existentialism

Introduction
Nature of existentialist thought and manner
Historical survey of existentialism
- Precursors of existentialism
- Immediate background and founders
- Emergence as a movement
Methodological issues in existentialism
Substantive issues in existentialism
- Fundamental concepts and contrasts
  - Ontic structure of human existence
  - Manner and style of human existence
- Problems of existentialist philosophy
  - Humanity and human relationships
  - The human situation in the world
  - Significance of Being and transcendence
- Problems of existentialist theology
Social and historical projections of existentialism

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Jean-Paul Sartre sits at a cafe with a cup of coffee and a notebook, a pipe in his mouth.

Two black-and-white portraits of a mustached man flank handwritten notes; overlay text reads “Who was Friedrich Nietzsche?”

Black-and-white photo of a suited man with glasses on a balcony; overlaid text reads “Who was Jean‑Paul Sartre?” with a hazy cityscape in the background.

Christian Kierkegaard: Søren Kierkegaard

Martin Heidegger

Jean-Paul Sartre

Rudolf Bultmann

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Christian Kierkegaard: Søren Kierkegaard

existentialism summary

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Photos and Videos

Jean-Paul Sartre sits at a cafe with a cup of coffee and a notebook, a pipe in his mouth.

Christian Kierkegaard: Søren Kierkegaard

Martin Heidegger

Jean-Paul Sartre

Rudolf Bultmann

José Ortega y Gasset

Two black-and-white portraits of a mustached man flank handwritten notes; overlay text reads “Who was Friedrich Nietzsche?”

Black-and-white photo of a suited man with glasses on a balcony; overlaid text reads “Who was Jean‑Paul Sartre?” with a hazy cityscape in the background.

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Topics

Dasein absurdity theological existentialism atheistic existentialism authentic existence dread existence philosophy humanism analytic philosophy Marxism Platonism Aristotelianism atomism positivism Hegelianism Scholasticism rationalism

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Key People

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Nikolay Aleksandrovich Berdyayev

Russian philosopher

Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre

French philosopher and author

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Franz Rosenzweig

German philosopher

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Marjorie Grene

American philosopher

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Watsuji Tetsurō

Japanese philosopher and historian