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First published – October 2013

What is this ’existentialist’ thing?

I am going to quote directly from Wikipedia which, naturally, must be consensus if not correct.

“Søren Kierkegaard is generally considered to have been the first existentialist philosopher, though he did not use the term existentialism. He proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely (“authentically”).”

In deference to popular societal trends I’d like to try and take responsibility not only for my life but for its meaning and the way I live it; passionately, sincerely and, yes, authentically.

The government is not responsible for me, society is not a good judge of my success or lack of it, and the media is not a good judge of style, morals, values or character.

This blog is called ‘The Existentialist’ not because I consider myself a philosopher, far from it, but because it is about me, what I think, and what I experience.

It is a description, not a reference or a pattern to be followed. It is just one experience of a life but it’s mine and I take responsibility for its direction, its authenticity, and outcome for better or worse, with vigour and abundance (plus perhaps a little alcohol and caffeine).

I hope you enjoy this ode to self-expression and perhaps find some information or option and you find useful.

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