While it's true that the roots of existentialism can be traced back to the Middle Ages, particularly the works of Blaise Pascal and Soren Kierkegaard, the movement itself emerged in the 20th century in Europe.
Existentialism was a reaction to the social and political upheaval that occurred during and after World War II. It was characterized by a focus on individual freedom, choice, and personal responsibility.
Existentialists rejected the notion of a fixed human nature and instead emphasized the importance of creating meaning in one's life through the exercise of free will. They also explored the themes of anxiety, alienation, and the search for authentic human experience.
Some of the key figures in existentialism include Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus. Their works explored the human condition, the search for meaning, and the individual's struggle to find purpose in a world that can seem meaningless and chaotic.
Existentialism has had a significant impact on philosophy, literature, and psychology, and continues to influence contemporary thought today.
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While it's true that the roots of existentialism can be traced back to the Middle Ages, particularly the works of Blaise Pascal and Soren Kierkegaard, the movement itself emerged in the 20th century in Europe.
Existentialism was a reaction to the social and political upheaval that occurred during and after World War II. It was characterized by a focus on individual freedom, choice, and personal responsibility.
Existentialists rejected the notion of a fixed human nature and instead emphasized the importance of creating meaning in one's life through the exercise of free will. They also explored the themes of anxiety, alienation, and the search for authentic human experience.
Some of the key figures in existentialism include Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus. Their works explored the human condition, the search for meaning, and the individual's struggle to find purpose in a world that can seem meaningless and chaotic.
Existentialism has had a significant impact on philosophy, literature, and psychology, and continues to influence contemporary thought today.