Jean Paul Sartre: Before and after existence

Existence is a concept viewed in many different ways. Anywhere you find yourself there will always be an opinion on this complex concept. Jean-Paul Sartre once said “Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance” which is basically saying that there is no point of existing. Existence was viewed as that it precedes essence. Which is a central claim of existentialism. Seventeenth century philosopher Mulla Sadra once said “Existence precedes the essence and is thus principal since something has to exist first and then have an essence.” which can be taken as if something isn’t existing it does not have an essence so there for existence precedes essence. Philosophers had many arguments about this and the always debated question was if existence preceded essence or if essence preceded existence. Another philosopher Avicena argued that existence came before essence because if something is born it has to be born from another existing thing and must gain its essence. He says that all existing things come from the higher existence: God. Averroes argued Avicena, he said that everything that exists already does and that its essence is what contributes to its meaning. These arguments were the ones given before the significant Jean Paul Sartre gave his famous quote. This concept helped Simone De Beauvoir to develop her idea that “one is not born but becomes a woman” in her feminist existentialism. Which mans that a woman is born and therefore exists. The role of actually becoming a woman is up to the person is said question, she is the one who gains the essence of becoming a woman and not just because of the fact a woman is born a female. Sartre’s ideas were of great importance. He was considered one of the most influential French philosophers.

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