Overview
This lecture introduces the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre, focusing on the concepts of existence preceding essence, consciousness and nothingness, freedom and bad faith, and the dynamics of interpersonal relations.
Sartre and Existentialism
- Existentialism began with Søren Kierkegaard but was popularized by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.
- Sartre’s major work is "Being and Nothingness," described as an essay on phenomenological ontology.
Key Concepts: Existence and Essence
- Ontology is the philosophical study of being; phenomenology examines experiences to reveal their underlying structures.
- Sartre claims "existence precedes essence," meaning we exist first and then define our essence through experiences.
- Ideas from science or religion are secondary interpretations based on our fundamental experience of existence.
Consciousness and Nothingness
- Sartre views consciousness as a process of making distinctions, involving negation—seeing what things are by what they are not.
- Consciousness ("for-itself") differs from inanimate objects ("in-itself") because it creates meaning by distinguishing and negating.
Freedom and Bad Faith
- Human existence is fundamentally free; Sartre says we are "condemned to freedom."
- Facticity refers to unchangeable facts of our lives (e.g., birthplace, body), but we are free to choose our attitudes toward them.
- Bad faith is denying our radical freedom by pretending our choices are determined by outside forces or personal preferences.
- Even emotions and personalities are seen as choices, not determined traits.
- Our freedom is absolute in direction but leads to anxiety and motivates us to flee into bad faith.
Being-for-Others and Social Dynamics
- Sartre describes a third mode of being: "being-for-others," explored through the concept of the gaze.
- The social realm is adversarial; when gazed upon, we feel objectified and respond by objectifying others.
- Sartre summarizes this by saying "hell is other people," highlighting the tension between subjectivity and objectification.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Ontology — the philosophical study of being.
- Phenomenology — the systematic reflection on experience to uncover its structures and meaning.
- Existence precedes essence — we exist first and create meaning/essence through living.
- Facticity — the given, unchangeable facts of our existence.
- Bad faith (mauvaise foi) — self-deception by denying one’s freedom and responsibility.
- For-itself — conscious being, defined by negation and freedom.
- In-itself — inanimate being, existing without consciousness.
- Being-for-others — the experience of self as seen or objectified by others.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the main concepts of Sartre’s existentialism for deeper discussion.
- Read the introduction or summary of "Being and Nothingness" for further understanding.