Stoicism is often about how self discipline & a modest lifestyle can bring you fulfillment, and thus meaning.
Existentialism is often a response to the downfall of systems of value, which left a gap to be filled by something.
I don’t think they “saw order”, but maybe “saw truth” or “saw meaning” especially. For instance, Sartre’s work is often about living life in spite of no underlying system of value. Nietzsche was similar.
These are grossly oversimplified reads & explanations.
I’m just learning. Nietzsche breaks my brain.
I majored in Ethics, and my professor who helped me on my final project was a Nietzche scholar (Jessica Berry).
Something that helped me was understanding that “God is dead” & nihilism wasn’t about a renouncing of religion or defeatist. It’s supposed to be a “We rage on, build our own world of value, and revel in freedom.” He saw a society where old ways & traditions were falling to the wayside from enlightenment and scientific advancement. How we felt meaningful within society or life was being redefined.
Most of existentialism is “There’s nothing objective out there to provide you answers,” whether that’s spiritual, metaphysical, ethical, etc. Without that arbitrator of reality, we’re left to define meaning regardless.
I’m not the biggest reader or fan of existentialism, but I had a semester on it 10 years ago. :P your (and my) mileage may vary here.
