Final answer:
Existentialism is a school of thought that posits individual existence, freedom, and choice are fundamental, encapsulated by the idea that 'existence precedes essence'.
Major proponents like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus focused on extreme human freedom and the inherent responsibility it entails. This philosophy profoundly impacts understanding one's purpose and the nature of existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It suggests that humans first exist and then define their essence through actions and decisions, manifesting in the principle that "existence precedes essence."
This philosophy became particularly influential among diverse writers and artists, especially in the wake of World War II, where the autonomy of individual meaning-making was emphasized.
Notably, Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus were central figures in this movement. Sartre argued that we are essentially free to the point that our defining characteristic is our extreme freedom, one that comes with immense responsibility.
Camus highlighted the freedom of choice every individual has each day, including the choice to continue living. Human freedom for existentialists is thus profoundly autonomous, leading to potentially distressing contemplations about the burdens of such freedom.
Existentialists propose a stark dichotomy in the existence of things, as described by Sartre: Being-for-itself (conscious and free) and Being-in-itself (non-conscious).
The realities of this philosophy encourage individuals to come to terms with the weight of their freedom and the subsequent responsibility to shape their own lives and the world around them.