Being and Nothingness summary

What is the origin of being? 

Sartre has a straightforward answer: Nothingness. When we question our existence, we soon encounter the possibility of negation and absence. We are, but we can imagine that we might as well not be. Nothingness is a result of human freedom – our capacity to negate, to conceive of what is not. This reveals the essential role of nothingness in relation to our being. Being and nothingness are not opposing forces, but deeply intertwined. 

The key to overcoming the absurdity of life lies in being-for-itself, or conscious existence. 

Being-for-itself is characterized by its utter lack of any predetermined essence or nature. Human consciousness, for instance, is inherently free, undefined, and self-aware. It transcends fixed categories and definitions. This differs starkly from being-in-itself; the mode of being of unconscious objects. 

Humans don’t exist in isolation. Our identities emerge through other people. We’re never just shaping ourselves, we’re also being shaped by others. This intersubjective dimension is core to human consciousness.

For instance, we can never fully know our own bodies, since we cannot step outside them and observe them objectively. Our physical selves remain elusive. But we can gain insight into our embodiment by perceiving the bodies of others. We see their eyes, limbs, expressions. This intersubjective dimension enables a self-awareness of our own body.

Humans inherently lack a predetermined essence. This means we’re inevitably free. Sartre defines this freedom as our capacity to act or even decide against acting. In theory, this means we have boundless possibilities. But in practice, our freedom isn't limitless. Our environment, past experiences, and our inevitable mortality constructs boundaries around our range of choices.

Many of these choices stem from a yearning for transcendence. We want to elevate ourselves beyond the human condition and become God-like. But the world doesn't necessarily cater to this ambition. It's inherently random and absurd. This sense of absurdity extends to our freedom and our desires. We often feel incomplete, driving us to seek external possessions, hoping they might fill our inner void. But these are just temporary solutions.