“Being and Nothingness” is the most famous and significant philosophical work of the French writer and existentialist thinker J. P. Sartre (1905–1980). Published in 1943, he immediately attracted attention with the originality of his conclusions and the unusual nature of his images. He forced us to take a fresh look at such traditional philosophical questions as the essence of human existence, the peculiarities of human consciousness and action, his relationship to the world of things and other people, the meaning in the roots of his freedom and responsibility. Translated into many languages, Sartre’s work is now for the first time finding its Russian-speaking reader, who is familiar with his artistic prose. The publication is addressed to everyone who is interested in the philosophical ideas of the 20th century.