Angst
A term for intense anxiety, central to existentialist philosophy.
Angst is a term used to describe an intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or inner turmoil. It was introduced into English from Danish, Norwegian, and German, and has been attested since the early 20th century in translations of works by Søren Kierkegaard and Sigmund Freud. In existentialist philosophy, the term carries a specific conceptual meaning, first attributed to Kierkegaard, referring to the anxiety of human freedom and choice.
- related languages
- Danish, Norwegian, German
Lore & Background
The word angst has existed in German since the 8th century, from the Proto-Indo-European root *anghu-, meaning 'restraint.' It is pre-cognate with Latin angustia ('tensity, tightness') and angor ('choking, clogging'), and with Ancient Greek ἄγχω ('strangle'). In English, earlier cognates such as 'ange' existed before the 19th-century adoption as a psychiatric term.
Reader's Guide
In existentialist philosophy, Kierkegaard used the Danish word Angest (or angst) in The Concept of Anxiety to describe a profound condition arising from human freedom of choice, which is both appealing and terrifying. Later existentialists like Nietzsche, Sartre, and Heidegger developed the idea further, shifting from Kierkegaard's focus on moral freedom within religious belief to conflicts of personal principles, cultural norms, and existential despair. The term also appears in music: classical composers such as Mahler, Strauss, Debussy, and Shostakovich are linked with existential angst, and in popular music from the 1950s onward, angst is discussed in relation to folk rock, punk rock, grunge, nu metal, and emo, often expressing melancholy, existential despair, or nihilism.
Did You Know?
- Angst was introduced into English from Danish, Norwegian, and German.
- The word angst has existed in German since the 8th century.
- Kierkegaard's concept of angst was later taken up by Sartre and Heidegger, though Nietzsche died in 1900 after Kierkegaard's works had already become influential in German-speaking philosophical circles by the 1890s, and
- Angst began to be discussed in reference to popular music in the mid- to late 1950s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Angst?
Angst is a term for a deep, overwhelming sense of dread, anxiety, or inner unease that goes beyond ordinary worry. It captures a feeling of existential dread rather than a simple fear of a specific threat.
Where does the word Angst come from?
The word entered English from the Scandinavian and Germanic languages, specifically Danish, Norwegian, and German. It was first widely attested in English during the early 20th century through translations of continental thinkers.
Who brought the concept of Angst into English-language thought?
Translations of Søren Kierkegaard's and Sigmund Freud's works in the early 1900s introduced the term to English readers. Kierkegaard is generally credited with giving it its most recognizable philosophical meaning.
What does Angst mean specifically in existentialist philosophy?
In that context, it refers to the anxiety that arises from the weight of human freedom and the necessity of making choices. It is not fear of an external object but a vertigo produced by the open possibility of one's own existence.
Why is Angst considered important in psychology and philosophy?
It sits at the intersection of clinical anxiety and philosophical self-examination, making it a bridge between therapeutic practice and existentialist thought. Understanding it helps distinguish a treatable symptom from a fundamental feature of conscious being.
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