how has existentialism evolved in the 20th century?

Answer 1

Existentialism has evolved in several ways in the 20th century. One important development was the influence of phenomenology, a philosophical method that focuses on the individual's subjective experience of the world. Existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir drew heavily on phenomenology in their work, emphasizing the importance of personal experience and choice in shaping one's existence.

Another important evolution of existentialism in the 20th century was its intersection with psychology and psychoanalysis. Existentialist thinkers like R.D. Laing and Viktor Frankl explored the psychological implications of existentialist ideas, such as the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world and the experience of anxiety and alienation.

Existentialism also became more diversified in the 20th century, with thinkers like Albert Camus and Gabriel Marcel offering different perspectives on the existential condition. Camus, for example, emphasized the absurdity of human existence and the need to confront it head-on, while Marcel explored the nature of personal relationships and the role of faith in shaping one's existence.

Overall, existentialism in the 20th century became more nuanced and interdisciplinary, drawing on a wider range of philosophical, psychological, and literary sources to explore the complexities of human existence.