How Does Existentialism Explain the Existence of Human Beings
From Nothingness to Conscious Choice
“Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.”
– Jean-Paul Sartre
1. The Existentialist View: Existence Precedes Essence
Traditional philosophy often begins with a fixed idea of what a human is.
But existentialists flip this around:
| Existence precedes essence | You are not born with a predefined nature. You become who you are through choices. |
| No divine blueprint | Humans aren’t tools made for a purpose — we create our own. |
| Radical freedom | Each person is entirely free to shape their life — and must face the consequences. |
2. Key Thinkers and Their Views on Human Existence
| Søren Kierkegaard | Existence is a leap of faith; anxiety is the dizziness of freedom. |
| Friedrich Nietzsche | God is dead; humans must create their own values. |
| Jean-Paul Sartre | Humans are condemned to be free; life is absurd unless we make meaning. |
| Simone de Beauvoir | We become human through action; especially in a world that limits others (e.g. women). |
| Albert Camus | The absurd is the clash between our search for meaning and a meaningless world. |
3. Human Existence in an Indifferent Universe: Meaning, Angst, and Responsibility
Human beings are thrown into a world they didn’t choose.
And yet, they must choose — constantly. That’s the existential paradox.
The Three Existential Conditions:
| Angst | Deep anxiety from facing total freedom |
| Despair | Realization that we control very little beyond ourselves |
| The Absurd | The conflict between our desire for meaning and the universe’s silence |
But existentialism does not end in despair. It calls for courage:
The courage to live without certainty, and to still act with conviction.
“In the face of nothingness, the individual becomes everything.”
– Ersan Karavelioğlu
Conclusion: To Exist is to Choose — Endlessly
Existentialism doesn’t say who you are.
It says: You must decide.
Not once — but every moment, again and again.
You are not a fixed identity, but a project in motion, shaped by freedom, action, and authenticity.
“To be human is not to have a meaning. It is to build one with trembling hands.”
– Ersan Karavelioğlu
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