Final answer:
Existentialism is a philosophy highlighting individual freedom and the choice to live with meaning, despite existential questions. Motivation can emerge from personal inspirations like beauty, love, or social awareness, while self-examination provides clarity and direction in the face of existential concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Addressing Existential Concerns and Finding Motivation
Existentialism, as articulated by philosophers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, emphasizes the inherent freedom of the individual and the idea that existence precedes essence. In dealing with existential thoughts, it's crucial to recognize that the choice to live and find meaning in life is a fundamental exercise of our freedom. Camus argues that by choosing not to end one's life, one essentially chooses to live, which signifies an acceptance and commitment to life's challenges and responsibilities.
Motivation, on the other hand, can be drawn from a variety of sources, such as beauty, love, discovery, conquest, and freedom. Understanding what personally inspires you can be a powerful tool in combating existential dread. Furthermore, reflection on the ethical implications of our existence, through phenomenology, can inspire altruistic actions, as it confronts us with the immediate human experience of others' suffering, pushing us beyond abstract ethics into the realm of personal responsibility.
To effectively deal with existentialism and find motivation, one must engage in self-examination to understand their beliefs and defend their positions, thus providing purpose and direction to their actions. The existentialists challenge us to actively define our existence and to shoulder the responsibility that comes with our freedom, recognizing that in every moment, we have the power to reshape our lives and the world around us.