Existentialism is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the issue of human existence. It is a catch-all term for those philosophers who consider the nature of the human condition as a key philosophical problem and who share the view that this problem is best ... . Existentialist philosophers explore questions related to the meaning, purpose, and value of human existence. The movement has had a profound impact on the development of humanistic and existential approaches to psychotherapy.

Existentialist philosophy encompasses a range of perspectives, but it shares certain underlying concepts. Among these, a central tenet of existentialism is that personal freedom, individual responsibility, and deliberate choice are essential to the pursuit of self-discovery and the determination of lifes meaning. Existentialist ethics generally begins with the idea that there is no external moral order or table of values that exists a priori. Instead, individuals must create their own meaning and purpose in life.

Existentialism is associated with several 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who shared an emphasis on the human subject, despite often profound differences in thought. Among the earliest figures associated with existentialism are philosophers Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, all of whom critiqued rationalism and concerned themselves with the problem of meaning. Many existentialists considered traditional systematic or academic philosophies, in style and content, to be too abstract and removed from concrete human experience.

Existentialist philosophy is characterized by several key themes:

• Existence precedes essence: This means that individuals are not born with a predetermined essence or nature, but rather must create their own essence through their choices and actions.

• Freedom and responsibility: Existentialists emphasize the importance of personal freedom and individual responsibility in creating meaning and purpose in life.

• Anxiety and dread: Existentialists often explore the experience of anxiety and dread in the face of an absurd world.

• Authenticity: A primary virtue in existentialist thought is authenticity, or the idea that individuals should be true to themselves and their own values.

• Death and mortality: Existentialists often confront the reality of death and the finitude of human existence.

Overall, existentialism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of personal freedom, individual responsibility, and deliberate choice in creating meaning and purpose in life. It has had a profound impact on a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, theology, drama, art, literature, and psychology.