Posted: August 14th, 2022

Does Existentialism Make Sense in the 21st Century?

Does Existentialism Make Sense in the 21st Century?
Introduction
Existentialism emerged as a major philosophical movement in Europe in the mid-20th century. Its core ideas were developed by thinkers such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. However, does existentialism remain a relevant philosophy in the modern world of the 21st century? This article will examine whether existentialism’s emphasis on radical freedom, individual responsibility and creating meaning through choice still resonates today.
Radical Freedom and Responsibility
One of existentialism’s central tenets is that humans are radically free and solely responsible for their own actions and decisions. According to existentialists like Sartre, we are “condemned to be free” (Sartre, 1956). This means that unlike other beings, we do not have a fixed nature or essence that determines our behavior. We define ourselves through our own choices.
This notion of radical freedom aligns well with modern Western societies that emphasize individualism, personal autonomy and having many life choices (Modi, n.d.). In today’s globalized world with increased opportunities for travel, work and lifestyle, existentialism’s focus on individual freedom and responsibility remains highly applicable. People continue to face the existential questions of how to exercise their freedom and take ownership of their decisions and lives.
Creating Meaning through Choice
Another key idea is that individuals are responsible for creating meaning and purpose in their lives, rather than having it determined or guaranteed by external forces like religious doctrines or social roles. Existentialists reject the idea that humans have an essential function or telos. We define our own essence through the choices we make (Cooper, 2017).
In the 21st century, existentialism’s emphasis on actively shaping one’s own meaning still provides a useful framework. Modern societies are increasingly secular and pluralistic, with declining influence of traditional sources of meaning. This leaves more room for individuals to freely determine their purpose and values. Existentialism encourages engaged self-creation rather than passive acceptance of externally defined roles and identities. It remains relevant as a philosophy of life that emphasizes taking charge of one’s existence (Leask, n.d.).
Anxiety, Alienation and Mortality
Existentialism highlights fundamental human experiences like anxiety over choices, feelings of alienation in the world, and confronting our own mortality. These continue to be part of the human condition. While advances in science and technology have alleviated some existential anxieties, they have also introduced new uncertainties.
Advances in fields like genetics and artificial intelligence raise questions about what it means to be human. Threats of climate change and potential global catastrophes also keep mortality salient. Existentialism provides a framework for understanding and grappling with these profound human experiences, which remain just as pertinent in modernity as in the past (Onarinde, n.d.). Its insights into the human predicament thus retain contemporary significance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the specific social and cultural context has changed since existentialism’s inception, its core ideas still offer a compelling perspective on the human condition. Existentialism’s emphasis on individual freedom, responsibility and creating one’s own meaning through choice align well with dominant values in modern Western societies. It also continues to provide insights into perennial human experiences like anxiety, alienation and mortality. Therefore, existentialism remains a philosophy with ongoing relevance for understanding what it means to be an autonomous human agent in the 21st century.
References
Cooper, D. E. (2017). Existentialism: A reconstruction. Polity Press.
Leask, A. (n.d.). Why it’s good to be an existentialist. Amy Leask. https://www.amyleask.com/blog/why-its-good-to-be-an-existentialist
Modi, J. (n.d.). Existentialism in the 21st century. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/existentialism-21st-century-jagriti-modi
Onarinde, F. (n.d.). Human existence in the 21st century: A postmodern-existential reading of Dambuzo Marechera’s the house of hunger and J.M. Coetzee’s life and times of Michael K. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/3154975/
Sartre, J. P. (1956). Being and nothingness: A phenomenological essay on ontology. Washington Square Press.

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