Today's excerpt comes from the introduction of Jean-Paul Sartre's seminal work, Being and Nothingness. In this episode, we delve into Sartre's exploration of reflective consciousness and its intricate relationship with self-awareness. He challenges the notion of knowing what we are doing, emphasizing that consciousness is not merely a passive state but an active engagement with our experiences. Sartre's assertion that "to know is to know that one knows" serves as a pivotal point in understanding his philosophy.

We unpack Sartre's ideas through the lens of everyday activities, such as counting, and examine how our awareness of these actions shapes our consciousness. This leads to a fascinating discussion about the implications of non-thetic consciousness and how it underlies our ability to label and understand our actions. Join us as we navigate the complexities of Sartre's thought and consider its relevance to our daily lives.

Read it yourself at ⁠⁠alifeofthought.com/d15⁠⁠ -- Or join the conversation at ⁠⁠community.alifeofthought.com⁠⁠.

Citation: Excerpt from Sartre, Jean-Paul. Being and Nothingness: An Essay in Phenomenological Ontology. Translated by Sarah Richmond. First Washington Square Press/Atria paperback edition. New York London Toronto Sydney New Delhi: Washington Square Press/Atria, 2021, pp. 11 - 12.