Jean-Paul Sartre

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/jean-paul-sartre

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Jean-Paul Sartre born?June 21, 1905
2. Where was Jean-Paul Sartre born?Paris, France
3. What is Jean-Paul Sartre known for?Leading figure in existentialist philosophy, playwright, novelist, and political activist
4. What is the major philosophical work?Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant, 1943)
5. What is the key philosophical concept?Existentialism, emphasizing freedom, choice, and responsibility ('existence precedes essence')
6. What does it mean that "existence precedes essence"?It means people are born without a set purpose. They choose their own path and become who they are through those choices.

Existentialism: A philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice as the foundation of meaning and identity.
Existence precedes essence: The Sartrean principle that humans are born without a predetermined nature and define themselves through their actions and choices.
Bad Faith (Mauvaise foi): A state of self-deception where individuals deny their freedom and responsibility by conforming to external roles or expectations.
Anguish (Angoisse): The profound anxiety arising from the awareness of one's total freedom and responsibility for one's choices.