Beyond Despair: Understanding Existentialism Through Life Choices
This blog post is prepared as part of a flipped learning activity assigned by Dr and professor Dilip Barad Sir . Through watching ten insightful videos on existentialism, I have explored how this philosophy is not just about despair or negativity, but a practical guide to understanding life, taking responsibility, and creating personal meaning.
VIDEO : 1
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
This video helped me understand that existentialism is not only about sadness, despair, or negativity, as it is often shown. Instead, it is a philosophy that encourages people to understand their own life deeply and create meaning through their choices. I found it interesting that although Jean-Paul Sartre made existentialism popular, its real beginning comes from Søren Kierkegaard. The idea of existentialism as a triangle of individuality, freedom, and passions makes the philosophy clearer and more practical. I was also impressed by the discussion about belief in God, where faith is seen as a personal choice after facing life’s difficulties, while Albert Camus rejects this idea and asks humans to accept life’s absurdity honestly. Even though Camus did not want to be called an existentialist, his ideas strongly reflect existentialist thinking. Overall, the video presents existentialism as a philosophy for living, which teaches us to take responsibility for our life and create our own meaning.
VIDEO : 2
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
This video explains Albert Camus’s idea that the most serious philosophical question is whether life is worth living. It shows how daily routines can feel empty and repetitive, which pushes humans to think deeply about the meaning of existence. Camus believes that this questioning begins when we stop living mechanically and start thinking, which leads to the realization of the absurd the conflict between our desire for meaning and the silent, indifferent universe. However, the video clearly emphasizes that Camus does not see this realization as a reason to give up on life. Instead, he argues that accepting life’s absurdity does not mean life is worthless, and escaping through false hope or giving up is not the answer. The video presents Camus’s philosophy as a call to live consciously, honestly, and courageously, even in a world without guaranteed meaning.
VIDEO : 3
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
This video explains Albert Camus’s powerful and counter-intuitive ideas about how humans deal with a meaningless world. It begins with the natural human desire to find meaning, purpose, and order in life, and shows how the universe remains silent in response. Camus calls this conflict between our need for meaning and the world’s indifference the absurd, and he clearly explains that the absurd is not despair, but a relationship between the human mind and the world. The video also highlights Camus’s idea of philosophical suicide, which is not about physical death, but about escaping the discomfort of the absurd by abandoning reason and accepting easy answers. One of the most striking thoughts is Camus’s argument that hope itself can be a form of self-betrayal, because it often relies on beliefs that go beyond reason and hide the truth of our condition. Instead of escaping through false hope, Camus encourages us to live honestly, consciously, and bravely by accepting the absurd and continuing life without illusions. Overall, the video presents Camus’s philosophy as a courageous way of living that values truth and freedom over comfort.
VIDEO : 4
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
I am impressed by the idea that the absurd is not found only in humans or in the world, but is created when the human desire for meaning confronts the silent and irrational universe. The explanation of philosophical suicide is especially striking, as it shows how people escape this discomfort not by ending life, but by abandoning reason and taking a leap of faith for comfort. I am also impressed by Albert Camus’s strong criticism of such escapes, as he argues that true honesty lies in accepting the absurd without hope or religious justification. At the same time, the discussion of Dadaism is thought-provoking because it reveals that the movement was not pure nihilism, but a radical attempt to question and destroy old values after World War I to make room for new ones. Overall, these ideas impressed me because they encourage critical thinking, rejection of blind belief, and the courage to face life’s absurdity honestly.
VIDEO : 5
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
I am impressed by the idea that existentialism is not a gloomy or hopeless philosophy, but a powerful response to despair and emptiness. The video clearly explains that existentialism does not ask us to escape anxiety or absurdity, but to face them honestly and use them as a starting point to build meaning in life. I found it especially striking that the focus on the individual is not narcissism, but a call to take responsibility for one’s choices and values. The idea that we must “become who we are” by creating our own meaning gives a sense of strength and freedom. I am also impressed by the argument that existentialism is not linked to nihilism; instead, it challenges meaninglessness by encouraging us to actively create purpose in a world without ready-made answers. Overall, the video presents existentialism as a hopeful and empowering philosophy that trusts human courage, choice, and responsibility.
