Jean Paul Sartre: Existentialism

Questions to answer for yourself: What are the key elements of Existentialism? What would an "existential ethic" look like? How is Sartre like and unlike Nietzsche?

Key elements of existentialism I

Opposition to rationalist tradition. The belief that Radical Freedom

is a CONDITION of human existence Rather than a CHARACTERISTIC of

human nature. [What is the difference?] Who we are is a function of the choices we

make, not the other way around. We must commit ourselves at every

moment

Key elements of existentialism II

The concept of "authenticity" defined as living according to choices made consciously and responsibly. There are no universal principles.

[from an anti-rationalist stance] The social order is a "fabrication" that allows

us to avoid our isolation. Responsibility for my choices is mine alone.

Sartre is an atheistic existentialist

What consequences does not believing in God have for the existentialist?

Existence precedes essence – we are born and then make ourselves through our choices.

As we chose for ourselves we choose for all humankind … How so?

Anguish/Folornness. The existentialist feels these because without

the existence of God s/he is alone

Anguish

I am unable to escape a deep sense of responsibility. "It is always for me to decide that this is the

angel's voice." I am not Abraham, yet I must perform

exemplary acts at every moment.

Rembrandt Abraham & Isaac 1634

Caravaggio,The Sacrifice of Isaac 1601-02

Folornness

"God does not exist and we must face all the consequences."

Why does this distress the existentialist? Because finding values in the "heaven of

ideas" disappears. (see Nietzsche) If existence precedes essence , we cannot

fall back on a fixed and given human nature. There are no excuses.

Man is "condemned to be free"

Why condemned? Why free? What is Sartre's view of failing to act?

Hint: "man is nothing else than his plan." What can we count on?

That which is in our power. There are no excuses outside ourselves

“Love” equals a person's being in love “Genius” is nothing other than that

expressed in works of art.

"Culture" and freedom

Some say we are determined by our culture. How does Sartre respond? Man is free to determine his existence in

relation to the culture [culture is a condition, not a characteristic]

"There is a universality of man"; but it is not given, it is being perpetually made.""I build the universal in choosing myself"

Two kinds of Humanism

1. Man as an end and a higher value: Value is assigned in relation to the best

that certain men have done. Sartre’s Critique: man isn't an "end",

because he is "always in the making"2. Man as losing himself outside of himself.

Pursuing goals outside himself. Sartre believes that existentialism is

optimistic: a doctrine of action.

Man is not a "thing"

Even the worst conditions do not render a man inhuman. Everything that happens to me is mine To decide to be non-human is still MY

decision.. (Frankl - concentration camp) Example of war:

If I am mobilized for war, it is MY war. "For lack of getting out of it, I have chosen it."

An example

A young man in France during WWII is faced with the choice of going to war or staying with his grandmother who needs him. He decides to go talk with a priest, hoping the priest will make the choice for him.

What does Sartre say ? He has already made his choice by going to

the priest rather than a military official.