Table of Contents
Introduction: What Is Existentialism’s Take on Freedom?
Existentialism is a philosophical movement that centers on individual existence, freedom, and responsibility. Emerging in the 19th and 20th centuries, it seeks to answer a profoundly human question: what does it mean to be free? For existentialists, freedom is not merely the absence of external constraints or political liberty. Instead, it is an active, often burdensome condition—the freedom to choose, to create meaning, and to bear the consequences of one’s decisions.
While traditional philosophy often sought universal truths or moral absolutes, existentialism turns the focus inward, emphasizing subjective experience and the personal engagement with life’s inherent uncertainties. In this way, existentialism transforms freedom into both a philosophical concept and a lived reality, demanding courage, reflection, and authenticity.
This article explores existentialism’s profound insights on freedom, tracing its historical roots, key themes, practical implications, criticisms, and lasting legacy, while weaving in contemporary discussions from blogs and accessible philosophy resources such as Daily Philosophy and Aeon Essays.
I. Origins of Existentialism and the Concept of Freedom
Early Foundations: Kierkegaard and Nietzsche
Existentialism’s roots lie with 19th-century thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, who challenged the prevailing philosophical frameworks that often subordinated the individual to abstract systems or societal norms.
Kierkegaard emphasized personal choice and “subjective truth.” In works like Either/Or and Fear and Trembling, he argued that authentic existence requires embracing anxiety—the tension that arises from confronting one’s freedom and responsibility. According to Kierkegaard, individuals must make a leap of faith, a decisive commitment that expresses their authentic freedom and creates personal meaning in the face of uncertainty. For Kierkegaard, freedom is existential, not political—it is lived in the choices that define our being.
Nietzsche, by contrast, sought to overturn traditional moral frameworks. His declaration that “God is dead” symbolizes the collapse of absolute, externally imposed values. For Nietzsche, freedom is the power to create one’s own values and become an Übermensch (overman), a being who transcends conventional morality and societal expectations. In this sense, existential freedom involves not only choice but also the creative act of value-making, a theme explored in accessible essays such as Philosophy Break’s Nietzsche overview.
20th Century: Sartre and the Height of Existentialism
The 20th century witnessed existentialism’s most influential development through Jean-Paul Sartre. His famous claim, “existence precedes essence,” encapsulates the existentialist view of freedom: humans exist first, and only afterward define themselves through action. Unlike objects whose function or essence is predetermined, humans are radically free, responsible for creating their essence through choices.
For Sartre, freedom is absolute—and inescapable:
- Condemned to be free: Even refusing to choose is itself a choice. We cannot avoid freedom; every moment involves decision-making.
- Anguish and responsibility: Freedom brings existential anxiety because every choice carries consequences. We cannot defer blame to fate, society, or God.
- Authenticity: Realizing freedom means acknowledging this responsibility and acting deliberately, rather than evading it in “bad faith” (mauvaise foi).
Sartre’s ideas influenced a wide array of thinkers and writers, from Simone de Beauvoir to Albert Camus, and continue to resonate in contemporary discussions on identity, ethics, and personal autonomy. For a clear, beginner-friendly introduction, Daily Philosophy’s Sartre essay provides practical examples of how these ideas manifest in everyday life.
II. Key Existentialist Themes on Freedom
Radical Freedom and Responsibility
Existentialists insist that humans possess radical freedom: the capacity to choose one’s path and create meaning even amid constraints. Unlike the classical liberal notion of freedom as political liberty or the deterministic view that reduces choice to biological or social conditions, existential freedom is fundamental and personal.
Yet radical freedom comes with profound implications:
- Anguish: We experience existential anxiety because we alone shape our lives without external guarantees.
- Responsibility: Every choice carries moral weight. We cannot justify inaction or wrongdoing by appealing to external forces.
- Empowerment: Freedom also grants the ability to redefine oneself, pursue passions, and create authentic meaning.
As Aeon Essays notes in its overview of freedom, existential freedom is both a burden and a gift, demanding courage to navigate life deliberately.
Authenticity: Living Freely
Freedom is realized through authenticity. This involves acting in accordance with one’s own values rather than conforming to societal pressures. Living authentically requires:
- Acknowledging and embracing one’s freedom.
- Rejecting “bad faith,” or self-deception that denies responsibility to avoid anxiety.
- Creating personal meaning in an indifferent or absurd world.
Simone de Beauvoir emphasized that authentic freedom is relational—it cannot exist entirely in isolation. It manifests in our choices, relationships, and engagement with the broader world, making existential ethics a lived practice rather than a theoretical abstraction.
Freedom vs Determinism
Existentialists reject strict determinism, whether biological, social, or cosmic. While external factors influence our lives, they do not dictate our essence. Radical freedom asserts that even under constraint, humans retain the capacity to choose.
