Sartre Publishes Being and Nothingness
Jean-Paul Sartre published Being and Nothingness, the foundational text of existentialism proclaiming that "existence precedes essence."
In 1943, French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre published L'Être et le néant (Being and Nothingness), a dense philosophical treatise that became the foundational text of existentialism. Sartre argued that human beings have no predetermined nature or essence — we are "condemned to be free," forced to create ourselves through our choices. Bad faith (mauvaise foi) is the attempt to deny this radical freedom by hiding behind roles, excuses, or determinism. Sartre's philosophy, together with his novels, plays, and political activism, made him the most famous intellectual of the 20th century and turned existentialism into a cultural movement that swept postwar Europe.
More in Religion & Philosophy
The Upanishads Composed
The Upanishads, foundational texts of Hindu philosophy, were composed, introducing concepts of Brahman, Atman, and the nature of ultimate reality.
c. 600 BCEBirth of Laozi
Laozi, the traditional founder of Taoism, was born.
~599 BCEBirth of Mahavira
Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, was born, becoming a central figure in Indian spiritual tradition.
~563 BCEBirth of Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, who would become the Buddha, was born in Lumbini, founding one of the world's great religions.