The Existential Journey: Existence Before Essence Concept

Existence Before Essence

Within existentialism, there is a central concept known as “Existence Before Essence.” While this sounds complex, it’s actually quite simple. Existentialists believe that we are born and then we build our values through experience.

Example:

Imagine you are building a chicken coop. Before you even start cutting wood or picking out the roosts, you already have an idea of what a chicken coop should be–it has a purpose, a design and a function. Basically, you have a working blueprint in your mind before the chicken coop actually exists.

Let’s apply that to human beings. According to the existence before essence concept, humans don’t come into this world with a drawn blueprint or an inherent purpose. Said simply, our “essence” isn’t determined before we exist.

Instead, we exist first, and then it’s up to us to define our own essence as we go through life.

What is our Purpose?

The theory of existence before essence challenges the idea that there is a predefined path to follow or a prescribed meaning to experience through life.

Jean-Paul Sartre argues that we are born as “blank slates” in terms of purpose and values. We are each free to choose who we want to be, what we want to believe and how we want to live our lives.

What’s liberating about this is that it would mean that humans are not limited by past actions, present circumstances or even base genetics. This thinking places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of each individual to determine their own meaning, define their own path and create a life of value.

Authenticity

Thinking upon this concept also emphasizes the importance of living an authentic life. Since there isn’t a predefined essence, trying to conform to someone else’s expectations or societal norms feels like living a lie; like playing a role.

To embrace this philosophy you must be true to yourself and to your unique journey. This sounds easy, but of course it isn’t. As we navigate life we conform to many ideas and expectations that we don’t actually believe, as a way to survive and move forward.

A good first step toward authenticity is unraveling the roles we play in our daily lives.

Blank Slate

If our mind begins as a blank slate, as Sartre posits, then we can write whatever we want there. The possibilities are endless and it’s up to each individual what goes into the story.

Existence before essence thinking encourages us to embrace individuality, make choices that align with our true selves, and find meaning in our own unique way.

It’s a reminder that life is an open book, and we get to write our own story, one chapter at a time.