Who Is Jean-Paul Sartre? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on June 21, 1905, Jean-Paul Sartre was a pivotal figure in 20th-century philosophy, known for his profound contributions to existentialism and phenomenology. His works continue to influence philosophical discourse today, illustrating concepts of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of human existence.
In 2025, Sartre would be 120 years old, and although he passed away in 1980, his ideas remain significant, often revisited in modern contexts. His key works, such as "Being and Nothingness" and "No Exit," continue to resonate with new generations of thinkers.
| Occupation | Philosophers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 21, 1905 |
| Age | 74 Years |
| Birth Place | Paris, France |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | France |
| Date of death | 15 April, 1980 |
| Died Place | Paris, France |
Popularity
Jean-Paul Sartre's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While Sartre's exact height and weight are not commonly documented and vary in historical accounts, he was generally considered of average height for his time, around 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). As a philosopher deeply engaged with the human condition, his physical measurements were less of a focus compared to the profound themes he explored in his writing.
As an anti-colonialist, Sartre took a prominent role in the struggle against French rule in Algeria, and the use of torture and concentration camps by the French in Algeria. He became an eminent supporter of the FLN in the Algerian War and was one of the signatories of the Manifeste des 121.
Consequently, Sartre became a domestic target of the paramilitary Organisation armée secrète (OAS), escaping two bomb attacks in the early '60s. He later argued in 1959 that each French person was responsible for the collective crimes during the Algerian War of Independence.
(He had an Algerian mistress, Arlette Elkaïm, who became his adopted daughter in 1965.) He opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and, along with Bertrand Russell and others, organized a tribunal intended to expose U.S. war crimes, which became known as the Russell Tribunal in 1967.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Sartre was known for his complex relationships, notably with fellow philosopher and feminist Simone de Beauvoir. Their lifelong partnership was characterized by intellectual companionship and a shared commitment to existentialism, though they maintained an open relationship. In the current context of 2025, discussions around Sartre would likely involve the impact of their relationship on existential thought and feminist philosophy.
Sartre held an open relationship with prominent feminist and fellow existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Together, Sartre and de Beauvoir challenged the cultural and social assumptions and expectations of their upbringings, which they considered bourgeois, in both lifestyles and thought.
The conflict between oppressive, spiritually destructive conformity (mauvaise foi, literally, 'bad faith') and an "authentic" way of "being" became the dominant theme of Sartre's early work, a theme embodied in his principal philosophical work Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant, 1943).
Sartre's introduction to his philosophy is his work Existentialism Is a Humanism (L'existentialisme est un humanisme, 1946), originally presented as a lecture.
Net Worth and Salary
During his lifetime, Sartre achieved considerable acclaim and financial success through his writings, plays, and engagements as a public intellectual. Although precise figures regarding his net worth at the time of his death are elusive, it is estimated that Sartre's legacy has since continued to generate income through the sale of his books and posthumous publications. In today's context, incorporating his theoretical frameworks into modern discussions could further bolster his influence and subsequently his financial legacy.
Career, Business and Investments
Jean-Paul Sartre's career spanned various domains, including literature, philosophy, and political activism. He was not only a prominent philosopher but also a playwright and novelist. His involvement in leftist politics and engagement with issues of social justice and freedom reveal a commitment that transcended academia.
Sartre's writing career, which included both fiction and non-fiction, has continued to be a source of income through analysis, educational programs, and the extensive academic exploration of his work. His investment in ideas rather than material wealth has led to a lasting impact on various fields, including literature, psychology, and sociology.
In 1939, Sartre was drafted into the French Army, where he served as a meteorologist. He was captured by German troops in 1940 in Padoux, and he spent nine months as a prisoner of war—in Nancy and finally in, Trier, where he wrote his first theatrical piece, Barionà, fils du tonnerre, a drama concerning Christmas.
It was during this period of confinement that Sartre read Martin Heidegger's Sein und Zeit, later to become a major influence on his own essay on phenomenological ontology. Because of poor health (he claimed that his poor eyesight and exotropia affected his balance), Sartre was released in April 1941.
According to other sources, he escaped after a medical visit to the ophthalmologist. Given civilian status, he recovered his teaching position at Lycée Pasteur near Paris and settled at the Hotel Mistral.
In October 1941, he was given a position, previously held by a Jewish teacher who had been forbidden to teach by Vichy law, at Lycée Condorcet in Paris.
Social Network
In 2025, had Sartre been active in today's digital landscape, he would likely engage on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and academia.edu, sharing insights on philosophy and participating in global conversations about existentialism. His influence could have led to a powerful online community of followers eager to discuss his works and their implications in contemporary society.
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, US also ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic, considered a leading figure in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism.
Sartre was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology). His work has influenced sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literary studies.
He was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature despite attempting to refuse it, saying that he always declined official honors and that "a writer should not allow himself to be turned into an institution."
Education
Sartre graduated from the prestigious École Normale Supérieure in 1929, where he studied philosophy. His academic background set the foundation for his philosophical explorations on existence, freedom, and the human experience. The education he received, combined with his intellectual pursuits, equipped him to challenge and redefine philosophical frameworks, influencing not only his contemporaries but also future scholars in the humanities.
As a teenager in the 1920s, Sartre became attracted to philosophy upon reading Henri Bergson's essay Time and Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness. He attended the Cours Hattemer, a private school in Paris.
He studied and earned certificates in psychology, history of philosophy, logic, general philosophy, ethics and sociology, and physics, as well as his (roughly equivalent to an MA) in Paris at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), an institution of higher education that was the alma mater for several prominent French thinkers and intellectuals.
(His 1928 MA thesis under the title "L'Image dans la vie psychologique: rôle et nature" ["Image in Psychological Life: Role and Nature"] was supervised by Henri Delacroix.) It was at ENS that Sartre began his lifelong, sometimes fractious, friendship with Raymond Aron.
Perhaps the most decisive influence on Sartre's philosophical development was his weekly attendance at Alexandre Kojève's seminars, which continued for a number of years.
