Existentialism?

Word of the day

noun
a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Generally taken to originate with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, existentialism tends to disparage scientific knowledge and to deny the existence of objective values, stressing instead the reality and significance of human freedom and experience.


Every human is a free and valuable creature
Valuable not for what they can offer but just for who they are


existentialism
1941, from Ger. Existentialismus (1919), replacing Existentialforhold (1849), ultimately from Danish writer Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), who wrote (1846) of Existents-Forhold "condition of existence," existentielle Pathos, etc. (see existential), and whose name means, literally, "churchyard."
existentialist
1945, from Fr. existentialiste, from existentialisme (1940); see existentialism. Related: Existentialistic.
existential
1690s, "pertaining to existence," from L.L. existentialis/exsistentialis, from existentia/exsistentia (see existence). As a term in logic, from 1819; in philosophy, from 1937, tracing back to the Danish works of Kierkegaard (see existentialism). Related: Existentially.