My modern day philosopher is Jean-Paul Sartre. He was born on June 21, 1905 and died on April 15, 1980. He was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology, and one of the leading figures in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism. Sartre is probably the most famous existentialist and is known for the phrase "existence precedes essence". Instead of starting with the idea of purpose and then humans existing because of that purpose, existentialists start with the existence of humans and emphasize that human's must create their own meaning and purpose. His work has also influenced sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literary studies, and continues to influence these disciplines. Sartre has also been noted for his
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