Existentialism and Its Impact on Personal Life and Values
This paper explores existentialism as a philosophical framework, drawing on definitions from multiple sources to establish its core emphasis on individual freedom, personal responsibility, and the rejection of universal values. The author then applies these principles to their own life, examining how adopting an existentialist worldview would affect personal relationships, academic ethics, career aspirations in law enforcement, family goals, and the capacity for empathy. The paper concludes that while certain existentialist ideas hold appeal — particularly the drive to leave a lasting impact — a full embrace of the philosophy would be incompatible with the author's deeply social nature, belief in universal moral standards, and commitment to empathy.
- Defining Existentialism: Multiple definitions of existentialist philosophy explored
- Personal Philosophy and Existentialism: Author's semi-existentialist current worldview described
- Impact on Personal Relationships: Effects on family, romantic, and friend relationships
- Impact on Academic and Career Goals: Existentialism's effect on school ethics and law career
- Existentialism, Family, and the Drive for Immortality: Family goals and legacy-seeking under existentialism
- Loss of Empathy and Final Reflection: Empathy loss and rejection of existentialism as personal philosophy
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds abstract philosophical concepts in concrete personal experience, making the discussion of existentialism accessible and relatable.
- It moves logically from definition to application, addressing multiple life domains — relationships, school, career, and family — in a systematic way.
- The author maintains a balanced perspective, acknowledging aspects of existentialism they find appealing while clearly articulating where the philosophy conflicts with their values.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of multiple secondary sources to triangulate a working definition before applying the concept analytically. By citing Wikipedia, Wyatt, and Banach, the author shows awareness that existentialism resists a single authoritative definition, then uses that complexity as a foundation for personal philosophical reflection.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a multi-source definition section, transitions into the author's current personal philosophy, and then systematically examines the hypothetical impact of adopting existentialism across six life areas: family relationships, romantic relationships, friendships, academics, career, and family planning. It closes with a reflective conclusion that synthesizes the analysis into a clear philosophical self-assessment. The structure is linear and thesis-driven, typical of a personal philosophy essay at the undergraduate level.
Defining Existentialism
It is difficult to define the concept of existentialism because the term is used to describe a group of philosophies. According to Wikipedia, "existentialism is a unilateral philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual, the self, the individual's experience, and the uniqueness therein as the only reality. Existentialists believe in sheer freedom and accept the consequences and ramifications of their actions wholly. Existentialists prefer subjectivity, and view general existence as arcane, believing that they are isolated entities in an indifferent and often ambiguous universe" ("Existentialism").
Wyatt defines existentialism as the "doctrine that among sentient beings, especially humanity, existence takes precedence over essence and holding that man is totally free and responsible for his acts" (Wyatt). In existentialism, an individual is defined by thoughts and actions, rather than by any state of being. Furthermore, the freedom that humanity possesses is not a source of relief, but rather a source of anxiety.
In contrast, Banach chooses to approach existentialism with a series of questions: (1) What is human freedom? What can the absolute freedom of absolute individuals mean? (2) What is human flourishing or human happiness? What general ethic or way of life emerges when people take their individuality seriously? (3) What ought people to do?
The one thing that the authorities really agree on is that existentialism emphasizes the individual rather than the universal. Each person is responsible for their own choices and their own consequences. Therefore, the idea of good and evil is not absolute, but is merely a construct of reality.
Personal Philosophy and Existentialism
My current personal philosophy could be described as semi-existentialist. I am a firm believer in the concept of personal responsibility and personal freedom. However, I also believe in the idea of universal values and mores, which guide people in their behavior. To me, those who do not comply with those universal values and mores are those people presently considered sociopaths. Therefore, a movement toward a life of pure existentialism would, in my view, be a movement toward sociopathy.
The most dramatic change in my life that would occur if I were to embrace an existential philosophy would be the effect on my personal relationships. I am a very social person who enjoys the company of groups of people. I take comfort in finding similarities among people and believe that people are more alike than different, once the trappings of individuality are stripped away.
In contrast, existentialists believe that they are unique in the world. Therefore, many existentialists are plagued by feelings of alienation and loneliness. Instead of finding meaning in shared human experience, existentialists focus on the differences between individuals. In this sense, existentialists believe that each person is an island.
Works Cited
Banach, David. "The Ethics of Absolute Freedom." David Banach. 2005. St. Anselm College. 13 Mar. 2005. http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/sartrelecture.htm.
"Existentialism." Wikipedia. 2005. Wikipedia. 13 Mar. 2005.
Wyatt, C.S. "Existential Lexicon." The Existential Primer. 2005. Tameri. 13 Mar. 2005.
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