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Single Idea 3842

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 5. Existence-Essence ]

Full Idea

Existentialism says that existence comes before essence - or, if you will, that we must begin from the subjective.

Gist of Idea

Existence before essence (or begin with the subjective)

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.26)

Book Ref

Sartre,Jean-Paul: 'Existentialism and Humanism', ed/tr. Mairet,Philip [Methuen 1980], p.26


The 16 ideas from 'Existentialism and Humanism'

'Existence precedes essence' means we have no pre-existing self, but create it through existence [Sartre, by Le Poidevin]
Existence before essence (or begin with the subjective) [Sartre]
Existentialism says man is whatever he makes of himself [Sartre]
There is no human nature [Sartre]
In becoming what we want to be we create what we think man ought to be [Sartre]
There are no values to justify us, and no excuses [Sartre]
It is dishonest to offer passions as an excuse [Sartre]
When my personal freedom becomes involved, I must want freedom for everyone else [Sartre]
Without God there is no intelligibility or value [Sartre]
Man IS freedom [Sartre]
Existentialists says that cowards and heroes make themselves [Sartre]
When a man must choose between his mother and the Resistance, no theory can help [Sartre, by Fogelin]
Man is nothing else but the sum of his actions [Sartre]
Cowards are responsible for their cowardice [Sartre]
If I do not choose, that is still a choice [Sartre]
If values depend on us, freedom is the foundation of all values [Sartre]