Existentialism

Pillar One: Existence Before Essence

Problem: Our experience in this world is unique, radically different from everyone else’s

Answer: We must through our decisions and actions, (based on what we as individuals feels is important), create our own essence

Pillar Two: Reason is Important To Deal With The Depths of Human Life

Problem: Reason/ logic is faulty, darker aspect so the human condition are not always reachable by reason/ logic

Answer: We must not try to separate the thinker and their psyche from their other “parts” such as:dark ideas

Pillar 3: Alienation and Estrangement

Problem: Industrialization, science, the “main forces of the Renaissance” have driven humans away from ourselves

Answer: Resistance in place; synthesizing the duality of man

Pillar 4: Fear & Trembling

Problem: We have long been in a period of sustained fear that we can no longer ignored it

Answer: These questions and issues provide ingredients that make our lives what they are- unique

Pillar 5: The Encounter With Nothingness

Problem: Modern man is alienated from nature, God, community even himself.

Answer: This is a stage. It may need to be encountered in order to order to move to the next: freedom

Pillar 6: Freedom

Problem: In a purposeless universe man is condemned to freedom- we have no choice but to make the choices- they are ours alone to make. We are the sum total of the acts that make up our life.

Answer: You are completely and utterly free to make whatever choices you’d like, to create a life you want- that means something to you.