authentic existence

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the concrete and problematic nature of human existence in the world. It gained prominence in continental Europe from the 1930s to the mid-20th century.1

A key concept within existentialism is the distinction between authentic and inauthentic existence. Inauthentic existence is often associated with being tied to the past, to facts, and to the material world. In contrast, authentic existence is characterized by an openness to the future, to possibilities beyond the factual, and sometimes to a spiritual or divine realm.2

Philosophers like Karl Jaspers and Martin Heidegger explored these ideas, with Jaspers linking authentic existence to faith in transcendence and a connection to a greater "Whole". Rudolf Bultmann, a theologian, connected authentic existence to an openness to God and the future, achieved through faith rather than human freedom alone. This philosophical perspective suggests that true existence involves confronting the gap between human experience and a larger reality, whether through acknowledging this gap or through a belief in a hidden connection to Being.2