Final answer:
Existentialism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of individual freedom, existence, and choice, and the responsibility to create one's own meaning and values in life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Existentialism is a philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice. This thought system became influential through the works of various 19th and 20th-century writers. At its core, existentialism posits that 'existence precedes essence,' a phrase coined by Jean-Paul Sartre, indicating that humans first exist and then define their own purpose and essence through choices and actions. Notable thinkers like Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir explored existentialism's implications on human freedom, believing that individuals are responsible for giving their own lives meaning and purpose in an inherently indifferent or absurd world.
Unlike materialists and idealists, existentialists focus on the certain knowledge of human existence and awareness. By rejecting pre-existing societal structures as fixed, existentialism empowers individuals to reshape them, emphasizing the paramount role of human freedom and responsibility. However, this freedom comes with the weight of creating one's own moral structure, which can lead to profound existential anxiety.