King Lear is often considered one of Shakespeare's finest literary works. One reason this is true is that Shakespeare single-handedly shows the reader what the human condition is like as the play unfolds. Shakespeare lets the reader watch this develop in Lear's own decisions and search for life's purpose while being unable to escape his loneliness and ultimately his own death. Examining the philosophies that Shakespeare incorporates into the language and actions of King Lear allows the reader to better understand the play and why the play is important to life today. Because Lear is rooted in a flawed epistemology, trying to find the meaning of life, he may only create corrupt actions and policies. Not only does Lear's epistemology present him with greater problems, but this epistemology also refers to the political nature of the play. Politics must be understood as a process of making in which the final utopian goal justifies and underlies domination, control and domination (Saurette). Nowhere is this better illustrated than when Lear decides to step down from the throne and give up his seat on the throne to the girl who "loves" him the most (Damrosch 1361-1363) and when he does, both girls who fabricate their “love”” because their father ruled his former kingdom through authoritarianism and totalitarianism. This article seeks to analyze King Lear's distinct philosophies, such as existentialism and nihilism, to allow the reader to better understand why certain actions in the play occur and why these political philosophies push Lear further into his problems. Although considered a distinct philosophy, it seems almost impossible to find an exact definition of the term "existentialism". This is mainly true because there is...... middle of paper ......inia Military Institute. 2012. 8-10. Internet. November 21, 2013. Kain, Philip J. “Nietzsche, Eternal Recurrence and the Horror of Existence.” Journal of Nietzshe Studies. Flight. 33. 2007. 49-63. Print.---. “Eternal recurrence and the categorical imperative. The Southern Journal of Philosophy. Flight. 45 Number 1. 2007. 105-116. Print.Nighan, Raymond. Meditations. Dr. Nighan's British and AP Literature page: http://stjohns-chs.org/english/Seventeenth/Sev-bk.html. Internet. November 18, 2013. Pratt, Alan. "Nihilism." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. May 3, 2005. the web. November 18, 2013. Saurette, Paul. “I distrust and avoid all systematists: Nietzsche Arendt and the crisis of the desire for order in the theory of international relations.” Journal of International Studies. Flight. 25. No. 1. 1996. Print. Yalom, Irvin D. “Yalom’s Ultimate Concerns.” Existential psychotherapy. 1980. the canvas. November 19. 2013.