Existentialist philosophy developed as a direct response to Europe’s political catastrophes

Evidence

When these friendships soured, it was generally because of ideas — most often political ideas. The existentialists lived in times of extreme ideology and extreme suffering, and they became engaged with events in the world whether they wanted to or not — and usually they did. The story of existentialism is therefore a political and a historical one: to some extent, it is the story of a whole European century. … Through it all, the existentialists changed their thinking as the world changed; their constant shifts of direction kept them interesting, if not consistent — and not always on the right side, to say the least. — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café, 103

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the general pattern elsewhere read that intellectual movements are forged in political crisis, like the Frankfurt School’s formation in the same interwar period. — connects to: Existentialist philosophy was shaped by the wars and politics of the European century — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café: Freedom,…, 103; Europe’s 1930s political chaos formed the backdrop for existentialism’s rise — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café: Freedom,…, 399; Historical crisis enables the existential self to be freed from individualism

Broader Connections

• Existentialist philosophy was shaped by the wars and politics of the European century #corroborates (0.95) — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café, 103
• Europe’s 1930s political chaos formed the backdrop for existentialism’s rise #exemplifies (0.90) — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café, 399
• Historical crisis enables the existential self to be freed from individualism #expands (0.75)