All of these philosophers are existentialists except:

• A. Søren Kierkegaard
• B. Jean-Paul Sartre
• C. Plato and Epictetus
• D. Martin Heidegger

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is distinguishing who fits with existentialism, a movement that centers on individual existence, freedom, and the task of creating meaning in a world without given purpose. Among these thinkers, the ones widely recognized as existentialists are Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Heidegger. Kierkegaard emphasizes subjective truth and the leap of faith, highlighting personal responsibility and anxiety as you decide how to live. Sartre insists that existence precedes essence, meaning we are radically free and must choose who we are, bearing the weight of that freedom. Heidegger explores being, authenticity, and how we confront mortality to live in a genuine way.

Plato and Epictetus belong to different traditions. Plato focuses on eternal forms, rational knowledge, and the pursuit of objective truths that shape reality, rather than on how a person personally makes meaning through freedom and choice. Epictetus, a Stoic, teaches living in accordance with nature through discipline, control of one’s judgments, and acceptance of what cannot be changed—an ethical framework rather than a exploration of existential authenticity or personal meaning-making.

So, the pair that is not part of existentialism is Plato and Epictetus.