Intentionality, Pre-reflection, and Imaginary: On the foundations of the existential phenomenology of Jean-Paul Sartre

Abstract

The objective of this work is to describe a synthesis of the foundations, concepts and principles that articulate and give meaning to the existential phenomenology of Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) establishing as a central axis of investigation his work and phenomenological production. To fulfill this general objective, first of all, the concept of intentionality will be reviewed, in light of the distancing our author takes from the father of phenomenology Edmund Husserl (1859-1938). This will serve as a ground of meaning for our second task, namely: to review and analyze the intimate relationship between the reformulation of intentionality, the ontological preeminence of the pre-reflective cogito and the constitution of the imaginary. It is important to carry out this step, since, as will be seen, it is fundamental for the future of Sartrean philosophy. In this way, we will be able to approach our third objective, to sustain and deepen our analysis toward the most radical thesis in Jean-Paul Sartre’s thought, namely: the absolute freedom of an existing conscience. Finally, we propose a synthetic review of the main precepts of Sartrean existential phenomenology, highlighting its links with the concepts addressed throughout the research. In other words, we will review the relationship between what Jean-Paul Sartre calls pour-soi, en-soi and néantisation.