The validity of Essence

                The principle of Essence precedes Existence has always been the knowledge being presumed within the course of western philosophy. With this line of thought, it supports that given impression that Man’s meaning is already pre-determined; which means that Man’s purpose and his significance are already laid down in front of him. Take for example, the case of a carpenter who wants to create a piece of furniture, conceivably a chair.  The chair is an item made by the carpenter or artisan whose idea of the chair came from a concept. The carpenter applies the concept then of what a chair is and is produced in a certain way or method which is also part of the overall concept of the chair. Consequently, the chair is an item fabricated in a particular way and also, possessing a definite purpose or function. Since, when the carpenter creates the chair he knows exactly what he is creating for the concept of the chair is in the mind of the carpenter and as a result, produces an item—a chair. Considering this very idea, it is somehow supported that with this principle Essence precedes Existence; there is an existence of a divine intelligence. In regards to St. Thomas Aquinas’ view on necessary being, he goes over the thought that there ought to be an existence of a necessary being, which is the reason why contingent beings came into existence. In addition to this, St. Thomas argues that if there were no necessary being, nothing at all would come into existence. It is in this manner, that there emerges in man’s awareness an image of a superior sort of artisan.  Wherein he has the concept of man first before man came into existence. The essence existed first in the mind of the creator before its existence appears into view. Basically, the idea being thrown with this kind of notion is that, before man first came into view, before man appeared in the scene, he has already within him his meaning and purpose. Man’s meaning has already been established way before he came into the picture. This is how the notion of Essence precedes Existence presents itself that human being is the insight of a particular perception in the divine intelligence.

Contrary to this idea, Sartre thought the opposite of this notion which is “Existence precedes Essence”. 

Here, Sartre gave emphasis on the idea that Man first existed before he finds his meaning or purpose. This thought further affirms the idea that there is a being which first came into view before he identify his significance or meaning in life; and that this being is non other than Man. Opposing to the idea that of Essence precedes Existence, wherein it acknowledges the importance of a superior sort of artisan that plays an important role in the formation of Man’s existence, Existence precedes Essence on the other hand presents its concept in a different way. At this point, Man is the focus within this line of thought. There is no other important figure that plays a significant function in Man’s existence other than Man himself. Furthermore, Man is nothing than what he creates himself to be. Man makes himself this is the very notion of this statement Existence precedes Essence. He is not ready made at the start unlike the very concept of Essence precedes Existence where Man’s meaning is already pre-determined from the start. There is no pre-determined character in his being. Who man is, is the function of what he does.  This is a kind of idea that gave importance on the notion that life is meaningless. That life has no meaning at all, that life is nothing before man came to be alive.

The reality that life is meaningless gives an opportunity for man to create this meaning of his existence. It is all in his hands to mold his life and to stir the wheel in the direction that he is going for and what’s more is that his existence is based on what he is going to make of it. Man is allowed to build his life the way he wants and that there is no superior artisan other than himself to create this kind of character. He is his own designer of his being, his own designer of his character and his own planner of his destiny. Existence precedes Essence gave rise to the understanding that due to the fact that man is the central figure to his existence, subjectivity as a starting point is a necessary view to consider.