The terms essence and existence have dominated philosophical discussions for centuries, at least from the era of Plato up to the contemporary times. The central issue at the heart of this discourse in the preliminary stage had to do with the question of what actually makes an essence of an existing entity. For example, if you say God, philosophers will probe further to ask: what is the essence of God? In other words, ‘what are those characteristics that are truly exclusive to God? If, again, you say a Satsuma (a type of orange) exists, then one will be prompted to ask as to what features distinguish it from a tangerine. That is, what are those distinctive qualities - essentially immaterial - that will not make me call an existential Satsuma a tangerine? What the inquirer is demanding is simply something more than mere the Satsuma or any of the accidental features like colour, taste, etc. Questions have also been raised in terms of what actually exists as against what is believed to exist. The discourse quickly like wild fire moved from the level of mere conceptualizing the terms to the level of philosophers trying to find out which of essence and existence precedes each other. In other words, granted, at least, at level of assumption that both human and objects exist, philosophers are asking whether their essence precedes their existence. The battle to resolve this crisis of concepts pitted modern Christian philosophers like Bishop George Berkeley and Immanuel Kant against contemporary existentialists like Jean Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger. The former school, led by Berkeley in its submission had argued that essence precedes existence, while the latter, championed by extensively by Sartre disagrees, saying existence precedes essence. However, there are other variations to the discourse but it is sufficient for the scope of this paper to limit discussion to these two, with more emphasis on Sartre.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- On the Traditional Understanding of Essence and Existence
- Essence and Existence: Idealist vs Existentialist
- On the Topos of the Paper
- On the Brief Mission of Sartre and Existentialism
- Sartre's Conception of Essence and his Two-Type Existence
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to clarify Sartre's understanding of essence and existence, contrasting it with idealist perspectives. It explores Sartre's concept of essence, examines his distinction between two types of existence, and appraises the philosophical debate surrounding the precedence of essence or existence.
- The contrasting views of idealists (like Berkeley) and existentialists (like Sartre) on the relationship between essence and existence.
- Sartre's concept of essence and its relationship to human existence.
- Sartre's distinction between "Being-in-itself" (mere existence) and "Being-for-itself" (real existence).
- The role of atheism in Sartre's existentialist philosophy.
- An evaluation of the debate on whether essence or existence precedes the other.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage by exploring the historical discourse surrounding essence and existence, tracing it from Plato to contemporary existentialists. It highlights the central question of which precedes the other—essence or existence—and positions the debate between idealists like Berkeley and Kant, who argue for essence preceding existence, and existentialists like Sartre and Heidegger, who contend the opposite. The introduction establishes Sartre as the primary focus, outlining the paper's objective to clarify his ontology and critique the idealist stance.
On the Traditional Understanding of Essence and Existence: This section delves into the historical usage of the concepts of essence and existence, tracing their evolution through various philosophical schools. It examines how thinkers like Aristotle (form and matter), Plato (universals and particulars), Kant (noumena and phenomena), and Aquinas (potentiality and actuality) grappled with these concepts. The section clarifies the traditional understanding of essence as inherent, indestructible qualities and existence as contingent and temporary attributes, setting the groundwork for a comparative analysis with Sartre's perspective.
Essence and Existence: Idealist vs Existentialist: This chapter contrasts the idealist and existentialist views on essence and existence. It explains the idealist position, notably Berkeley's belief that existence depends on perception by a mind. The existentialist counter-argument, that existence precedes essence, is introduced, setting up the core conflict between the two schools of thought and foreshadowing Sartre's central thesis.
On the Topos of the Paper: This section clarifies the paper's argumentative structure. It explains the three-part approach: defining Sartre's understanding of essence, exploring his two types of existence, and appraising his claims concerning essence and existence. The section emphasizes the juxtaposition of theistic and atheistic viewpoints, using Berkeley and Sartre as examples, and preemptively concludes that the question of precedence is a false dichotomy.
