As you may know, philosophy revolves around dialectics: presenting an idea and then responding to it. Plato and Aristotle believed that everything, including human beings, has an essence – a core set of properties essential to its identity. This essentialism persisted until the late 19th century, when thinkers such as Nietzsche challenged the idea, paving the way for existentialism.
Existentialism, most notably championed by Jean-Paul Sartre, asserts that “existence precedes essence”. This means that we are born without a predetermined purpose; it’s up to us to define ourselves through our choices. This concept emerged strongly after the Second World War, rejecting the notion of a preordained world in the face of atrocities such as the Holocaust.
Sartre emphasised our radical freedom: without inherent guidelines, we must create our own morality and meaning. He argued against living in “bad faith”, where individuals deny their responsibility in defining their lives. Instead, authenticity means embracing the absurdity of existence and taking full responsibility for our choices.
In an anecdote, Sartre illustrates how personal values guide authentic choices. He concludes that existentialism doesn’t necessarily present a bleak outlook, but emphasises the empowering aspect of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.