Existentialism - Concepts + Practice Questions

Metaphysical Freedom

The freedom to choose who you are and create your own life; it’s all-or-nothing and cannot be given or taken away.

Social/Political Freedom

Freedom that exists within society, like rights, laws, or access to opportunities; it comes in degrees depending on your situation.

Dasein

Heidegger’s term for human existence; humans are aware of themselves and their world, and are “concerned” with it.

Concern

The way humans are actively involved and care about the world, their projects, and other people.

Facticity

The facts of your life that you cannot change (like age, birthplace, being a student).

Transcendence

Your ability to go beyond the facts of your life and make choices that define who you are.

Anxiety (Existential)

The feeling that comes when we recognize our total freedom and responsibility; it helps reveal who we really are.

Nothingness

The absence of predetermined meaning or restrictions, which makes freedom and choice possible.

The Other

Other people whose judgments and presence influence how we see ourselves.

The They

Society or social norms that pressure people to conform, leading to loss of authenticity.

Authenticity

Living according to your own choices and values, fully accepting your freedom and responsibility.

Bad Faith

Lying to yourself to avoid responsibility; denying your freedom by blaming circumstances or social pressures.

Absurdity (Camus)

Life’s repetitive, meaningless tasks (like making your bed) that humans continue doing despite having no ultimate meaning.

Absurdity (Nagel)

The mismatch between human effort and the universe’s indifference, making life seem absurd (like doing Sudoku).

Self-Creation

Humans are not fixed; we actively create who we are through our choices and actions.

Finitude

The awareness that life is limited and will end, which can motivate authentic living.

Ethical Authenticity (de Beauvoir)

Authenticity that includes respecting others’ freedom and making morally responsible choices.

Eternal Return (Nietzsche)

The idea of living your life over and over exactly as it is; a way to judge if your choices are authentic.

Conformity

Following social norms or “the They,” which can make people inauthentic and allow societal injustices to continue.

Mediocrity (Existentialists)

Lack of independent thought caused by conformity; failing to create one’s own authentic life.

Gender Oppression (de Beauvoir)

When women are denied freedom to define themselves and accept socially imposed roles, often through bad faith.

Problem of Evil (Existentialist View, Ivan Karamazov)

Focuses on real human suffering instead of abstract explanations about why evil exists in the world.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Metaphysical freedom, bad faith, self-creation, anxiety, The Other

Martin Heidegger

Dasein, concern, The They, authenticity, finitude

Simone de Beauvoir

Ethical authenticity, gender oppression, responsibility to others

Albert Camus

Absurdity (repetitive life tasks), struggle to create meaning

Thomas Nagel

Absurdity (human effort vs universe indifference)

Fyodor Dostoevsky (Ivan Karamazov)

Problem of evil, focus on human suffering

Friedrich Nietzsche

Eternal Return, authenticity through choice

What is the difference between metaphysical freedom and social/political freedom? Why does one come in degrees, but the other is all-or-nothing?

Metaphysical freedom is the freedom to choose who you are and what you do—this is something all humans have or don’t have, so it’s all-or-nothing. Social/political freedom is freedom in society, like following laws, having rights, or access to opportunities. This can change depending on your situation, so it comes in degrees.

Heidegger says that a Dasein is “concerned”. What does that mean? Concerned how? and concerned about what?

“Concerned” means humans are always interested and involved in things in the world. We care about people, objects, jobs, or projects. For example, as a student, you are concerned about grades, friends, and future plans.

What is the difference between facticity and transcendence? Use the example of yourself as a college student.

Facticity = the facts about your life you can’t change (like being a college student, your age, or where you live).
Transcendence = the things you can choose (your major, clubs, or hobbies). Life is about balancing the facts you can’t change with the choices you can make.

Explain how metaphysical freedom can be in tension with happiness.

Being free to choose sounds great, but it also means you are responsible for your life. Making big decisions can be stressful or scary, so freedom can sometimes make you less happy in the short term.