On the Brief Mission of Sartre and Existentialism: This chapter outlines Sartre's philosophical project. It describes his aim to defend existentialism against critiques from theistic determinism (Aquinas), psychoanalysis (Freud and Adler), communism (Marx), and Cartesian solipsism. Sartre's goal is to liberate humanity from predetermined destinies, arguing that individuals freely define their essence through their actions and choices, rejecting the idealist notion of a pre-ordained nature.
Sartre's Conception of Essence and his Two-Type Existence: This section analyzes Sartre's conception of essence and his differentiation between two types of existence: "Being-in-itself" and "Being-for-itself." It contrasts Sartre's view with those of Berkeley, Jaspers, and Marcel, highlighting his disagreement with the idea that essence precedes existence except in the case of artificial creations. The chapter explains Sartre's belief that human existence is unique, progressive, and self-defining, emphasizing the freedom of human choice in shaping one's own essence.
Keywords
Essence, existence, existentialism, Sartre, Berkeley, idealism, Being-in-itself, Being-for-itself, atheism, human nature, freedom, choice, ontology.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper focuses on Jean-Paul Sartre's understanding of essence and existence, contrasting his existentialist views with idealist perspectives, primarily that of George Berkeley. It examines Sartre's concept of essence, his distinction between "Being-in-itself" and "Being-for-itself," and critically analyzes the philosophical debate surrounding the precedence of essence or existence.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the contrasting views of idealists and existentialists on the relationship between essence and existence; Sartre's concept of essence and its connection to human existence; Sartre's distinction between "Being-in-itself" (mere existence) and "Being-for-itself" (real existence); the role of atheism in Sartre's philosophy; and an evaluation of the debate on whether essence or existence precedes the other.
How does the paper structure its argument?
The paper uses a three-part approach: defining Sartre's understanding of essence, exploring his two types of existence ("Being-in-itself" and "Being-for-itself"), and appraising his claims regarding the essence-existence debate. It juxtaposes theistic and atheistic viewpoints, using Berkeley and Sartre as primary examples, ultimately arguing that the question of precedence is a false dichotomy.
What is Sartre's conception of essence and existence?
Sartre argues that existence precedes essence. Unlike idealist views where essence is pre-ordained, Sartre posits that humans are born without a predetermined essence; their essence is created through their actions and choices. He distinguishes between "Being-in-itself," which refers to inanimate objects with inherent properties, and "Being-for-itself," which refers to conscious beings whose existence precedes and defines their essence.
How does Sartre's view contrast with idealist perspectives?
Idealists, such as Berkeley, believe that essence precedes existence; existence is dependent on perception or the mind of God. Sartre rejects this, arguing that human beings are fundamentally free and responsible for creating their own essence through their actions and choices in a world without a pre-ordained meaning or purpose.
What is the significance of atheism in Sartre's existentialism?
Sartre's atheism is central to his existentialism. The absence of a pre-ordained essence or a divine plan emphasizes human freedom and responsibility. Without a God to dictate our nature, we are entirely free to define ourselves through our actions, leading to both the exhilaration of freedom and the anguish of responsibility.
What are the key historical figures discussed in the paper?
The paper discusses several key figures, tracing the historical evolution of the concepts of essence and existence. These include Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Aquinas, Berkeley, Heidegger, Jaspers, and Marcel. However, the primary focus is on comparing and contrasting the views of Sartre and Berkeley to highlight the core differences between existentialism and idealism.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview provides chapter summaries that outline the main points of each section. These summaries cover the historical context of the essence/existence debate, a detailed exploration of the idealist and existentialist positions, a clarification of Sartre's philosophical project, and a thorough analysis of his concept of essence and his two types of existence ("Being-in-itself" and "Being-for-itself").
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Essence, existence, existentialism, Sartre, Berkeley, idealism, Being-in-itself, Being-for-itself, atheism, human nature, freedom, choice, ontology.
- Citar trabajo
- James Alabi (Autor), 2009, Thematic Distinction Between Essence and Existence, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/435007
