Final answer:
In existentialist thought, most notably Jean-Paul Sartre's, humanity's primary distinction is that 'existence precedes essence,' meaning humans first exist and then define their essence through choices and actions, emphasizing radical freedom and responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary distinction of humanity, in the view of most existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre, is that existence precedes essence. This concept signifies an emphasis on human existence and the subsequent creation of individual essence through personal choices and actions.
Existentialists emphasize that human beings are condemned to be free, responsible for their own development, and the architects of their own nature. According to Sartre, humans are not born with a predefined essence or purpose; instead, they must forge their essence through their choices and the way they live their lives. This radical freedom is a core tenet of existential philosophy, and it can impose a tremendous burden of responsibility on individuals, which can lead to feelings of anxiety or nausea.
For existentialists, freedom is the defining characteristic of human beings. We are what we decide we are, and nothing is predetermined. This philosophical stance departs from traditional essentialist views that suggest the existence of some fixed essence or nature that precedes and determines human existence.