Existentialism is a philosophical tradition and area of academic inquiry concerned with the fundamental questions of human existence, freedom, and responsibility. It investigates the nature of individual experience in a world often perceived as lacking inherent meaning, focusing on themes such as alienation, anxiety, authenticity, and the search for purpose. Key characteristics include the assertion that 'existence precedes essence', emphasizing individual choice and the burden of creating one's own values in an absurd universe. Its significance lies in its profound influence on 20th-century thought across philosophy, literature, psychology, and theology.