Editing Individualism (section)

=== Existentialism ===
{{main|Existentialism}}
Existentialism is a term applied to the work of a number of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who generally held, despite profound doctrinal differences,<ref>Macquarrie, John. ''Existentialism'', New York (1972), pp. 18–21.</ref><ref>''Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', ed. Ted Honderich, New York (1995), p. 259.</ref> that the focus of philosophical thought should be to deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and their emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts.<ref>Macquarrie. ''Existentialism'', pp. 14–15.</ref><ref>Cooper, D. E. ''Existentialism: A Reconstruction'' (Basil Blackwell, 1999, p. 8)</ref> The early 19th century philosopher [[Søren Kierkegaard]], posthumously regarded as the father of existentialism,<ref>Marino, Gordon. ''Basic Writings of Existentialism'' (Modern Library, 2004, pp. ix, 3).</ref><ref>''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kierkegaard/</ref> maintained that the individual solely has the responsibilities of giving one's own life [[Meaning (existential)|meaning]] and living that life [[Authenticity (philosophy)|passionately and sincerely]],<ref>Watts, Michael. ''Kierkegaard'' (Oneworld, 2003, pp. 4–6).</ref><ref>Lowrie, Walter. ''Kierkegaard's attack upon "Christendom"'' (Princeton, 1968, pp. 37–40)</ref> in spite of many existential obstacles and distractions including [[Philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard#Despair|despair]], [[angst]], [[Absurdism|absurdity]], [[Philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard#Alienation|alienation]] and [[boredom]].<ref>Corrigan, John. ''The Oxford handbook of religion and emotion'' (Oxford, 2008, pp. 387–388)</ref>

Subsequent existential philosophers retain the emphasis on the individual, but differ in varying degrees on how one achieves and what constitutes a fulfilling life, what obstacles must be overcome, and what external and internal factors are involved, including the potential consequences of the [[Christian existentialism|existence]]<ref>Livingston, James et al. ''Modern Christian Thought: The Twentieth Century'' (Fortress Press, 2006, Chapter 5: Christian Existentialism).</ref><ref>Martin, Clancy. ''Religious Existentialism'' in Companion to Phenomenology and Existentialism (Blackwell, 2006, pp. 188–205)</ref> or [[atheist existentialism|non-existence]] of God.<ref>Robert C. Solomon, ''Existentialism'' (McGraw-Hill, 1974, pp. 1–2)</ref><ref>D.E. Cooper ''Existentialism: A Reconstruction'' (Basil Blackwell, 1999, p. 8).</ref> Many existentialists have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophy in both style and content as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience.<ref>Ernst Breisach, ''Introduction to Modern Existentialism'', New York (1962), p. 5</ref><ref>Walter Kaufmann, ''Existentialism: From Dostoevesky to Sartre'', New York (1956), p. 12</ref> Existentialism became fashionable after [[World War II]] as a way to reassert the importance of human individuality and freedom.<ref>Guignon, Charles B. and Derk Pereboom. ''Existentialism: basic writings'' (Hackett Publishing, 2001, p. xiii)</ref>

Nietzsche's concept of the [[Übermensch|superman]] is closely related to the idea of individualism and the pursuit of one's own unique path and potential.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1998/pg1998-images.html|title=Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None|first1=Friedrich|last1=Nietzsche|year=1999|publisher=The Gutenberg Project|page=8}}</ref> As is seen in the following quote, the concept of superman reflects Nietzsche's emphasis on the need to overcome traditional moral and societal norms in order to achieve personal growth and self-realization: