Why Existentialism Still Haunts and Heals Us: The Philosophy of Freedom and Angst

Imagine stepping into a dimly lit Parisian café in the 1930s, where intellectuals gather around small tables, the air thick with cigarette smoke and the clink of glasses. Here, amidst lively debates and the aroma of apricot cocktails, a new philosophy was born—one that would challenge centuries of thought and continue to echo in our lives today. This philosophy is existentialism, a movement that dares to ask the most fundamental questions: What does it mean to be? How do we live freely in an absurd world? And how do we bear the weight of our choices?

The Birth of Existentialism: Freedom Over Essence
At the heart of existentialism lies the radical idea that existence precedes essence. Unlike a knife, whose essence (its purpose) is defined before it exists, humans are born without a predetermined nature. We are condemned to be free, as Jean-Paul Sartre famously put it, meaning our lives are open canvases painted by our decisions. This freedom is exhilarating but also terrifying, for it comes with the full responsibility of shaping who we become. There is no external blueprint or divine plan to lean on.

Phenomenology: Returning to the Things Themselves
Before existentialism could flourish, it needed a method to explore experience without bias. Phenomenology, introduced by Edmund Husserl and embraced by young philosophers in Paris, offered this path. It asks us to describe phenomena exactly as they appear to consciousness, setting aside assumptions about the external world. Imagine savoring a cup of coffee not as a chemical compound but as warmth, aroma, and taste—this direct encounter is phenomenology’s focus. This method laid the groundwork for existentialism’s emphasis on lived experience.

Heidegger’s Challenge: The Question of Being
Martin Heidegger took the inquiry further, questioning the very meaning of Being. He introduced the concept of Dasein, or 'being-there,' to describe human existence as always embedded in a world of relationships and concerns. Heidegger’s poetic and often difficult writing invites us to marvel at existence itself and recognize the fragility and wonder of our everyday being. His ideas remind us that philosophy is not just thinking but a lived encounter with the world.

Sartre’s Existentialism: Embracing Freedom and Responsibility
Jean-Paul Sartre transformed these foundations into a passionate call to live authentically. He argued that we are free to invent ourselves but must accept the anxiety and moral ambiguity this entails. There is no external authority to dictate right or wrong; we must choose and bear the consequences. Sartre’s novels and plays vividly illustrate the alienation and absurdity of existence, making philosophy palpable through story and sensation.

Simone de Beauvoir and Feminist Existentialism
Simone de Beauvoir extended existentialism’s liberating message to gender, famously declaring,