What does Sartre mean by the claim existence procedes essence - Essay Example

Humanities 1101 What does Sartre mean by the claim "existence precedes essence"? The phrase, existence precedes essence meansthat not all things that have a predefined pattern. The phrase was set to mean that human beings live in their lives without any set pattern to fit into. It is in this mode that Sartre states that existence comes before essence as an individual human being has freedom to shape his or her destiny. This freedom allows a person to choose his or her own values and meaning through chosen actions.

This idea is in contrast with the ancient philosophical idea that everything has a predefined set of characteristics (Sayre 9). Moreover, the word can be interpreted as meaning that not every item that matches its essence. A good example is that the essence of a bicycle is that it has two wheels and people cycle on it. However, one might have a bicycle with three wheels or that no one cycle on it. Hence, the real details of a specific bicycle make its existence. Besides, depending on the cultural practices of a particular group of people, what one culture can define to be good does not necessarily have to be good or complete with the other group for the item or object of judgment may differ (Sayer 24).

When analyzing something it is vital to consider its existence before examining its qualities. Essence being an aspect of human life should be dealt with after the basic fact that is existence is critically considered. Even, though Sartre asserts that we need first to think about the mystery of a man very existence, this statement does not underrate existence and therefore, essence comes after existence (Sayre 25).In conclusion, a personality is built by the choice a person engages in not by exact purpose or predetermined model.

Since humankind is unbounded hence one can define him/herself (Sayer 27). This means that in life, one is responsible in shaping his or her character and achievement one aspires to get. Sartre claims that the real thing becomes essentially after something is made to exist or manufactured. Therefore for something to be of the essence it must first have to exist but not conversely.Works CitedSayre, Henry, M. Discovering the Humanities. New York: Pearson, 2012.Sayer, Henry, M. Discovering The Humanities.

Boston: Pearson, 2010.