Foundry of Meaning Slides
The Foundry of Meaning
An Introduction to Existentialism
The Core Inquiry
Most things in the world are designed with a purpose before they are even created.
"A letter-opener is made by a craftsman who has a concept of it... its essence precedes its existence."
But what about humans?
Do we have a pre-defined blueprint, or do we build ourselves as we go?
Existence Precedes Essence
01
We show up first.
We appear on the scene, we exist, and only afterwards do we define ourselves.
02
No pre-written script.
There is no "human nature" that dictates who you must become.
03
Self-Creation.
Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself.
"You are the architect, the builder, and the material all at once."
Radical Freedom
"Condemned to be Free"
Jean-Paul Sartre argued that freedom is a burden. Because there is no external authority giving us orders, we are 100% responsible for every choice.
If you are free to choose anything, you are also responsible for everything you do.
No excuses ("That's just how I am")
No blaming fate or destiny
Every action is a vote for who you are
The Absurd
The "Absurd" is the conflict between our search for meaning and the "silent," meaningless universe.
The Search
Humans naturally crave order, purpose, and reason.
The Reality
The universe provides no inherent purpose or script.
Sisyphus
Albert Camus tells us to imagine Sisyphus happy as he pushes his rock. We find joy not in the goal, but in the revolt against meaninglessness.
Bad Faith
"Bad Faith" (Mauvaise foi) is when we lie to ourselves to escape the pressure of our freedom.
What it looks like:
- • "I have no choice."
- • "That's just the way society is."
- • "I'm just following orders."
- • Playing a "role" instead of being yourself.
The Existential Challenge:
Live authentically. Own your choices, acknowledge your freedom, and stop hiding behind excuses.
Facticity vs. Transcendence
Facticity
"The Givens"
Things you didn't choose: where you were born, your height, your past, the laws of physics.
Transcendence
"The Possibilities"
Your ability to project yourself into the future and decide what your facticity means.
Existentialism happens in the tension between who you are and who you could be.
The Forge
Time to build your own meaning.
If life has no inherent meaning, is that terrifying or liberating?
Think of a time you said "I have no choice." Was that Bad Faith?
If you could design your "essence" today, what three values would you build it with?
"Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself." — Sartre
Existence First Worksheet
Existence First
Existentialist Application Worksheet
Name:
Date:
01. Essence vs. Existence
Sartre uses the example of a letter-opener. Its essence (purpose) comes before its existence. Humans are different: we show up, then we define ourselves.
The Object
Object:
What is its pre-defined "essence"?
The Human
Subject:
Yourself
If you have no pre-defined essence, who creates it?
02. The Weight of Choice
Describe a recent choice you made where you felt like you "had no choice."
In that situation, were you acting in "Bad Faith"? Why or why not?
03. Facticity vs. Transcendence
3 facts you didn't choose
How will you define one of these?
04. Facing the Absurd
Imagine Sisyphus happy as he pushes his rock. What is a "rock" you push daily? How can you find joy in the process?
Final Synthesis
"Because I am free, I choose to be ,
even though the universe ."
Meaning Maker Teacher Guide
Teacher Guide: The Meaning Maker
Instructional Support for Existentialism Intro
Key Objectives
- • Define "existence precedes essence."
- • Distinguish between facticity and transcendence.
- • Explain "Bad Faith" and "The Absurd" using examples.
Pacing
45-60 Minutes Total
• 15m Lecture/Slides
• 15m Class Discussion
• 30m Worksheet/Tasks
Level
Grade 10-12
Full Facilitation Path
SLIDES 1-2: HOOKS
Ask students what makes a "good" chair. It follows its design. Then ask what makes a "good" human. They'll realize there is no objective blueprint for us.
SLIDE 3: EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE
We are "nothing" until we act. Emphasize that we are a project in progress, not a finished product.
SLIDE 4: RADICAL FREEDOM
Responsibility is the core. Sartre says we are "condemned" to be free. Every action is a vote for who you are.
SLIDE 5: THE ABSURD
The universe is silent, but we crave answers. Finding joy in the struggle (Sisyphus) is the existentialist revolt.
SLIDE 6: BAD FAITH
Discuss how we use roles (athlete, student) to avoid choice. "I have to do this because I'm a student." No, you choose to be a student.
SLIDE 7: FACTICITY VS. TRANSCENDENCE
We can't change where we were born (Facticity). But we can choose our attitude toward it (Transcendence).
Misconception Alert
Existentialism isn't Nihilism. Nihilists say nothing matters. Existentialists say nothing is pre-written, which means everything you do matters and carries weight.
Worksheet Guidance
- Part 1: Remind students that "Essence" is the intended purpose.
- Part 2: Look for "social scripts" they follow without questioning.
- Part 3: Facticity = The Givens. Transcendence = The Choices.
- Part 4: The joy is in the effort, not the completion.
Extension
The Existential Map: Analyze a literary character (like Hamlet or Gatsby) through the lens of their Facticity vs. their Transcendence.
