Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher as well as a political activist. A summary of his work includes themes of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of human existence. Sartre discussed an idea called Existence Precedes Essence. The central idea is that humans first exist without any predetermined purpose. It means that a human's so-called purpose begins through their actions. Objects have a specific purpose whereas humans have to create their own. This statement of course has its contradictions. One would be the idea that no, humans are not objects, but humans have a role in the universe as a whole. It is scientifically proven that everything on earth, including earth, is atoms as well as energy. When looking at the world from the factual perspective, it makes sense for some people to assume that humans have no individual purpose, but more so a collective energy related purpose. Another concept Sartre dived into would be what is referred to as The Look. Sartre explores how the presence of others can affect one's own self-perception. Having the awareness that others are viewing you can often lead to loss of independence. Sartre goes about explaining this in a famous play of his called, “No Exit” with his famous line, “Hell is other people.” The play consists of three characters who are locked in a room together for the rest of eternity. While they are together, they explore themes such as freedom, self-deception, and the intrapersonal dynamics that define their existence. When discussing these topics, they seek validation from one another in a sense of wanting to be understood. The characters find themselves submerged with judgment, manipulation, and lack of true empathy which is a reflection of their own insecurities. This play serves a purpose of explaining that human nature will always exist, it is solely a conflict of people's perceptions of each other.