Existentialism

�I must find a truth that is true for me...�Soren Kierkegaard 
	Existentialism, is the philosophical movement that main emphasis is on
individual existence, freedom, and choice. It emphasize the uniqueness and isolation of
the individual, regards the existence as unexplainable, and one of its points is free choice
and responsibility for our personal actions. 
	According to Plato as we achieve the highest moral perfection we just copying the
perfection of other morally perfect individuals. Soren Kierkegaard , who called himself
the first existential philosopher, attacked Plato�s traditional philosophical position by
insisting that the highest good for the individual is to find his or her own unique vocation.
�I must find a truth that is true for me...�, - he wrote in his diary. He differs from Plato�s
opinion that one copies moral standards from others, he believed that individuals must
find those values by themselves. Other existentialist philosophers agree with
Kierkegaard, in the belief that one must choose one�s own way without the aid of
universal, objective standards, without coping from other individuals. The traditional
view before existentialism came into the philosophical arena was that moral choice
involves an objective judgment of right or wrong, existentialist argued that no objective,
rational basis can be found for moral decisions.
	Probably the most prominent theme in this philosophical movement is the that of
the choice. Most existentialist believe that the primary distinction of humanity is the
freedom and ability to choose. Existentialist think that humanity don�t have any fixed
nature, or essence, like animals do. Each human being makes choices that create his or
her own destiny and living. Choice therefor is the center of human existence. Even to
refuse a choice is a choice on its own. Because of this freedom of choice, most
existentialist argued that humans beings must accept the risk and the responsibility of
their choices and make a commitment with those choices regardless where those choices
lead them to go. We are creators of our existence, and we should be held accountable for
our actions, the way we live and the direction we take in our journey through our lifes. 
	Existentialism has been label as an atheistic movement, this perhaps due to the
thinkers to whom religious belief was an act of cowardice, an instrument of refuge to
weakness, and mediocrity to use against the strong and self reliant. One of this thinkers,
Nietzsche, attacked on Christian morality was base on the assumption of weakness and
mediocrity mentioned before. He labeled the Christianity of his days as hypocritical,
wished to eliminate Christianity , insisting that their common insistence on the
importance of individual passion against the calm public pronouncements of reason and
conformity. 
	Kierkegaard is the main exponent of the religious existentialism, with a very
personal approach to religion that emphasizes faith and commitment, and minimized
theology and the place of reason in religion. He attacked theology of his days in an
attempt to show that Christianity was a thoroughly rational religion, claiming instead that
faith is important precisely because religion is irrational, and absurd. He argued not the
fact that Gods existed, but the subjectivity of one�s commitment in the face of objective
uncertainty. Faith, according to him, was necessary due to the absurd and irrational
theological explanations of the religious community.
	Existentialism died in 1980, when Sartre died, but his legacy reflects today with
the importance of freedom and responsibility for our own actions. Specially in the USA
where the right to make a choice, regardless of rights or wrongs , manifest in every day
existence in such issues as abortion, freedom of speech and many other issues that in
essence are existentialist.