidegger's term for human existence meaning being-there.

Being-in-the-world

Heidegger's idea that humans are always connected to and involved with the world around them.

Will

Schopenhauer's concept of the blind irrational force driving all life and desire.

Will to Power

Nietzsche's concept describing the drive to grow create overcome obstacles and affirm life.

Freedom

The ability to choose and create oneself through actions and decisions.

Condemned to be Free

Sartre's idea that humans cannot escape freedom and responsibility.

Responsibility

The obligation to accept the consequences of one's choices and actions.

Anxiety

The feeling that arises from awareness of freedom possibilities and responsibility.

Anguish

Sartre's term for the emotional burden of total freedom and responsibility.

Fear

An emotional response to a specific object or threat.

Existential Anxiety

Anxiety caused by awareness of freedom uncertainty and mortality.

Choice

The act of deciding between possibilities which helps define who a person becomes.

Leap of Faith

Kierkegaard's idea of making a deep commitment despite uncertainty and lack of proof.

The Other

Levinas's term for another person whose presence creates ethical responsibility.

Solitude

The condition of ultimately facing one's choices and defining oneself alone.

Boredom

An existential condition resulting from failing to create meaning or engage authentically with life.

Conformism

Following social norms and expectations without critical reflection.

Bad Faith

Sartre's concept of denying one's freedom and responsibility through self-deception.

Playing a Role

Acting as if one's social position completely defines who one is.

Authenticity

Living honestly by accepting freedom responsibility and self-creation.

Creating Values

The process of deciding what is meaningful rather than blindly accepting society's values.

Fallenness

Heidegger's term for losing oneself in everyday social expectations.

The They-Self (Das Man)

Heidegger's term for conforming to what everyone else thinks and does.

Call of Conscience

Heidegger's idea that individuals can be called toward authentic living.

Death

The unavoidable end of life and a central theme in existentialist thought.

Being-towards-death

Heidegger's concept that awareness of mortality helps people live authentically.

Finitude

The fact that human life is limited and mortal.

Individualism

The belief that the individual is the primary source of value choice and responsibility.

Existentialist Individualism

The view that people create their own meaning and values through freedom and choice.

Objectivism

Ayn Rand's philosophy emphasizing reason rational self-interest and individual achievement.

Ayn Rand

Philosopher who defended rational self-interest and individual freedom.

Rational Self-Interest

Ayn Rand's idea that individuals should pursue their own well-being through reason.

Objective Values

Values that Ayn Rand believed can be discovered through reason rather than created subjectively.

Subjective Values

Values created by individuals through their choices and experiences.

Self-Creation

The process of defining oneself through choices actions and commitments.

Meaninglessness

The absence of inherent purpose in the universe according to many existentialists.

Self-Overcoming

Nietzsche's idea of continually improving and surpassing one's previous limits.

Übermensch (Overhuman)

Nietzsche's ideal individual who creates their own values and meaning.

Authentic Life

A life lived according to freely chosen values rather than social pressure.

Inauthentic Life

A life guided by conformity excuses and denial of freedom.