Existence precedes essence - Essay Example

Existence Precedes Essence Jean-Paul Sartre was a 20th century philosopher that is given primary credit for articulating the philosophy of existentialism. Broadly speaking existentialism advances a notion of human existence as void of outside meaning, wherein individuals are completely free to establish the nature of self and being. The foundational element of this philosophy is the notion that existence precedes essence. That is to say, Sartre believed that rather than the individual’s personality being an innate and genetically established event, it was a aspect of existence that was determined in the changing nature of our daily lives; existence representing the self, and essence representing the articulation of this self-concept.

Throughout Sartre’s philosophical writings, from Being and Nothingness to Nausea, Sartre develops and argues in favor of this concept. This essay considers my personal belief in existence precedes essence, implementing one of Sartre’s seminal texts, Existentalism is a Humanism as reference. In considering my personal concept of whether existence precedes essence, I realize the truth is a complex issue. Through Existentialism is a Humanism, Sartre in large part argues from an atheistic perspective.

For instance, he writes that the, “atheist existentialism is rather more coherent. It declares that God does not exist, yet there is still a being in whom existence precedes essence, a being which exists before being defined by any concept, and this being is man or, as Heidegger puts it, human reality” (Sartre, web). In my personal formulation of the concept, I tend to side with Sartre in denying a creationist concept of reality that has an intended purpose for living beings. However, I also recognize that simply because Sartre denies the existence of an objective God, this does not also prove that existence precedes essence.

My personal belief is that while beings may not have an intended essence by a creator, they are still restricted by genetic determinants. Sigmund Freud once famously argued that biology is destiny. In these regards, I believe that essence can be seen to determine existence through genetic restraints hat individuals are linked. Another primary element that must be considered in terms of the concept of existence preceding essence is the nature of society and social influences. Sartre indirectly considers the nature of social influences stating, “Dostoevsky wrote ‘If God did not exist, everything would be permitted’; that is the starting point of existentialism” (Sartre, web).

While Sartre’s concept of a world where everything is permitted is highly liberating, it’s clear that in the contemporary environment such a liberating form of existence is not possible. Rather, I recognize that in living one’s daily life there are a variety of restraints that society places on the individual, forcing them to act in pre-defined ways. As such, in these regards, the individual is not as free as Sartre presents, and the concept of existence preceding essence is not as clear-cut as he would have one believe.

In conclusion, this essay has argued that Sartre’s concept of existence preceding essence is not entirely accurate. The first point argued that rather than the individual determining their essence, they are restricted by genetic measures. The second point argues that society restricts the individual from complete liberation. Ultimately, I believe that rather than existence preceding essence, it is more accurate to assume that humans are locked into a form of existence through which virtually no effort they can escape.

References Sartre, Jean-Paul. (1946) ‘Existentialism is a Humanism’. Marxists. http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm