3 Review(s)

Existentialism is a Humanism is a philosophical work written by Jean-Paul Sartre. Summary of the Book Based on the lecture given by Sartre by the same name as this title at Club Maintenant in Paris in 1945, the book is widely renowned as one of the defining texts of the Existentialist movement. Sartre asserts that the key defining concept of existentialism lies in the priority of existence of a person over the essence of him or her. He claims that people must take responsibility for their behaviour, by rejecting what he terms ‘deterministic excuses’. With the idea of freedom being the centre of Sartre’s doctrine, the book also asserts that man creates his essence, his self, his being through the choices he freely makes. About Jean-Paul Sartre Sartre was born in Paris, France. He was one of the leading figures of the 20th century as a playwright, novelist, political activist, and philosopher. He belonged to the Existentialism, Marxism, and Phenomenology school of thought. Sartre’s chief areas of interests were metaphysics, consciousness, ethics, literature, political philosophy, ontology among others. Some of his most notable works are: The Age of Reason, Nausea, What is Literature, and The Reprieve.