Jean-Paul Sartre's "Being and Nothingness"

Jean-Paul Sartre's "Being and Nothingness" explores human existence as fundamentally characterized by consciousness and freedom. He distinguishes between "being-in-itself" (things with fixed nature) and "being-for-itself" (conscious beings capable of self-awareness and choice). Sartre argues that humans are "condemned to be free," meaning we constantly create our identity through choices, which can lead to feelings of anxiety or "nausea." The book examines how we confront ourselves, our relationships with others, and the nature of authenticity, emphasizing that meaning is not predetermined but created through our actions and perceptions.