THEORY OF HUMAN EXISTENCE
INTRODUCTION
IMPORTANCE OF TOPIC
REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE
ETHICAL ANALYSIS REFLECTION
CaseBackground:
MainTheme: Truesuccessisnot measuredbywealthor fame, butbythemoral valuesandpurpose behindone’sactions
MainCharacter: Rayyan, atalented studentwholearnsthat livingtruthfullyand takingresponsibilityfor hisownchoicesismore valuablethanfulfilling others’ dreams.
Thestory “DiBawahBayangHarapan” followsRayyan, ahigh-achieving studentwhosuddenlystopsstudyingdespitebeingacceptedintohis dreamuniversity. Everyoneviewshimassuccessful, butdeepdown, Rayyanfeelstrappedbyhisparents’ expectationstopursueScience. His truepassionliesinart, wherehefeelsfreeandalive Through conversationswithtwodetectives, ImranandLisa, andauniversity counselor, thestoryexploresRayyan’sinternalstruggletodefinehisown meaningofsuccessandliveauthenticallyaccordingtohisvaluesrather thanothers’ standards.
Conflict:
Rayyanfacesadeepinnerconflictbetweenlivingforothers’ expectationsandlivingforhimself Hisparents’ definitionofsuccess becomingadoctor clasheswithhisdesiretoexpresshimself throughart. Thispressurecausesacrisisofidentityandpurpose, leadinghimtoquestionhisexistenceandhappiness Hemustchoose betweena “safe” paththatpleasesothersora “true” paththatreflects hisownmoralandpersonalfreedom Theconflictsymbolizesthe humanstruggletoliveauthenticallyinaworldthatoftendefines successbywealth, fame, orstatus. I N T R O D U C T I O N
I M P O R T A N C E O F
2 BuildsMoralResponsibilityforOne’sOwnChoices Moralthinkingteachespeopletotakeresponsibilityfortheir actionsanddecisions InRayyan’scase, hemustacceptthe consequencesofwhicheverpathhechooses thesafe routeorthefreeone Makingdecisionsbasedonmoral valueshelpsindividualsbecomemoremature, understandingthateveryactioncarriesimpact Itreminds usthatwecannotblamefateorothersforoursituation; instead, wemusttakeownershipofourlivesandchoices withcourageandhonesty
R E A L - L I F E E X A M P L E
ZaynMalik -Fromfame toSelfDiscovery
PhilosophicalTheme:BadFaith→Authenticity (Jean-PaulSartre)
CoreIdea:Breakingfreefromrolescreatedby otherstorediscoverone’strueessence
Real-LifeStory:
Zayn Malik, former member of One Direction, lived in a world of fame, money, and fans yet felt trapped in an image that was not truly his life. In 2015, he left the band at the peak of his career, saying“IfeltlikeIwasn’tbeingtruetomyself Iwaslivingassomeonepeoplewantedmetobe ”
Zayn’s journey reflects the existential cognitive conflict between external identity and internal authenticity From the perspective of metacognition (thinking about one’s own thinking), Zayn reached a stage of self-awareness that made him realize that his thoughts and emotions were not alignedwithhislifechoices.
MoralValue:
Honesty with oneself can be defined as the courage to acknowledge what you truly feel and think, even when it contradicts others’ expectations. Zayn teaches that authentic thinking requires metacognitive (self-regulations) courage to question the definitions of success, evaluate one’s emotionsobjectively,andrealignlifewithgenuinepurpose.
RelationtoHumanExistenceTheory:
Zayn shows that human existence involves self-awareness, freedom, and responsibility To live meaningfully, one must confront inner truth and actively shape one’s own identity rather than let othersdefineit.
R E A L - L I F E E X A M P L E
NajwaShibab -The CouragetoRejectthe “SafePath”.
PhilosophicalTheme:Freedom&Responsibility (Existentialism+Humanism)
CoreIdea:Choosingone’sownpathandbearing fullresponsibilityforit
Real-LifeStory:
Najwa Shihab, a respected Indonesian journalist, came from a family of academics and politicians. Everyone expected her to follow a conventional, prestigious path. Instead, she chose journalism ( a risky field) to speak truth to power She once said “Freedom is not to run away from responsibility, but tofightfortruthwithhonesty ”
Najwa’s life demonstrates critical and ethical reasoning by using critical thinking, she analyzed societal structures and questioned authority as a key aspect of epistemic courage (the bravery to pursue truth despite pressure).Her decision aligns with existential reasoning by showing that every individual is free tochoose,butthatfreedomcomeswithmoralweight.
MoralValue:
Moral courage and intellectual independence to think critically, make ethical decisions, and take full responsibility for them. Najwa shows that authentic freedom is not rebellion it is conscious responsibility. The science of thinking teaches that real intelligence is measured not by conformity, but byethicalreasoningandself-directedchoice.
RelationtoHumanExistenceTheory:
Najwa illustrates that human existence is not passive; it is a purposeful creation through responsible choice. She shows that thinking, freedom, and morality are inseparable in the formation of a meaningfulexistence.
E T H I C A L A N A L Y S I S
EthicalIssues :
Autonomy VS External Pressure
Ethical of the story
The ethical lesson is that a person should make choices based on their true self , not on pressure from others. True success comes from being authentic and accepting the consequences of your own decisions
The student wants to choose his own path but faces of pressure to follows a “conventional” or “safe” path
Is it morally right for sociaty or family to pressure someone into choices they did not freely choose?
Ethical principle : Respect for autonomyIndividuals should have the freedom to make informed decisions about their own lives
Authenticity VS Conformity
The comic emphasizes that living without “essence” means living inauthentically
Should a person prioritize authenticity (true self) even if it leads to risk or struggle?
From an existentialist ethics point of view, amoral life is one where the individual chooses sincerely rather than conforming blindly.
R
E F L E C T I O
N O F
T O P I C
This comic scenario of Detective Imran and Lisa is a very profound depiction of the crisis of existential identity rooted in the philosophy of Existentialism. It portrays the struggle of an individual, Rayyan, between personal freedom and authenticity versus social pressures and family expectations
Existentialists argue that humans are "condemned to be free " This means we are constantly making choices, and no external authority can provide absolute guidance
His action of moving into Art is an effort to achieve pleasure that is of higher quality and more lasting. This relates to hedonism.
1. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 2). Najwa Shihab. Wikipedia https://en wikipedia org/wiki/Najwa Shihab
2 Chambers, J , & Wade, E (2025, April 30) How broadcaster Najwa Shihab became one of Indonesia’s most important voices Monocle https://monocle com/culture/najwa-shihab-indonesias-mostimportant-voices/
3 The News International (2025, November 20) Zayn Malik reveals real reason of leaving “One Direction.” The News International. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1361772-zayn-malik-revealsreal-reason-of-leaving-one-direction
4. Lewis, J. (2025, May 14). Shadows-650. THE ETHICS CENTRE. https://ethics.org.au/we-need-to-step-out-of-the-shadows-in-orderto-navigate-a-complex-world/
5.
In The Shadow Of Hope - Hogwarts Legacy Guide - IGN. (2023, February 18). IGN. https://www.ign.com/wikis/hogwartslegacy/In The Shadow Of Hope