180k views
0 votes
Evaluate the existentialist dictum that “existence precedes essence”.

1 Answer

2 votes

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Although there are no options provided, we can say that existence precedes essence because humans must first exist, incarnated, being a total corporeal human to then refer to an essence. This was an idea of French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.

According to Sartre, when a human being comes to existence, then he/she can reflect himself/herself trying to get its essence through its beliefs, contexts, and references. That is how humans become aware of their existence. Humans think and then exist, realizing its essence.

User Chris Graham
by
5.8k points