Existentialism: You Are Your Choices

Existentialism is the philosophy of the 20th century because it grapples with the anxiety of modern freedom. The core tenant, often summarized as "existence precedes essence," means you aren’t born with a fixed nature or a predetermined purpose. You are born a blank slate, and through your choices, actions, and commitments, you create who you are. This is profoundly liberating, but also terrifying. As Jean-Paul Sartre put it, we are "condemned to be free." There’s no cosmic excuse for who you become. Every moment is an opportunity to define yourself. For the existentialist, the most important question isn’t "What is the meaning of life?" but "What are you going to do about it?"