Existentialism Is a Humanism in Hindi

In October 1945, shortly after the end of the Second World War, Jean-Paul Sartre gave a public lecture in Paris that drew such a crowd that it became a famous event in itself. The text of that talk, published as Existentialism Is a Humanism, became the most popular short introduction to existentialist philosophy. This Hindi audiobook explains Sartre's argument in clear language for listeners who want to understand what existentialism actually says.

What the lecture is about

By 1945 existentialism had become fashionable, and also widely criticised. Some critics said it was gloomy and encouraged despair. Others said it ignored human solidarity or left people without any moral standards. Sartre's lecture is his reply. He sets out to show that existentialism is not a philosophy of hopelessness but a demanding philosophy of freedom and responsibility, centred on human beings, which is why he calls it a humanism.

Key ideas from the lecture

Existence comes before essence. This is the lecture's most famous idea. Sartre compares a person to a manufactured object, such as a paper knife, which is designed with a purpose before it is made. Human beings, he argues, are different: we first exist, and only through our choices and actions do we define what we are. There is no fixed human nature that decides our life for us.

Radical freedom and responsibility. If no fixed nature or outside authority determines us, then we are responsible for what we become. Sartre goes further and says that in choosing for ourselves we are also, in a sense, choosing an image of what a human being should be. Every choice carries weight for humanity as a whole.

Anguish, abandonment and despair. Sartre explains these dramatic-sounding words in a practical way. Anguish is the feeling of that full responsibility. Abandonment means that, in his atheist view, no God or ready-made rule settles our decisions for us. Despair means acting without guarantees, relying only on what is within our power.

The student's dilemma. Sartre tells of a young man who came to him during the war, torn between staying to look after his mother and leaving to join the Free French forces. No moral theory could make the choice for him, Sartre says. Even choosing an adviser is already a choice. The example shows how existentialism understands real moral decisions.

No excuses. Sartre rejects the idea that passion, circumstance or character can fully excuse our actions. Blaming outside forces is what he calls bad faith, a way of pretending we are not free.

Action, not just feeling. A person is the sum of their actions. Sartre argues that this is actually a hopeful view, because it means we are never finished and can always act differently.

Who should listen

This audiobook suits philosophy and political science students, UPSC aspirants studying ethics and thinkers, and young people facing major decisions about career, relationships and identity. It is also useful for anyone who has heard words like existential crisis or freedom of choice and wants to know where they come from. Listeners familiar with Indian discussions of karma and personal duty may find it interesting to compare them with Sartre's very different starting point.

About the author

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 to 1980) was a French philosopher, novelist, playwright and political activist. His major philosophical work is Being and Nothingness, and his novel Nausea and plays such as No Exit are widely read. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964 but declined it. Jean-Paul Sartre later expressed some reservations about this lecture, and it simplifies ideas he developed more carefully elsewhere, but it remains the clearest doorway into his thought.

Why listen in Hindi

Sartre's terms can sound abstract in English. Listening to Existentialism Is a Humanism in Hindi, in a session of about 39 minutes, makes ideas like freedom, responsibility and bad faith easier to grasp and to connect with everyday life.

A short lecture with a big challenge: you are what you choose to make of yourself.