View synonyms for existential

existential

[ eg-zi-sten-shuhl, ek-si- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of or relating to existence:
Does climate change pose an existential threat to humanity?
of, relating to, or characteristic of philosophical existentialism; concerned with the nature of human existence as determined by the individual's freely made choices.

existential

/ ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəl /

of or relating to existence, esp human existence
philosophy pertaining to what exists, and is thus known by experience rather than reason; empirical as opposed to theoretical
logic denoting or relating to a formula or proposition asserting the existence of at least one object fulfilling a given condition; containing an existential quantifier
of or relating to existentialism

First recorded in 1685–95, existential is from the Late Latin word existentiālis “relating to existing”; existence, -al ¹

I often find myself in the toy aisle, having an existential crisis.

A creeping sense develops that Judy fled not just a stifling culture but a genuine existential threat.

Albert Camus used violence as a means of exploring meaning, or lack thereof, in his existential novels.

No one wants to go through life in a state of moral and existential ambiguity.

I had no interest in exploring the philosophical or existential layers of a cartoon show.

It is therefore necessary to differentiate between the Substance of Christianity and its Existential-form.

This distinction of indication as existential and implication as conceptual or essential, I owe to Mr. Alfred Sidgwick.

Meinong insists upon an existential judgment, a judgment that the object valued is real, as essential to value.

They are questions of the existential setting of certain logical distinctions and relations.

One passes at will from existential connexions of things to logical relationship of terms.

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