Wartenberg says that, “a human is the only entity in the world that is not what it is.” What does this mean? Give an example.

Humans are different from objects—they can create themselves. For example, you’re a student, but you can also choose to be an artist, athlete, or activist. You are not fixed like a chair or tree.

Humans take their existence to be an issue for them. How are humans different from squirrels?

Humans think about their life, purpose, and choices. Squirrels just live by instinct. Humans decide who they want to be, while squirrels don’t question their life.

What is the relationship between freedom and nothingness?

Humans are free because nothing is set in stone. We exist in a world with “nothing” stopping us from creating ourselves. Nothingness allows us to imagine choices and possibilities.

How are we in contact with nothingness when we see a broken lawnmower?

The broken lawnmower reminds you of what’s missing or what could be. You notice a gap or absence, which is how humans recognize that things could be different, just like choices in life.

You are in a room alone and see a glove. How are you encountering other people?

The glove shows someone made or used it, so even alone, we see signs of other people’s existence. Our world is shaped by humans, so objects tell stories about others.

“Under the dominance of the They, everyone is the other, and no one is himself.” What does this mean?

If you just follow what everyone else thinks (“the They”), you lose your true self. You act like everyone else instead of making your own choices.

How do I lose myself when I encounter the Other?

You start worrying about what others think and stop being yourself. You may do things just to please them instead of making your own choices.

How are Others a source of our conceptions of ourselves?

Other people’s opinions and judgments shape how we see ourselves. For example, you might feel smart if others praise your grades, or insecure if they criticize you.

What is bad faith? Why is it bad?

Bad faith = lying to yourself to avoid responsibility. Example: blaming your boss for your choices instead of owning them. It’s bad because it stops you from being truly yourself.

How does anxiety help us understand ourselves without the “They”?

Anxiety happens when we realize we are fully responsible. It pushes us to think about our own choices instead of copying what society wants.

How is Ivan Karamazov’s response to the problem of evil existentialist?

Ivan focuses on real human suffering instead of abstract arguments about God or purpose. He emphasizes how evil affects people’s lives, which is existentialist.

“Making your bed every morning is absurd.” Explain with Camus.

The task is repetitive and seems meaningless, just like life can feel meaningless. Camus says we keep doing things even if life has no ultimate meaning.

“Doing Sudoku puzzles is absurd.” Explain with Nagel.

Sudoku is small and meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Nagel says life seems absurd when our efforts don’t match the universe’s scale.

How is conforming to social demands a way to avoid thinking about death?

Following rules keeps your mind busy, distracting you from thinking about your limited life and making your own choices.

What is authenticity? Why is it hard to live authentically?

Authenticity = being true to your own choices. It’s hard because society, fear, and anxiety push you to copy others instead of being yourself.

Why is “discover your true self and follow it” not how existentialists see authenticity?

Existentialists say there is no hidden true self. You create yourself through your choices, not discover a pre-made self.

How can awareness of death help us live authentically?

Knowing life is short reminds us to make meaningful choices and live responsibly instead of wasting time.

What is the problem of the “authentic Naz*”?

Someone can be “authentic” (true to themselves) but still do terrible things. Authenticity doesn’t guarantee morality, which is a problem.

How does de Beauvoir solve the “authentic Nazi” problem?

She says authenticity must include respecting others’ freedom and ethical responsibility, not just doing what you want.

How can Nietzsche’s “Eternal Return” help decide if a choice is authentic?

If you would live the same life over and over and be okay with it, your choice is authentic. If not, it may be inauthentic.

How does conformity lead to mediocrity and anti-semitism?

Conformity makes people stop thinking for themselves. This allows prejudices, like anti-semitism, to go unchallenged and keeps society mediocre

How does bad faith relate to gender oppression according to de Beauvoir?

If women accept the roles society gives them instead of making their own choices, they are in bad faith. This keeps gender inequality alive.