VIDEO :6
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
I am impressed by the idea that existentialism is not a depressing philosophy but a powerful call to rebellion against meaninglessness. The video clearly explains that existentialism is different from nihilism, as it does not accept the loss of meaning passively but actively fights against it. I found it striking that thinkers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche saw nihilism as a serious crisis—such as the loss of individuality or the collapse of traditional values—and used philosophy to resist it. The contrast between passive acceptance, shown through Turgenev’s attitude, and active rebellion, emphasized by Albert Camus, is especially powerful. Camus’s idea that rebellion against the absurd is an affirmation of life makes existentialism feel courageous and life-affirming. Overall, the video impressed me by showing that existentialism is not about surrendering to despair, but about choosing dignity, responsibility, and resistance in a meaningless world.
VEDIO :7
I am impressed by the following thoughts:
I am impressed by the idea that existentialism is not a fixed philosophy with ready-made answers, but a mindset that teaches us how to live in a world full of confusion and uncertainty. The video made me understand that instead of escaping confusion through pre-packaged beliefs, existentialism asks us to face it courageously and honestly. I found the idea “existence precedes essence” especially striking, because it shows that humans are not born with a fixed purpose but have the freedom to create their own meaning through choices and actions. I am also impressed by how existentialism is clearly distinguished from nihilism, as it does not end in hopelessness but turns the absence of objective meaning into an invitation to create personal values. Overall, the video presents existentialism as a challenging yet empowering way of life that emphasizes freedom, responsibility, and authentic self-creation.
VIDEO :8
I am impressed by how even the most complex philosophical ideas, like Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch and existentialism’s challenge to universal morality, can be made simple and relatable. Watching the video where children explore these concepts through toys and everyday rules showed me that philosophy isn’t just abstract it’s about real-life choices, emotions, and questioning authority. It impressed me that a five-year-old could demonstrate the essence of creating one’s own values, making me reflect on how many “rules” in my own life are made-up and open to question. This activity made existentialism feel immediate, personal, and surprisingly understandable, giving me more confidence to discuss and think critically about these ideas.
VIDEO : 9
I’m impressed by the way the video explains that existentialism accepts people as they are—recognizing both our strengths and our weaknesses—and shows that we each have the freedom and responsibility to create meaning in our own lives instead of relying on fixed rules or external authority. This powerful idea makes abstract philosophy feel personal and relatable, helping me see how existentialism connects to real life and my own choices.
VIDEO : 10
I’m impressed by how the video explains that existentialism teaches life doesn’t come with built‑in meaning instead, each person must create their own purpose through their choices and actions. The idea that meaning isn’t fixed or given, but something you actively make by living authentically and deciding for yourself what matters, really stood out to me because it makes such a big philosophical concept feel simple and personal.
Favorite Video :
My favorite video is Video 8, where children explore Nietzsche and existentialism through toys and everyday rules. I liked it because it made complex ideas simple and relatable. Seeing kids demonstrate creating their own values and questioning rules reminded me that philosophy is about real-life choices and personal responsibility. It made existentialism feel immediate, understandable, and connected to my own life, inspiring me to think critically about the “rules” I follow.
Learning Outcome:
I have improved my understanding of Existentialism and now see it as a practical philosophy for living, not just sadness or despair.
I feel more confident discussing and writing about existentialist ideas like absurdity, philosophical suicide, and the difference between existentialism and nihilism.
I can now connect existentialist concepts to real life, understanding how we can question “made-up” rules and create our own values.
I have gained clarity on previously confusing ideas, such as how life’s meaning is not fixed and must be actively created.
I am inspired to think critically about my own choices and take responsibility for the meaning I create in my life.
five thought-provoking questions
How do we know which “made-up” rules in our life are worth following and which we can question?
Can accepting life’s absurdity help us live more freely, or does it make life feel meaningless?
How does the idea “existence precedes essence” influence the way we make everyday choices?
Is it necessary to rebel against societal expectations to live an authentic life?
How can we balance creating our own values with responsibilities toward other people?
Conclusion:
Through these videos, I have learned that existentialism is not just an abstract or negative philosophy, but a practical guide for living consciously, taking responsibility, and creating personal meaning in life. I realized that life does not come with fixed rules or built-in purpose, and it is up to each of us to define our values and choices. Watching children explore complex ideas in simple ways reminded me that philosophy is connected to real-life actions, emotions, and decision-making. Overall, this activity has made existentialist concepts clearer, more relatable, and inspiring, encouraging me to think critically about my own life, question unnecessary rules, and live authentically with courage and responsibility.
