Existence Precedes Essence

The proposition that existence precedes essence (French: l'existence précède l'essence) is a central claim of existentialism, which reverses the traditional philosophical view that the essence or nature of a thing is more fundamental and immutable than its existence. To existentialists, human beings—through their consciousness—create their own values and determine a meaning for their life because, in the beginning, the human being does not possess any inherent identity or value. By posing the acts that constitute him or her, he or she makes his or her existence more significant.

The idea can be found in the works of philosopher Søren Kierkegaard in the 19th century, but was explicitly formulated by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre in the 20th century. His close confidant, Simone de Beauvoir also uses this concept in her feminist existentialism to develop the idea that "one is not born a woman, but becomes one".

The three-word formula originates with Sartre in his 1946 lecture "Existentialism Is a Humanism" (though antecedent notions can be found in Heidegger's Being and Time), and was notably flipped back to its original formulation by the playwright and then Czechoslovakian President Václav Havel in a memorable speech to a joint session of Congress circa the end of the Cold War in February 1990.