In existential thought, meaning and purpose are not achieved by following the dictates of external authorities or universal truths but must be created by everyone through their choices, commitments, and lived experience. This is a central theme in existential philosophy: life does not come with a preordained meaning; it is not something handed down to us. It is the task of each person to confront that absence and find that which authentically brings a sense of meaning and purpose to them. Since everyone is “unique”, meaning no two individuals have exactly the same biological makeup (genes and sex), learning history, and “lived” experience, that which brings a sense of meaning and purpose to one person will not necessarily be the same for another.
The Role of Meaning and Purpose in Existential Thought
Kierkegaard, a founding father of existential philosophy, saw meaning as inseparable from faith. Since ultimate truth cannot be proven, purpose requires a “leap of faith” into commitment, whether to God, love, or ethical responsibility. Different from traditional religious or metaphysical systems, many existentialists argue that there is no inherent or objective meaning to life handed down from God, nature, culture, society or parental upbringing, therefore, humans do not have a “predetermined” purpose. This is what Sartre famously meant by the phrase “existence precedes essence”. Humans first are born (“exist”), and only later define themselves (create their “essence”) through action (behavior).
Because meaning is not given, individuals are free to create purpose in their own lives, discovering that which brings them a sense of meaning. Living authentically entails acknowledging the lack of inherent meaning and actively choosing values, projects, and commitments that bring them a sense of meaning, accomplished of course through the choices they make. To Sartre, inauthenticity arises when people deny this responsibility, clinging to external systems of meaning or denying the possibility of meaning, hence nihilism.
Freedom is as addressed in the previous blog post, both exhilarating and burdensome, since it places full responsibility on the individual to shape their life without guarantees. Victor Frankl argued that the search for meaning and purpose is life’s central task. He believed the search for meaning is the deepest human drive, more fundamental even than pleasure or power, and that we can endure and thrive, even in suffering, if we discover a purpose for which to live. He used his experience, observations and discussions with his fellow prisoners who also survived to argue that even in suffering, finding purpose in living is essential for survival and flourishing. Meaning inoculates us against despair and nihilism, the belief that life is pointless and empty.
Why Meaning and Purpose Matter
Freedom, choice and responsibility provide the scaffolding upon which meaning and purpose are built. The search for meaning and purpose allow individuals to act with direction rather than drift aimlessly toward nihilism. The existence of freedom and choice transform limitation, finitude and uncertainty into opportunities for authentic living. They form the basis for accepting responsibility, since chosen purposes shape not only one’s own life but also the lives of others. Nietzsche warned that without meaning, individuals face nihilism, which becomes manifest as apathy, cynicism, or destructive impulses, since the absence of purpose insures the absence of a set of guiding values. Purpose is central to resilience in modern society and makes existence worthwhile.
In summary, meaning and purpose are not discovered but created. They are the individual’s positive response to the realities of limitation, uncertainty, and freedom. Far from being optional, they are the very conditions for creating an authentic meaningful existence possible. Having purpose is central to resilience in modern society and makes existence worthwhile.
Consequences of A Meaningless and Purposeless Existence
Existentialists argue that since humans are “condemned” to freedom, they alone are responsible for creating meaning in a world that inherently offers none. When individuals refuse this task, consequences unfold. Kierkegaard described despair as the refusal to embrace one’s responsibility to live meaningfully. Heidegger argued that failing to resolve the need for meaning leads to conforming to conventional social norms and distractions. Sartre saw meaning as something humans must create through free choice. Denying this responsibility leads to bad faith, which is self-deception, pretending that one’s essence is defined by roles or external systems. Without purpose, individuals resign themselves to a life without meaning or to a life of defiance, pretending they are self-sufficient without boundaries. Both ideas are destructive. Instead of owning one’s finite existence, individuals drift along in shallow, superficial routines, never grasping that their life can be a creative project. Frankl argued that loss of meaning leads to an “existential vacuum,” often expressed as depression, addiction, aggression or all of them. Without purpose, individuals struggle to endure suffering or find resilience in hardship.
Without meaning and purpose, humans become depressed, alienated from their society and often turn to nihilistic destruction. Meaning is not handed down; each person must take responsibility for finding and living it. Existential psychologists know that we are hardwired to seek purpose, to find reasons behind our existence. This instinct drives us to create narratives, establish beliefs, and form connections. In stark contrast, the universe remains indifferent to our struggles. It does not provide answers, nor does it offer solace. This often creates a profound sense of disillusionment and leads to an existential crisis. Existential psychotherapists focus on helping the client who is bored, alienated or depressed and without a since of meaning and purpose to find that which will restore meaning and purpose to their lives.
In summary, failing to come to terms with meaning and purpose results in despair, nihilism, inauthenticity, and psychological emptiness. Acceptance of this task of creating a meaningful existence, though difficult, is what allows humans to live authentically, creatively, and resiliently. Purpose serves as a base for freedom, giving direction to choices. Having meaning and purpose transform hardship and suffering into something that is bearable.