Existentialism
Existentialism is the view that you have no fixed nature handed to you in advance — you become someone by choosing, and you are answerable for the result.
Full definition of Existentialism →:: COMPARE ::
ExistentialismvsNihilism
The short answer
Existentialism starts where nihilism arrives — no given essence, no handed-down meaning — and then treats that as the beginning of obligation rather than the end of it. Same premise, opposite conclusion, which is why the two are constantly confused and never interchangeable.
Side by side
| Aspect | Existentialism | Nihilism |
|---|---|---|
| Premise | No given meaning | No given meaning |
| Conclusion | You're responsible | Nothing is warranted |
| Freedom is | A burden | Irrelevant |
| Has an ethics | Yes | No |
What each one means
Nihilism
Nihilism is the position that some whole domain we take seriously — morality, knowledge, or meaning — has no real foundation at all.
Full definition of Nihilism →