Foundations of Existentialism

Existence Precedes Essence

The core claim of existentialism is radical: there is no pre-given human nature. Unlike a tool (which is designed for a purpose before it exists), a human being first exists, then defines themselves through their choices and actions.

This idea, crystallized by Jean-Paul Sartre in his 1946 lecture Existentialism Is a Humanism, challenges centuries of philosophical and religious thinking that assumed humans have a fixed essence — a soul, a nature, a destiny.

Key Concepts

• Existence precedes essence: We are not born with a purpose. We create our own meaning.
• Radical freedom: We are "condemned to be free" — even refusing to choose is a choice.
• Anguish: The weight of knowing we are fully responsible for who we become.
• Bad faith (mauvaise foi): Self-deception — pretending we have no choice when we do.

Historical Context

Existentialism emerged from the devastation of two World Wars. The old certainties — God, progress, rational order — seemed hollow. Thinkers like Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus asked: if the universe offers no meaning, how should we live?