Question

Identify the features of existentialist philosophy.

Feature(s)
Not a Feature

1. accepting responsibility
2. science could in itself provide meaning for human lives
3. the ideal life is a quiet life
4. avoidance of “bad faith”
5. identity was inherent from one’s birth
6. existence precedes essence

Answer 1

1. accepting responsibility — Feature
- Existentialists stress radical freedom and the responsibility to choose and create meaning for oneself.

2. science could in itself provide meaning for human lives — Not a Feature
- Existentialism denies that objective systems (including science) supply ultimate meaning; meaning is created by individuals.

3. the ideal life is a quiet life — Not a Feature
- Existentialism does not prescribe a passive or “quiet” ideal; it emphasizes authentic choice and engagement, which may be active or demanding.

4. avoidance of “bad faith” — Feature
- Rejecting “bad faith” (self-deception) and striving for authenticity is central to existentialist ethics.

5. identity was inherent from one’s birth — Not a Feature
- Existentialists hold that identity is not given at birth but formed through choices and actions.

6. existence precedes essence — Feature
- This key existentialist thesis (especially Sartre’s) asserts that humans exist first and define themselves afterward.