This tension between freedom and determinism is explored in modern philosophy discussions, including accessible reflections like 1000-Word Philosophy’s take on existential choice, which stresses that recognizing our constraints does not negate responsibility.
III. Existential Freedom in Practice: Examples and Reflections
Making Meaning in an Absurd World
Existentialism confronts the absurdity of life: the absence of inherent meaning or cosmic purpose. Freedom is not just the ability to choose, but the obligation to create significance in a universe that offers none.
Albert Camus famously explored this in The Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus, condemned to eternally push a boulder up a hill, embodies human existence: repetitive, meaningless, yet capable of conscious engagement. Through his awareness and rebellion, he exercises existential freedom, finding value in the act itself.
Freedom in Relationships and Society
Freedom is not exercised in isolation. Sartre emphasized the social dimension of freedom with the phrase “Hell is other people” (l’enfer, c’est les autres), highlighting the tension between our autonomy and others’ expectations.
- In relationships, existential freedom requires negotiating differences while maintaining authenticity.
- In society, freedom is a balance: individuals act freely but must recognize others’ freedom.
Blogs like Daily Philosophy explore practical applications, such as navigating social roles without succumbing to bad faith.
Freedom and Death
Awareness of mortality intensifies freedom. Heidegger’s concept of being-toward-death posits that acknowledging life’s finitude motivates authentic choices. Death reminds us that freedom is finite and urgent, pressing us to live deliberately rather than passively.
Existentialist reflections on mortality intersect with modern psychology, showing that confronting death can heighten life satisfaction and clarity in decision-making. For applied perspectives, see Aeon Essays on existential psychology.
IV. Critiques and Challenges to Existentialist Freedom
Is Radical Freedom Realistic?
Critics argue that existentialists overestimate individual autonomy. Social, economic, and psychological factors undeniably shape choices, sometimes constraining them severely. Radical freedom, they contend, may appear idealistic in the face of systemic oppression.
However, existentialists respond that freedom is a conceptual and lived reality, not an abstract license. Recognizing constraints does not nullify responsibility; it contextualizes it.
Freedom and Ethics
If everyone is radically free, how do we ensure ethical conduct? Existentialists argue that ethics emerges from responsibility: we must consider the consequences of our choices, both for ourselves and others. While not prescribing rigid rules, existentialist ethics emphasizes accountability and moral reflection.
Modern ethics discussions, such as Daily Philosophy’s overview of existential ethics, highlight the enduring relevance of this framework, particularly in situations demanding personal integrity or moral courage.
Existentialism and Political Freedom
Existentialism focuses primarily on personal freedom, which some critics argue is insufficient for political or collective liberation. Yet existentialist thought inspired movements advocating self-determination, civil rights, and anti-totalitarianism, showing that personal authenticity can fuel broader social change.
Sartre himself engaged politically, combining existential philosophy with activism, demonstrating that radical freedom need not be inward-looking.
V. Existentialism’s Lasting Legacy on the Philosophy of Freedom
Existentialism has profoundly shaped philosophy, literature, psychology, and political thought by emphasizing:
- The centrality of individual freedom and the responsibility it entails.
- The necessity of creating meaning in an indifferent or absurd universe.
- The challenge of living authentically amidst societal pressures.
Its influence extends to modern debates in identity, technology, and ethics, where questions about autonomy, self-creation, and moral responsibility remain pressing. Accessible discussions, like Aeon Essays on existential thought in contemporary life, illustrate how existentialism continues to inform decision-making, career choices, and personal development.
Conclusion: Embracing Freedom as Existential Challenge and Opportunity
Existentialism transforms freedom from a theoretical concept or political right into a lived philosophical challenge. It calls us to:
- Confront anxiety and responsibility.
- Act deliberately and authentically.
- Create meaning in a world that offers none inherently.
By understanding existentialism, we recognize ourselves as free agents, authors of meaning, and responsible beings navigating uncertainty. As 1000-Word Philosophy notes, this perspective does not alleviate life’s burdens but empowers us to engage with them consciously.
In embracing existential freedom, we accept both the weight and the gift of autonomy—the simultaneous challenge and opportunity that defines what it means to be human.
TL;DR Summary
- Existentialism views freedom as radical, personal, and laden with responsibility.
- Key thinkers: Kierkegaard (subjective truth), Nietzsche (value creation), Sartre (radical freedom and authenticity), Heidegger (being-toward-death).
- Freedom is realized through authenticity, creation of meaning, and conscious engagement with life.
- Critiques focus on realism, ethics, and social application, yet existentialism remains influential across philosophy, literature, and psychology.
