Eksistentialinen

Eksistentialinen is the Finnish adjective describing matters related to existence or existential aspects of human life. In philosophy and everyday language, it is used to refer to topics associated with existentialism (eksistentialismi), such as meaning, freedom, authenticity, anxiety, and the confrontation with mortality.

The term derives from existentialism and is formed in Finnish with the -inen suffix to indicate a qualitative relation. In scholarly usage, eksistentialinen describes both processes of inquiry into human existence and phenomena arising from it, as opposed to more systemic or universal descriptions.

Existentialism as a philosophical movement emerged in the late 19th and 20th centuries with predecessors such as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche and later figures including Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, and de Beauvoir. Its central claims include that existence precedes essence, that individuals bear responsibility for choosing and defining themselves, and that authenticity arises from living in accordance with one’s own values. Themes frequently addressed are freedom, anxiety (angst), the absurd, mortality, and the search for meaning in a sometimes indifferent world.

Applications span philosophy, theology, literature, psychology, and cultural criticism. The term eksistentialinen is used to describe questions, experiences, or approaches that focus on the human condition and individual responsibility rather than impersonal structures.

Critics argue that existentialism can overemphasize subjectivity or neglect social and historical factors, but its emphasis on personal meaning and ethical responsibility continues to influence contemporary debates.