Jean-Paul Sartre: Existence Precedes Essence – Exploring His Existentialist Philosophy of Radical Freedom and Responsibility
(Lecture Hall, Université de Paris, 1946. The air is thick with Gauloises smoke and the murmur of intellectual debate. A sharply dressed figure with intense eyes and a perpetually furrowed brow takes the stage. This is Jean-Paul Sartre, ready to blow your mind… and possibly your sense of self.)
Bonjour, mes amis! 🥖🥐 I am Sartre. And today, we’re going to dive headfirst into the philosophical deep end. We’re talking about existence, essence, freedom, responsibility, and the sheer, terrifying weirdness of being human. Prepare yourselves, because we’re about to deconstruct the very foundations of your comfortable, pre-packaged world! 💥
(Sartre puffs dramatically on his cigarette.)
Our topic: Existence Precedes Essence. It’s a phrase that sounds complicated, like something your philosophy professor would say to impress you. But trust me, it’s actually quite… straightforward. In a twisted, existentialist sort of way.
(Sartre winks.)
I. The Problem: The Pre-Packaged Human
Think about a paper knife. 🔪 What is it? It’s a thing designed with a specific purpose in mind. Its essence (what it is, its function) comes before its existence (the fact that it is). The artisan had an idea, a plan, a blueprint. The knife is simply the realization of that pre-existing plan.
Now, for centuries, much of Western thought has applied this same logic to human beings. We’ve been told that we have a pre-determined essence, a fixed nature, a divine blueprint. God, fate, societal expectations… something dictates who we should be before we even have a chance to be.
(Sartre throws his hands up in mock horror.)
Imagine! You’re born, and BAM! You’re already labeled. "Oh, you’re destined to be a good little housewife!" "Ah, you’re a natural leader!" "You’re just a lazy good-for-nothing!" 😩
This is what Sartre calls the "essentialist" view. It says we’re all pre-fabricated products, designed by some cosmic manufacturer. It’s comfortable, isn’t it? It takes away the burden of choice. If you’re simply fulfilling a pre-ordained role, you’re not responsible for your actions, are you?
(Sartre raises an eyebrow.)
But what if… what if that’s all a crock of 💩?
II. The Existentialist Revolution: Existence Comes First!
(Sartre slams his hand on the podium, nearly knocking over a glass of water.)
This is where existentialism comes in! We say: NO! There is no pre-existing human nature! There is no divine blueprint! There is no cosmic purpose etched in our souls!
Existence precedes essence! 🤯
What does this mean? It means we are born into this world as blank slates. We simply are. We exist. And then, through our choices, our actions, our experiences, we define ourselves. We create our own essence.
(Sartre paces the stage, his voice rising with passion.)
Think of it this way: you’re born onto a stage, stark naked, with absolutely no script. The spotlight is on you. The audience is waiting. And you have to make up the play as you go along. 🎭
Key Difference Summarized:
| Feature | Essentialism | Existentialism (Sartre) |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Essence precedes Existence | Existence precedes Essence |
| Human Nature | Fixed, pre-determined, inherent | Fluid, self-created, defined by actions |
| Responsibility | Limited, due to pre-ordained nature | Absolute, we are responsible for our own being |
| Freedom | Constrained by pre-determined essence | Radical, we are condemned to be free |
| Analogy | Paper Knife (designed purpose first) | Blank Canvas (we paint our own picture) |
| Comfort Level | High (less responsibility, predictable) | Low (terrifying freedom, constant choice) |
III. Condemned to Be Free: The Burden of Choice
Now, this might sound liberating, right? "I can be anything I want!" 🎉 But hold on a second. Because with this freedom comes a crushing weight: responsibility.
(Sartre sighs dramatically.)
If there’s no God, no pre-ordained purpose, then we are the authors of our own lives. Every choice we make, every action we take, defines who we are. And we are completely responsible for those choices.
Sartre uses the phrase "condemned to be free." ⛓️ It’s a paradox, isn’t it? We didn’t ask to be born. We didn’t choose to be free. But here we are, stuck with this radical freedom, forced to make choices that shape our very being.
Think about it: choosing to stay in bed all day isn’t just a harmless act. It’s a choice that defines you as someone who prioritizes comfort over ambition. Choosing to lie to your friend isn’t just a minor transgression. It’s a choice that defines you as someone who is willing to betray trust.
(Sartre leans in conspiratorially.)
Every choice is a self-portrait. 🖼️ And you are the artist, holding the brush. Do you like what you’re painting?
IV. Bad Faith (Mauvaise Foi): The Art of Self-Deception
(Sartre lights another cigarette. The smoke curls around his head, forming a halo of existential dread.)
The problem is, this radical freedom and responsibility can be terrifying. So, we try to escape it. We engage in what Sartre calls "bad faith" (mauvaise foi). This is the art of self-deception, where we try to deny our freedom and responsibility.
There are several ways we do this:
- Playing a Role: We hide behind societal expectations, pretending to be nothing more than the roles we’re assigned. "I’m just a waiter," we say, as if being a waiter defines our entire being and absolves us of any further responsibility. 🤵 "I’m just following orders," we claim, as if blind obedience erases our moral agency.
