EXISTENTIALISM: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS, THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES, AND IDEOLOGICAL CRITIQUE

Abstract

This paper examines the philosophical foundations and evolution of Existentialism, a modern movement that emphasizes individual freedom, self-determination, and human responsibility. It explores how existentialist thinkers such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre redefined the relationship between existence and essence, replacing divine determinism with human choice. The study also highlights the contradictions between individual and collective freedom, the tension between rationalism and faith, and the ideological conflict between Existentialism and Marxism. It concludes that while Existentialism deepened human understanding of freedom and authenticity, its excessive focus on individualism limited its transformative and social potential.