“To eat is to appropriate by destruction.”
- June 21, 1905 – April 15, 1980
- Born in France
- Philosopher, novelist, playwright
- He advocated existentialism and had a major influence on 20th century thought through works such as “Being and Nothingness” and “Nausea”
Quote
“To eat is to appropriate by destruction.”
Explanation
In this quote, Sartre reflects on the fundamental act of consumption and its relationship to the broader existential concepts of appropriation and destruction. To “appropriate” something means to take it for oneself, while “destruction” here refers to the act of breaking down or altering the original form of what is consumed. Sartre is pointing out that eating, at its core, is an act of transformation and destruction—when we consume food, we take it in, change it, and ultimately break it down in order to sustain ourselves. In other words, eating is a violent act, where something is destroyed in order to fuel our existence, and this act reflects the inherent tension in human life: the need to take from the world in order to survive, often at the cost of destroying or transforming that which is consumed.
This idea also connects to Sartre’s broader existential philosophy, which often focuses on the freedom and responsibility of human beings in relation to the world around them. Eating, as a basic biological need, is a metaphor for the larger human condition, where we are constantly in a process of appropriating the world in order to exist. However, this act of appropriation, like eating, involves a destructive element—whether it’s through consuming resources, altering environments, or changing relationships. Sartre’s words remind us of the interconnectedness of life, where survival itself often comes at the cost of other beings or the natural world.
In modern contexts, this quote can be interpreted in light of contemporary discussions around sustainability, consumption, and the ethical implications of eating. In a world where resource exploitation and environmental degradation are urgent issues, Sartre’s reflection on appropriation by destruction encourages us to think about the consequences of our basic actions. Whether it’s eating animals, using resources, or consuming goods, Sartre’s insight pushes us to consider how these everyday acts of consumption shape our world and the ethical implications of the destruction involved in our survival.
