Passage: Existentialism, as articulated by Jean-Paul Sartre, posits that 'existence precedes essence,' meaning that human beings are not born with a predetermined purpose or nature. Instead, individuals define themselves through their choices and actions, bearing total responsibility for the identities they construct. This radical freedom, however, is a source of profound 'anguish,' as there are no objective moral codes or divine blueprints to provide guidance. Sartre argued that many individuals attempt to escape this burden by adopting 'bad faith'—the self-deception that one is bound by social roles, circumstances, or biological determinants. By pretending that their choices are limited, individuals avoid the terrifying reality of their own autonomy. Critics of existentialism, however, point out that this emphasis on individual choice ignores the structural and economic constraints that frequently limit a person's actual range of viable options in the material world.