Existentialism
Existentialism (Sartre)
"Existence precedes essence" — radical human freedom and responsibility
Existentialism is a philosophical movement emphasizing individual freedom, authentic existence, and responsibility. Major figures: Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus. Sartre's famous formulation (1946): "existence precedes essence" — humans first exist, then define themselves through choices. No predetermined nature. Radical freedom comes with radical responsibility. Bad faith: denying freedom. Authenticity: embracing freedom. Existentialism rose mid-20th century; influenced literature, theater, psychology, theology. Both atheist (Sartre) and theist (Kierkegaard) variants.
- Major figuresKierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus
- Sartre's formulationExistence precedes essence
- Bad faithDenying one's freedom
- AuthenticityEmbracing freedom and responsibility
- Key textSartre, "Being and Nothingness" (1943)
- Lecture"Existentialism is a Humanism" (1946)
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Why existentialism matters
- Personal philosophy. Living authentically.
- Mental health. Existential therapy.
- Literature. Major influence on 20th-century writers.
- Feminism. Beauvoir foundational.
- Psychology. Frankl's logotherapy.
- Theology. Religious existentialism.
- Cultural impact. Mid-20th century thinking.
Common misconceptions
- "Hell is other people" means people are bad. Specific philosophical meaning.
- Existentialism = nihilism. Different; existentialism creates meaning.
- One philosopher. Movement with diverse figures.
- All atheist. Both atheist and religious versions.
- Just personal philosophy. Political (Sartre), feminist (Beauvoir) implications.
- Fashionable past. Continues to influence thought.
Frequently asked questions
What's "existence precedes essence"?
Sartre's central thesis. For human beings, existence precedes essence. Things have nature first (essence), then exist according to it (e.g., a knife: designed for cutting, then exists). Humans are different — we exist first, define ourselves later. No predetermined human nature. Each individual creates themselves through choices. Radical implication: no human "essence" we must conform to.
What's bad faith?
Sartre's term. Denying one's radical freedom by hiding behind roles, identities, or external forces. Examples: "I had to do it because of my job," "I'm just a waiter so I act like one," "I can't help being who I am." All deny: you have freedom to act differently. Self-deception about one's freedom. Many people live in bad faith.
What's authenticity?
Living in accord with one's freedom; making genuine choices; taking responsibility. Opposite of bad faith. Requires: confronting freedom (anxiety inducing), choosing despite uncertainty, owning consequences. Difficult. Authentic person: aware of their projects' meaningfulness, responsible for who they become. Heidegger and Sartre disagree on details.
What's anguish?
Existentialist concept. Anxiety from realizing one's radical freedom. We're free; therefore responsible for everything we do; no fixed standards to fall back on. Choosing means accepting consequences. Daunting. Most people: avoid through bad faith, self-deception. Existentialists: anguish is appropriate response — face it, don't flee from it.
How does it relate to atheism?
Sartre's existentialism: atheist. Without God: no human nature pre-defined; we create ourselves. "If God doesn't exist, everything is permitted" (Dostoevsky) — existentialist reading: terrifying responsibility. Religious existentialists (Kierkegaard, Marcel): faith is leap into uncertainty; not different from secular existentialism in some respects.
What's "Hell is other people"?
Sartre's famous line from "No Exit" (1944). Often misunderstood. Not: other people are awful. Rather: through others' gaze, we are objectified — they make us into objects in their world. Their judgment threatens our freedom to define ourselves. Identity: complicated by social context. Authentic self requires resisting being defined by others while still relating to them.
What did Beauvoir contribute?
Simone de Beauvoir, partner and intellectual peer of Sartre. "The Second Sex" (1949): foundational feminist text. Applied existentialist framework to gender: "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." Women's situation: not fixed nature; constructed identity. Critique of bad faith in patriarchy. Major existentialist contribution to feminism.