Unveiling Existentialism

In our economically, socially, and intellectually underdeveloped society in Pakistan, young people often encounter challenges when making decisions about their future, whether it's related to education, marriage, or choosing a profession. They frequently experience restrictions imposed by their families and society, which limit their personal choices and freedom. After some research, I discovered the philosophy of existentialism. I have been wanting to write about it since last year but was either busy or, at times, lazy.

Today, I am very at ease in writing on existentialism. I am at ease in terms of time, not in terms of knowledge. Knowledge is an ocean, and I would like to deep dive into it, but yet I have not dived into a situation where I can write a long note on it. It is a very interesting field of knowledge. I am sure that after reading my short column, you would go to Google and would like to study it profoundly. So, I welcome you to a journey of existentialism; a personal freedom in personal choices.

Starting with etymology, the science of studying the origins of words, borrowing Emerson's words, it is an interwoven thread that binds language to the human intellect. It helps us better understand the given subject or topic.

So, coming back to existentialism, the word "existentialism" is derived from the Latin word "Existens," meaning "emerge or existence." Yes, the existence of freedom, the existence of personal choice—a right for every individual to select or derive a better available option.

It is unknown to me who used this word for the first time, but it was formally introduced by the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel in the early 20th century. It became a famous movement with the thought-provoking works of Jean-Paul Sartre.

It might be irrelevant, but I was introduced to Sartre by Orya Maqbool Jan's TED Talk, where he quoted him, "You can learn in somebody's language, but you can't be creative in someone's language." I was impressed by him very much, just from this one-liner. Words truly influence someone.

Turning to the subject, I am providing some popular definitions from different philosophers to help you understand what existentialism actually is?"

Albert Camus:
“The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself."
Fredrick Nietzsche:
"Become who you are.”
Paul Tillich
“Man is estranged from what he is by his estrangement from that which makes him what he is."
The most fundamental tenet of existentialism is "Existence precedes essence" by Sartre. For a better understanding, let's break it down. "Existence" means presence, "precedes" signifies coming before, and "essence" in philosophy refers to "qualities that define the inherent characteristics of an object." So, "existence precedes essence" conveys that we do not have a predetermined purpose; instead, we create our meaning and purpose for our lives through our actions and choices.
For instance, as I write a column on my laptop, the existentialist perspective comes to light. The MS Word screen is blank (it has existence) before I write anything on it. The essence of the column emerges as I contemplate writing on existentialism, brainstorm about it, put my fingers on the keyboard, and bring the column into existence.
That was my part. Now, it's on your side to enrich yourself with knowledge. Self-learning is the tool to propel your dreams forward. Embark on your knowledge journey with joy and curiosity. Best of luck on your learning adventure!