Relating to existence, especially human existence and the search for meaning in life. It often refers to fundamental questions about purpose, freedom, death, and the human condition.
From Latin 'existentia' meaning 'existence,' from 'existere' meaning 'to stand out' or 'emerge.' The philosophical usage developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly through the work of Kierkegaard, Sartre, and other existentialist philosophers.
Existential questions are the ones that keep you awake at 3 AM wondering 'What's the point of it all?' - they're the uniquely human luxury of being conscious enough to question consciousness itself. What's both terrifying and liberating about existential thinking is that it suggests we're responsible for creating our own meaning rather than discovering some pre-made purpose.
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