To exist—but why? Faced with humanity’s desperate search for meaning, the ancient Greek philosophers already emphasized that putting oneself in danger gives meaning and value to one’s existence. Thus, for just as long, human beings have turned to the “systems of meaning” offered by each culture: religion can be one of the essential expressions that allow humans to stand firm in the face of the abyss of existence. Jean-Bernard Paturet, professor and research director (aesthetics and education in psychoanalysis), analyzes this quest for meaning by revisiting the great philosophers, including Nietzsche.