The Idea of Humanism in Existentialism

Abstract

 Immediately after the Second World War in Europe, existentialism is compelled to develop as a politico-philosophical movement. Its official opening occurs in Jean-Paul Sartre’s lecture Existentialism is a Humanism. At that time, it was of vital importance for a theoretical movement to be accepted as a “humanist” philosophy as it was also urgent the renewal of leftpolitics to fight against the totalitarian positions that took part in the war. The issue to be highlighted was that of the prevalence of human dignity which is not at sake in the destiny of great collective entities and their overwhelming goals, but in the destiny of each and every individual. A re-definition of the meaning of “humanism” was then unavoidable. Sartre’s effort in defining humanism thus implies a step forward to that of the other major “philosopher of existence” Heidegger who returns to a metaphysical recourse in his own definition.