Jean-Paul (ʒɑ̃pɔl). 1905–80, French philosopher, novelist, and dramatist; chief French exponent of atheistic existentialism. His works include the philosophical essay Being and Nothingness (1943), the novels Nausea (1938) and Les Chemins de la liberté (1945–49), a trilogy, and the plays Les Mouches (1943), Huis clos (1944), and Les Mains sales (1948)