Existence Precedes Essence: Creating Meaning in an Unstructured World

Opening Context

Throughout history, humans have looked at the stars, consulted oracles, and taken personality tests to answer one fundamental question: "What is my purpose?" We often assume that we are born with a specific destiny, a hidden true self, or a predetermined path that we just need to discover. But what if there is no hidden blueprint? What if you are entirely empty of a predefined purpose when you arrive in the world?

This is the starting point of existentialism. The 20th-century philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre captured this idea in a famous four-word phrase: "Existence precedes essence." Understanding this concept completely flips the traditional way we view human life. Instead of searching for a pre-written destiny, existentialism suggests that you are a blank canvas. You exist first, and through your choices, actions, and values, you create your own meaning.

Learning Objectives

• Define the philosophical terms "existence" and "essence."
• Explain the difference between how objects are created and how humans develop, using Sartre's paperknife analogy.
• Apply the concept of "radical freedom" to everyday decision-making and identity.
• Recognize the connection between existential freedom and personal responsibility.

Prerequisites

No prior philosophical background is required. It is helpful to have a general understanding of what people mean when they talk about "destiny," "human nature," or "fate," as this lesson will directly challenge those concepts.

Core Concepts

Defining Existence and Essence

To understand Sartre's phrase, we first need to define the two main words:

• Existence: The state of being alive, present, and in the world. It is the raw fact that you are here.
• Essence: The defining nature, purpose, or blueprint of a thing. It is the "what" and the "why" of an object or person.

For most of human history, philosophers and theologians believed that essence precedes existence. They believed that a creator (like God) or nature had a specific idea of what a human being should be, and then created humans to fit that mold.

The Paperknife Analogy: When Essence Comes First

To illustrate how essence usually works, Sartre used the example of a paperknife (a letter opener).

Before a craftsman makes a paperknife, they have a concept in their mind. They know what the knife is for (opening letters) and what it should look like (sharp, easy to hold). The purpose and blueprint of the paperknife exist in the creator's mind before the physical object is ever made.

For manufactured objects, essence precedes existence. The purpose is defined before the object is brought into the world.

The Human Condition: Existence Comes First

Sartre argued that human beings are fundamentally different from paperknives. In existentialism, there is no grand craftsman who designed you with a specific purpose in mind.

Therefore, for humans, existence precedes essence.

You appear in the world first. You are born, you exist, you show up. At that moment, you have no predefined purpose, no fixed "human nature," and no destiny. You are simply here. It is only after you exist that you begin to define who you are through your choices, your actions, and your beliefs. You are not born a coward or a hero; you become one through cowardly or heroic acts.

Radical Freedom

Because you have no predetermined essence, you are entirely free to choose who you will become. Existentialists call this "radical freedom." Sartre famously wrote that humans are "condemned to be free."

It is called a condemnation because this level of freedom can be terrifying. Without a script to follow, you cannot blame your nature, your upbringing, or the universe for your choices. You are the sole author of your life.

The Weight of Responsibility

With radical freedom comes absolute responsibility. If existence precedes essence, then you are entirely responsible for your own essence. Every time you make a choice, you are not just deciding what to do in that moment; you are actively painting a portrait of what you believe a human being should be.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing "essence" with biology or DNA.

• The Mistake: Thinking that because we are born with certain genetics (eye color, height, biological predispositions), our essence is predetermined.
• The Correction: In existentialism, "essence" refers to your purpose, character, and meaning, not your physical makeup. Your DNA might dictate your height, but it does not dictate whether you are an honest person, a cruel person, or what career you will find meaningful.

Mistake 2: Believing existentialism is depressing or nihilistic.

• The Mistake: Assuming that because life has no built-in meaning, life is pointless and nothing matters.
• The Correction: Existentialism is actually a philosophy of profound empowerment. The lack of a pre-written script means you are not trapped. You have the ultimate creative power to decide what matters to you.

Mistake 3: Using "human nature" as an excuse.

• The Mistake: Saying things like, "I can't help being selfish, it's just human nature," or "I was born angry."
• The Correction: If existence precedes essence, there is no fixed human nature to blame. You are choosing to act selfishly or angrily in that moment. Recognizing this forces you to take ownership of your behavior.

Examples

Example 1: The Career Path Imagine someone whose parents are both doctors. From a young age, they are told they will also be a doctor. If they believe essence precedes existence, they might feel they were "born to heal" and have no choice in the matter. If they realize existence precedes essence, they understand that "doctor" is not their destiny. They can choose to go to medical school, or they can choose to become a painter. The choice is entirely theirs, and so is the responsibility for that choice.

Example 2: The Label of "A Good Person" You are not born a "good person" (a fixed essence). Instead, you exist, and then you choose to help a neighbor, tell the truth, and donate to charity. Through those continuous actions, you create the essence of a good person. If you stop doing those things, that essence changes.

Practice Prompts

1. Think of a label you frequently apply to yourself (e.g., "I am a shy person," "I am an artist," "I am bad at math"). How does viewing this label as a choice rather than a fixed trait change how you feel about it?
2. Consider a major decision you are currently facing. If you strip away what society, your family, or your past expects of you, what choice would you make based purely on your own radical freedom?
3. Reflect on a time you blamed "human nature" or "the way I am" for a mistake. How would an existentialist reframe that situation?

Key Takeaways

• Existence precedes essence: You are born first, without a predefined purpose, and you define yourself later through your actions.
• Objects vs. Humans: Objects are created with a purpose in mind (essence first). Humans exist first and must create their own purpose.
• Radical Freedom: You are not bound by destiny, human nature, or a cosmic plan. You are entirely free to choose your path.
• Absolute Responsibility: Because you are free, you are completely responsible for who you become and the choices you make.
• Action defines you: You are nothing more than the sum of your actions. You are what you do.

Further Exploration

• Explore Jean-Paul Sartre's essay Existentialism is a Humanism, which serves as the most accessible introduction to these ideas.
• Look into the concept of "Bad Faith" (Mauvaise Foi), which is Sartre's term for when we lie to ourselves and pretend we are not free in order to escape the anxiety of responsibility.
• Read about Simone de Beauvoir's application of this concept to gender in The Second Sex, famously summarized by her quote: "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman."