Full Idea
It is of the essence of consciousness to transcend itself
Gist of Idea
Consciousness always transcends itself
Source
Jean-Paul Sartre (Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions [1939], §III)
Book Reference
Sartre,Jean-Paul: 'Sketch for a Theory of Emotions' [Routledge 1994], p.53
A Reaction
As usual, I am a bit baffled by these sorts of pronouncement. Sounds like an oxymoron to me. Maybe it is a development of Schopenhauer's thought.
Related Idea
Idea 4166 A consciousness without an object is no consciousness [Schopenhauer]