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Unamuno and Marcel both explored existential themes in the context of human emotion and the spiritual. Unamuno emphasized the internal struggle with the idea of immortality and the human desire for faith against reason's despair. Marcel regarded existence and experience in a more positive light, focusing on hope, fidelity, and the presence of God within the lived experience.

Sartre and Jaspers both contributed to existential philosophy with a focus on freedom and individual choice. Sartre illuminated the nature of human freedom and the anguish associated with radical choice, elaborating on 'bad faith' and 'being-for-others'. Jaspers' philosophy focused on the importance of communication and understanding the transcendental aspects of existence through 'limit situations'.

Dostoevsky and Sartre both delved into the complexities of human freedom, ethics, and existence. Dostoevsky's novels such as 'Crime and Punishment' explore themes of freedom, moral responsibility, and redemption. Sartre's existentialism posits that individuals are condemned to be free, and must define themselves and their morality through their choices, without reliance on a divine authority.

Sartre and Beauvoir both contributed significantly to existentialist philosophy through literature and philosophical works. Sartre's philosophy centers on existence preceding essence, freedom, and bad faith. De Beauvoir, while influenced by Sartre, focused more on the ethics of ambiguity and feminist existentialism, highlighting the oppression of women and advocating for their liberation.

Ortega y Gasset and Levinas both emphasized the role of the individual in constructing reality. Ortega y Gasset focused on the concept of 'life as radical reality' and that individual perspective forms the basis of truth. Levinas, on the other hand, introduced ethical philosophy as first philosophy, emphasizing the primacy of the Other and the ethical relation as the essence of being.

De Beauvoir and Nietzsche both dealt with questions of freedom and the construction of our moral values. While Nietzsche critiqued traditional morality and promoted the idea of self-overcoming and life-affirmation, de Beauvoir focused on the need to acknowledge our freedom and the responsibility that comes with it, especially in the context of gender and the lived experience.

Shestov and Berdyaev were Russian existential thinkers who emphasized the role of faith in understanding existence. Shestov advocated for a radical freedom that goes beyond rationality, ethics, and aesthetics, often referencing the Bible. Berdyaev focused on the concept of creative freedom, spirituality, and the rejection of societal norms to achieve personal and spiritual liberation.

Unamuno and Camus both explored the human struggle with meaninglessness and mortality. Unamuno's philosophy wrestled with the concept of the eternal and the human desire for immortality, whereas Camus's Absurdism recognized the futile search for meaning in an indifferent universe and championed acceptance and embrace of life's absurdity.

Both Kierkegaard and Nietzsche emphasized individual existence and the importance of personal choice and responsibility. Kierkegaard focused on faith and Christian ethics, maintaining that true understanding comes from personal experience and decision. Nietzsche, on the other hand, proposed the idea of the Übermensch and the 'death of God', critiquing Christian morality as inhibiting humanity's natural instincts.

Camus and Heidegger both grappled with the absurdity of life and the inevitability of death. Camus, however, denied the label of existentialist and instead introduced Absurdism, emphasizing the conflict between humans' search for meaning and the indifferent universe. Heidegger delved into ontological questions about being, his concept of 'Dasein', and 'Being-toward-death' as intrinsic to existence.

Both Tillich and Kierkegaard dealt with issues of faith and existential dread. Tillich introduced the concept of 'the courage to be', facing the anxieties of doubt, meaninglessness, and fate. Kierkegaard focused on the 'leap of faith', the subjective truth, and the individual's relationship with God, emphasizing personal existential experience.

Nietzsche and Camus both examined the meaning of existence in a world perceived as hostile or indifferent. Nietzsche proposed the will to power as a driving force of human behavior and the revaluation of all values. Camus, however, focused on the concept of the absurd and the rebellion against meaninglessness, without relying on transcendental or metaphysical beliefs.

Heidegger's existential philosophy revolved around the question of being (Dasein) and authentic existence. Levinas, who was influenced by but also critical of Heidegger, focused on the primacy of the ethical relationship with the Other and the concept of 'face-to-face' encounters as the foundation for ethics and responsibility.

Both Kierkegaard and Marcel dealt with the existential crises of faith and despair. Kierkegaard's philosophy is often seen as a precursor to Marcel's, focusing on subjective truth and the leap of faith in confronting despair. Marcel, building on this foundation, discussed the dignity of the human individual, existence as participation, and the importance of hope and fidelity.