Modern Philosophers

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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 open relationship with the prominent feminist theorist Simone De Beauvoir. He was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature and refused it, saying that he always declined official honors and that "a writer should not allow himself to be turned into an institution". This philosophy will enlighten the world by showing that people have the choice to choose why they exist for themselves. He believed that people can create their own purpose or meaning for life.

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