existencialista

Existencialista is a term used to describe a person who adheres to or is associated with existentialism, a philosophical and literary movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and responsibility. The term also designates works that express existentialist themes. Although existentialism has roots in the 19th century with thinkers such as Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, it flourished in the 20th century, notably through the French school led by Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus, with earlier influence from Martin Heidegger and others. An existencialista is someone who analyzes human existence in terms of subjective experience rather than abstract systems.

Core ideas include that existence precedes essence, meaning that individuals are not born with a predetermined purpose and must define themselves through choices. Freedom and responsibility are central, often accompanied by anxiety or angst as people confront the limits of their freedom and the contingency of life. Authenticity involves living in accordance with one’s own values rather than conforming to external pressures. Existentialists also explore alienation, the absurd, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world. The movement spans philosophy, literature, theology, and film, and encompasses diverse positions, from atheistic existentialism to theological variants that see meaning or transcendence as part of authentic existence.

Critics have argued that existentialism can neglect social and political dimensions or overemphasize individualism. Nevertheless, it remains influential in analyses of choice, responsibility, and personal meaning in modern life.