Existentialism & Absurdism

Every afternoon, Julian sat at the corner table of a quiet Parisian cafe, contemplating the trajectory of his young adult life. He was supposed to join his family's established law firm in the autumn, a career path carefully laid out by his parents long before he was old enough to make informed choices. Yet, whenever he pictured himself wearing a tailored suit in a courtroom, he was seized by a unsettling realization: he did not actually want to be a lawyer. This dilemma was not a simple disagreement about employment; it was a profound existential question that threatened to destabilize his entire identity. He began reading mid-century literature, searching for words that could accurately describe his internal turmoil. In those worn paperback books, he discovered that human beings are defined by their capacity for freedom. The authors argued that no pre-written blueprint dictates how an individual must live. However, this absolute freedom brought an overwhelming sense of responsibility that left Julian feeling unsettled. Sitting in the cafe, watching rain drizzle down the glass window, Julian reflected on the sheer absurdity of his situation. He had spent four years earning a degree he did not care about, purely to satisfy social expectations that now felt arbitrary and distant. The universe was completely silent regarding what he ought to do next; there were no cosmic signs pointing toward the correct path. Recognizing this absurdity did not defeat him; instead, it liberated him from false obligations. He realized that living in accordance with other people's desires was a comfortable form of self-deception. If he wanted his life to feel meaningful, he had to strive for genuine authenticity, making decisions that aligned with his true self even if they led to financial uncertainty or family disappointment. The thought of breaking away from his family's expectations filled Julian with immediate anxiety, yet he knew that retreating into comfort would lead to lasting despair. That evening, he opened a clean notebook and wrote down a new plan for his future: he would apply to teach literature abroad. By choosing his own path rather than accepting an inherited destiny, Julian took his first concrete step toward owning his life. The future remained uncertain, but he realized that making a deliberate choice was the only way to avoid living a life that belonged to someone else.

Modern urban life often presents an illusion of infinite connection while fostering deep internal separation. In a sprawling metropolis dominated by digital screens and structured routine, Elena felt a lingering sense of alienation. Although she was surrounded by thousands of commuters every day, she felt completely disconnected from the people around her and estranged from her own inner convictions. Her daily corporate routine felt like an elaborate performance on a theatrical stage where every line was scripted in advance. She completed her assigned tasks efficiently, yet her work provided no personal fulfillment. She began to wonder whether her life was governed by strict determinism—the uncomfortable belief that social upbringing, economic structures, and psychological conditioning eliminate genuine human agency. When Elena attempted to break free from this rigid routine by changing her career, she experienced severe existential anguish. She realized that she could not blame external circumstances for her unhappiness; the weight of decision-making rested entirely on her own shoulders. Absolute agency meant that every decision carried real consequences. This burden was heightened by her recognition of contingency—the stark reality that life is governed by unpredictable events that can disrupt even the best-laid plans. A sudden economic downturn or unexpected personal illness could easily dismantle her carefully structured goals. Rather than letting this unpredictability paralyze her, Elena embraced her own subjectivity. She accepted that while objective reality might be indifferent and unpredictable, her internal perspective and chosen values were entirely real to her. She began prioritizing painting and community activism over corporate advancement. By acknowledging the uncertain nature of external events while taking active control of her internal priorities, Elena turned her former sense of isolation into a renewed sense of purpose.

The intellectual transition from classical metaphysics to modern existential thought represents a radical shift in how human identity is defined. For centuries, Western philosophical tradition operated under the assumption that essence precedes existence. According to this traditional view, human beings were created with a predefined nature or purpose—whether designed by a divine creator or dictated by natural law—that individuals were obligated to discover and fulfill. However, mid-twentieth-century thinkers inverted this ancient paradigm. They asserted that human beings exist first, encounter themselves in the world, and only afterwards define who they are through deliberate action. This reversal stripped away the comforting idea of an inherent human blueprint, leaving individuals to construct their identity entirely from scratch. This collapse of cosmic structure forced philosophers to confront the specter of nihilism—the unsettling conclusion that life possesses no objective value, inherent purpose, or divine order. If no objective framework guides human behavior, then traditional moral systems lose their absolute authority. Far from viewing this realization as a license for passive despair, existential thinkers argued that the absence of preassigned purpose is precisely what makes human decision-making meaningful. In a universe devoid of inherent value, individuals become the sole authors of meaning. Every choice becomes a creative act of self-definition. To achieve true agency, an individual must experience transcendence—the continuous capacity to surpass present circumstances, biological conditioning, and historical limitations through conscious action. Transcendence requires individuals to step beyond who they were yesterday and take full responsibility for who they become tomorrow. This dynamic process requires living with total authenticity, refusing to hide behind comfortable excuses or societal pressures. By rejecting external dogmas and embracing personal responsibility, individuals create their own values in an indifferent universe.