Final answer:
Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist view that individuals should choose new interests if faced with obstacles is contrasted by Emmy Noether's dedication to mathematics and physics, showing that personal talents and passions can define one's essence in ways that cannot be easily altered.
Step-by-step explanation:
In existentialism, a core belief as articulated by Jean-Paul Sartre is that "existence precedes essence", which means that humans first exist and then define their essence through their choices and actions.
According to Sartre, if an individual cannot realize a specific essence that they aspire to, they should choose to be interested in something else that is within their control. This approach encourages individual freedom and responsibility.
Noether's aspiration and contribution to the fields of mathematics and physics through her groundbreaking work, including Noether's Theorem, which connects symmetries in nature to conservation laws, was not merely a matter of personal choice or interest.
Rather, it was a response to her profound understanding and passion for these subjects. Sartre's view would suggest that if Noether faced obstacles in achieving her essence as a mathematician and physicist (which she did due to gender discrimination), she could simply choose another interest.
Therefore, simply dismissing one's intrinsic interests and contributions in the face of obstacles could result in a loss of significant potential advancements in various fields, indicating that Sartre's extreme position does not account for the complexities of individual talent and passion that define one's essence and contributions to society.