Existentialist Philosophers: Biographical History of Existentialism
Who are the existentialists? Existentialism is a modern movement, but there are many earlier philosophers who dealt with existentialist themes or who might qualify as existentialists, even if they had never heard of the term. At the same time, in the modern era, there are philosophers who seem obviously existentialist even though they would dismiss the label while others may adopt the label for themselves even though it doesn't really apply.
Soren Kierkegaard Biography
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher whose ideas about the nature of human freedom in an uncertain world make him one of the founders of the modern philosophy of existentialism, even though he did not use that label for himself. There is, indeed, little in existentialism today which cannot also be found in the writings of Kierkegaard.
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher whose ideas about the nature of human freedom in an uncertain world make him one of the founders of the modern philosophy of existentialism, even though he did not use that label for himself. There is, indeed, little in existentialism today which cannot also be found in the writings of Kierkegaard.
Martin Heidegger Biography
Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher who employed Husserl's ideas about phenomenology in an effort to better understand the nature of 'Being' - i.e., questions about ontology. Indeed, according to Heidegger there is only one basic question in philosophy: the Seinsfrage, or the question of being.
Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher who employed Husserl's ideas about phenomenology in an effort to better understand the nature of 'Being' - i.e., questions about ontology. Indeed, according to Heidegger there is only one basic question in philosophy: the Seinsfrage, or the question of being.
Friedrich Nietzsche Biography
A difficult, complex, and controversial philosopher, Nietzsche has been claimed as part of a number of difficult philosophical movements. Because his work was consciously designed to break from the philosophy of the past, it is perhaps expected that much of what would come after him would expand upon the themes he discussed and therefore claim him as their forerunner.
A difficult, complex, and controversial philosopher, Nietzsche has been claimed as part of a number of difficult philosophical movements. Because his work was consciously designed to break from the philosophy of the past, it is perhaps expected that much of what would come after him would expand upon the themes he discussed and therefore claim him as their forerunner.
Karl Jaspers Biography
Karl Jaspers was a German philosopher whose place in the history of philosophy is based primarily on his work in existentialism - indeed, he may be considered the first to construct a self-consciously existentialist philosophy in the modern era. Jaspers originally studied law and medicine, even receiving an M.D. from University of Heidelberg and teaching psychiatry at Heidelberg for a while.
Karl Jaspers was a German philosopher whose place in the history of philosophy is based primarily on his work in existentialism - indeed, he may be considered the first to construct a self-consciously existentialist philosophy in the modern era. Jaspers originally studied law and medicine, even receiving an M.D. from University of Heidelberg and teaching psychiatry at Heidelberg for a while.
Edmund Husserl Biography
Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was a German philosopher who is generally associated with the modern development of phenomenology (a term which he coined) as he attempted to create out of it a pure, non-empirical science. Husserl's focus was simply to study the nature of consciousness and how a conscious person could be conscious of their own consciousness.
Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was a German philosopher who is generally associated with the modern development of phenomenology (a term which he coined) as he attempted to create out of it a pure, non-empirical science. Husserl's focus was simply to study the nature of consciousness and how a conscious person could be conscious of their own consciousness.
Jean Paul Sartre Biography
Jean-Paul Sartre was a French novelist and philosopher who is perhaps most famous for his development and defense of atheistic existential philosophy - as a matter of fact, his name is linked with existentialism more closely than any other, at least in most people's minds. Throughout his life, even as his philosophy changed and developed, he continually focused upon the human experience of being.
Jean-Paul Sartre was a French novelist and philosopher who is perhaps most famous for his development and defense of atheistic existential philosophy - as a matter of fact, his name is linked with existentialism more closely than any other, at least in most people's minds. Throughout his life, even as his philosophy changed and developed, he continually focused upon the human experience of being.
Albert Camus Biography
Albert Camus was a French-Algerian journalist and novelist whose literary work is regarded as a primary source of modern existentialist thought. A principle theme in Camus' novels is the idea that human life is, objectively speaking, meaningless. This results in 'absurdity' which can only be overcome by a commitment to moral integrity and social solidarity.
Albert Camus was a French-Algerian journalist and novelist whose literary work is regarded as a primary source of modern existentialist thought. A principle theme in Camus' novels is the idea that human life is, objectively speaking, meaningless. This results in 'absurdity' which can only be overcome by a commitment to moral integrity and social solidarity.
Simone de Beauvoir Biography
Simone de Beauvoir was a French novelist who played an important role in the development of existentialism and feminism in the 20th century. A number of her novels were explicitly about existentialist themes, for example the attempt to find meaning and purpose in an absurd world.
Simone de Beauvoir was a French novelist who played an important role in the development of existentialism and feminism in the 20th century. A number of her novels were explicitly about existentialist themes, for example the attempt to find meaning and purpose in an absurd world.
An Existential Philosopher's Museum
The name "Museum" here does not refer to dead artifacts. Instead, this intellectual site is designed to be a place for study and enlightenment.
The name "Museum" here does not refer to dead artifacts. Instead, this intellectual site is designed to be a place for study and enlightenment.
Camus Critical Interpretation
Essays and criticism on and by Albert Camus.
Essays and criticism on and by Albert Camus.
Camus Studies Association
Worldwide scholarly organization.
Worldwide scholarly organization.
Existentialists: Camus
Biography, commentaries on his works, and additional information.
Biography, commentaries on his works, and additional information.
Island of Freedom: Kierkegaard
All about the Danish philosopher and religious thinker.
All about the Danish philosopher and religious thinker.
Kierkegaard
Collection of information on Kierkegaard and existentialism.
Collection of information on Kierkegaard and existentialism.
Kierkegaard Library
Expansive, important collection of letter, papers and other material relating to Kierkegaard.
Expansive, important collection of letter, papers and other material relating to Kierkegaard.
Minds of Existentialism
Quick looks at a wide variety of existentialists through history.
Quick looks at a wide variety of existentialists through history.
The Nietzsche Page at USC
Popular and useful explanation of Nietzsche
Popular and useful explanation of Nietzsche
Jean-Paul Sartre
Links, chronology, and an essay on Sartre's Transcendence of the Ego.
Links, chronology, and an essay on Sartre's Transcendence of the Ego.
Shakespeare and Early Existentialism
How Shakespeare relates to the concepts of existentialism.
How Shakespeare relates to the concepts of existentialism.