- Blaming External Forces: We attribute our actions to external forces, denying our own agency. "I couldn’t help it, I was under pressure!" "It’s not my fault, I was born this way!" 🤷♀️ While external factors certainly influence us, they don’t determine us. We still have the freedom to choose how we respond.
- Clinging to Things: We define ourselves by our possessions, our achievements, or our relationships. "I am my car!" "I am my career!" 🚗🏆 This is a way of avoiding the anxiety of our own emptiness. We try to fill the void with external validation, forgetting that true meaning comes from within.
(Sartre shakes his head sadly.)
Bad faith is a comfortable lie. It allows us to avoid the responsibility of being ourselves. But it’s a lie nonetheless. And it ultimately leads to a life of inauthenticity and regret.
Bad Faith Examples – A Table of Deception:
| Scenario | Bad Faith Excuse | Sartre’s Counter-Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Waiter taking orders with robotic efficiency | "I’m just a waiter, I’m just doing my job." | You’re choosing to embody the "waiter" role. You could choose to be more engaging, rebellious, or even quit. |
| Student plagiarizing an essay | "I was overwhelmed, I had no choice." | You always have a choice. You could have asked for help, accepted a lower grade, or even failed the assignment. |
| Employee staying in a dead-end job | "It’s too late to change, I’m stuck." | You’re choosing to believe you’re stuck. You could choose to learn new skills, look for a new job, or pursue your passion. |
| Partner staying in an unhappy relationship | "I have to stay for the children/financial stability." | You’re choosing to prioritize these factors over your own happiness. You could choose to seek therapy, separate, or redefine the relationship. |
V. Anguish, Abandonment, and Despair: The Existential Trio
(Sartre sighs deeply. The air in the room seems to grow heavier.)
So, what are the consequences of embracing our radical freedom and responsibility? Well, prepare for the existential trio: anguish, abandonment, and despair. 😫
- Anguish: This is the feeling of being responsible not only for ourselves, but for all of humanity. Every choice we make sets an example for others. When we choose to be honest, we are implicitly saying that everyone should be honest. This realization can be overwhelming.
- Abandonment: This is the feeling that there is no God, no pre-ordained purpose, no objective morality to guide us. We are abandoned in a meaningless universe, left to create our own values and meaning.
- Despair: This is the feeling that we can only act on what is within our power. We cannot control the actions of others, or the outcome of our efforts. We must accept the limitations of our freedom and act accordingly.
(Sartre shrugs.)
Cheery, isn’t it?
(He chuckles darkly.)
But here’s the thing: these feelings are not meant to paralyze us. They are meant to motivate us. They are the price we pay for living authentically.
VI. Creating Meaning in a Meaningless World: The Existentialist Imperative
(Sartre’s eyes gleam with a renewed intensity.)
If there’s no pre-ordained meaning, then we have to create it ourselves! This is the existentialist imperative: to define our own values, to create our own purpose, to live authentically in a meaningless world.
How do we do this?
- Embrace Your Freedom: Stop hiding behind roles, excuses, and external validation. Acknowledge your radical freedom and take responsibility for your choices.
- Act Authentically: Be true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Define your own values and live in accordance with them.
- Engage with the World: Don’t retreat into isolation. Engage with others, fight for what you believe in, and contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
- Accept the Absurd: Acknowledge the inherent meaninglessness of the universe. Don’t try to find answers where there are none. Embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty of life.
(Sartre pauses, looking directly at the audience.)
It’s not easy. It’s terrifying. It requires courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to face the void. But it’s the only way to live a truly authentic life.
(Sartre stubs out his cigarette.)
The Existentialist Recipe for a Meaningful Life:
| Ingredient | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace Freedom | Recognize and accept your radical freedom. | Quitting a job you hate, even if it’s scary, and pursuing your passion. |
| Act Authentically | Be true to yourself, even if it means going against the grain. | Standing up for your beliefs, even if it’s unpopular. |
| Engage with the World | Contribute to something larger than yourself. | Volunteering, activism, creating art, building relationships. |
| Accept the Absurd | Acknowledge the meaninglessness of the universe and create your own meaning. | Finding joy in the small things, embracing the present moment, accepting the limitations of your control. |
| Courage | The willingness to face fear and uncertainty. | Taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, challenging the status quo. |
VII. Conclusion: Be the Author of Your Own Existence!
(Sartre smiles, a rare and genuine smile.)
So, there you have it. Existence precedes essence. We are condemned to be free. And we are responsible for creating our own meaning in a meaningless world.
It’s not a comfortable philosophy. It doesn’t offer easy answers or pre-packaged solutions. But it does offer something far more valuable: the freedom to define ourselves, to create our own values, and to live authentically.
(Sartre picks up his notes and prepares to leave the stage.)
Go forth, mes amis! Embrace your freedom! Face the void! And be the author of your own existence! ✍️
(Sartre exits the stage to thunderous applause and a cloud of Gauloises smoke. The audience is left to ponder the terrifying, exhilarating, and utterly liberating implications of existentialism.)
(Final Note: Remember to always question, challenge, and define yourselves. And don’t forget to enjoy a good croissant along the way! Au revoir! 👋)
