Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He is considered a leading figure in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism, and a key proponent of existentialism and phenomenology. Sartre's work influenced sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literary studies. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, which he declined. Sartre had an open relationship with fellow existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Together, they challenged the cultural and social assumptions of their upbringings. The dominant theme of Sartre's early work was the conflict between oppressive conformity ('bad faith') and an 'authentic' way of being, exemplified in his major philosophical work *Being and Nothingness* (1943). Sartre's early life was marked by the death of his father at age two and his upbringing by his mother and grandfather. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure, where he developed a deep interest in philosophy. His life was also characterized by strong political engagement, including his involvement in the French Resistance during World War II and his advocacy for various social and political causes throughout his life.