Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • French writer and existentialist philosopher (1905-1980): Jean-Paul Sartre was a 20th-century French intellectual, a leading proponent of existentialism. He was a novelist, playwright, literary critic, and political activist. His philosophy emphasizes human freedom, responsibility, and the idea that existence precedes essence.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature, which he declined.
  • The plays of Jean-Paul Sartre, such as "No Exit," explore themes of freedom and bad faith.
  • Many students study the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre in modern literature courses.

Advanced Usage

• Sartrean (adj): Relating to or characteristic of the ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre.
  • The film has a distinctly Sartrean view of human alienation.

Variants and Related Words

• Existentialism (n): A philosophical theory associated with Sartre, emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice.
• Being and Nothingness: The title of Sartre's 1943 magnum opus of philosophical work.
• No Exit ("Huis Clos"): The title of one of Sartre's most famous plays.

Synonyms

• Philosopher: A person engaged in the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics.
• Existentialist: A philosopher who focuses on the individual's experience of and responsibility in a seemingly meaningless universe.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Hell is other people": A famous line from Sartre's play "No Exit," often used to express the idea that interpersonal conflict and judgment are a source of anguish.
  • After the stressful meeting, he muttered, "Hell is other people," quoting Sartre.

Noun

1. French writer and existentialist philosopher (1905-1980)