Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism is a philosophy that places a profound emphasis on individual freedom and the absolute responsibility that accompanies it. At its heart lies the famous dictum, "existence precedes essence." This means that unlike manufactured objects, which are conceived with a specific purpose (their essence) before they are created (their existence), humans are born into the world without any predetermined nature or purpose. We are thrown into existence first, and it is through our choices and actions that we define ourselves, forging our own essence. This radical freedom, while liberating, also imposes a heavy burden, as we are solely responsible for what we become and, by extension, for the image of humanity we project.
Sartre illustrates this point through the metaphor of the paperknife. A craftsman conceives of a paperknife with a clear idea of its function and design before making it. Its essence (its purpose and definition) comes before its existence. Humans, however, are not like that. There is no God to design us with a specific plan. Therefore, we exist first, and then, through our choices, we define ourselves. This means that every action we take, from the mundane to the monumental, contributes to the ongoing creation of our identity. For instance, a person who chooses to become a doctor is not born with the essence of "doctor"; they become one through years of study, practice, and the conscious decision to pursue that path. This decision is not dictated by any inherent nature but by their own free will.
The consequence of this radical freedom is an equally radical responsibility. Because there is no preordained meaning or guide, we are responsible not only for our individual choices but also for the values we create through those choices. When we choose, we are not just choosing for ourselves; we are, in a sense, choosing for all humankind. Sartre argues that by choosing a particular course of action, we implicitly endorse that action as a valid choice for anyone in a similar situation. This is the source of existential anguish, a feeling of dread and anxiety stemming from the awareness of our total freedom and the weight of our responsibility. This anguish is not a sign of weakness but an essential part of the human condition, a recognition of the gravity of our choices. Consider the young man in Sartre's own writings who is torn between joining the French Resistance during World War II and staying home to care for his grieving mother. There is no moral rulebook that can definitively tell him which choice is "right." He must make his own decision, knowing that whatever he chooses, he will be responsible for its consequences and for the value he imbues it with.
Sartre also discusses the concept of "bad faith" (mauvaise foi), which is the attempt to escape this freedom and responsibility. Bad faith occurs when individuals deny their freedom and pretend that their choices are dictated by external factors, by their past, or by their social roles. For example, a waiter who becomes so engrossed in playing the role of a waiter, acting with exaggerated servility and precision, might be said to be in bad faith. He is denying his freedom to choose to act differently, instead allowing the external role to define him entirely. This is a form of self-deception, an attempt to become an object, like the paperknife, with a fixed essence, rather than embracing the fluid, self-created nature of human existence. We see this in individuals who blame their upbringing, their circumstances, or "human nature" for their actions, absolving themselves of the burden of personal accountability.
Ultimately, Sartre's philosophy is a call to embrace our freedom and to live authentically. Authenticity, for Sartre, means confronting our freedom, acknowledging our responsibility, and making choices that reflect our own freely chosen values, rather than conforming to societal expectations or succumbing to bad faith. It requires courage to face the "dizziness of freedom" and the existential anguish that comes with it. The authentic individual recognizes that they are the author of their own life and that meaning is not found but created. This active creation of meaning, through committed action and self-definition, is the core of the Sartrean project.