Question

Evaluate the existentialist dictum that existence precedes essence

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Although there are no options provided, we can say that existence precedes essence because humans must first exist, incarnated, being a total corporeal human to then refer to an essence. This was an idea of French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.

According to Sartre, when a human being comes to existence, then he/she can reflect himself/herself trying to get its essence through its beliefs, contexts, and references. That is how humans become aware of their existence. Humans think and then exist, realizing its essence.