Dreadful Freedom: A Critique of Existentialism

work by Grene

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July 20, 2026

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Marjorie Grene's Dreadful Freedom: A Critique of Existentialism (1948) examines existentialism, a philosophy influential in 20th-century Europe that emphasizes the concrete and problematic nature of human existence. Existentialism arose during a time of uncertainty, particularly around World War II, challenging the optimistic belief in inevitable progress.123

Key themes in existentialism include the analysis of human existence and the centrality of choice. Philosophers like Karl Jaspers focused on revealing Being through confronting extreme situations like conflict and death, while Jean-Paul Sartre emphasized radical freedom and the responsibility of self-determination. Existentialism grapples with concepts of destiny versus absolute freedom, and the relationship between Being and Nothingness. Grene's work critiques these ideas, particularly concerning human freedom and existence.452

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Marjorie Grene
…several works on Existentialism, including Dreadful Freedom: A Critique of Existentialism (1948). She also was one of the first to interpret the philosophical meaning of random events that occur in the course of evolution and to address the philosophical impacts of the inevitable increase in the understanding of evolutionary science.
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…several works on Existentialism, including Dreadful Freedom: A Critique of Existentialism (1948). She also was one of the first to interpret the philosophical meaning of random events that occur in the course of evolution and to address the philosophical impacts of the inevitable increase in the understanding of evolutionary science.
Read More