Jean Paul Sartre : The Philosophy Of Existentialism

Existentialism, a philosophical ideology conceptualized by Jean-Paul Sarte, encapsulates most thought processes where “the individual is obliged to make a choice as though he were choosing for all mankind” (Arnold, “Jean-Paul Sarte: Overview). Put simply, Sarte’s concept of existentialism is the thought process by which humans find themselves existing, and the analysis of their existence itself (Tulloch, Sartrian Existentialism). This analysis of existence found itself in many writings during the twentieth century, and acts a driving force in both Bishop’s “In the Waiting Room” and Lispector’s “The Daydreams of a Drunk Woman”.

In the reading “Existentialism is a Humanism”, the author Jean-Paul Sartre presents the idea of Existentialism. He introduces this idea by stating that man’s plan in this world is not pre-determined, as we only determine who we are or who we want to become throughout life. Sartre states that a person is what a person does. He also uses a metaphoric scenario of a man jumping on a scene before defining himself. These two ideas imply that man has no ultimate meaning, and it is up to us to find it through experience and by taking action. Additionally, Sartre also implies that humans have a huge responsibility on becoming who they want to become as it is only up to them to do so, making us entirely responsible for our existence.

There is no universal essence that can define every being, there is no divinely-inspired archetype for the human to aspire to (called the adam-kadmon in Hebrew mysticism), as the existence of such a blue-print for our essence would preclude freedom and bind us to an average, everyday homogeneity. Considerations of freedom and choice are the crux of existential philosophy, and being that Sartre is one of the primary philosophers of Existentialism, he examines both concepts with a critical eye in Being and Nothingness. Sartre states plainly that authentic choices are wholey and fully undetermined; if we choose and decide based merely upon the edicts of a religious code or some sort of secular ethical

To support this claim, Sartre gives the example of Cocteau’s story Round the world in 80 Hours and the phrase “Man is magnificent!” Sartre rejects this claim, that “Man is magnificent,” because it is invalid to transcribe the accomplishments of one person onto another because in doing so, it assumes that all people are the same and confines them into the definition of others, not what they define themselves as. However, existentialism is a form of humanism in the sense that existentialism promotes the concept of abandonment, that each person is left to their own devices and must decide who and what they are. Additionally, each person creates their own value by looking outside one’s self, and constantly reflecting on how to improve - everybody has the potential to be great, not just a select

Sartre was the prominent philosopher of the existentialism movement. As an atheist, Sartre supported against the existence of God, and argued that for pre-determined human essence to exist, a designer must exist. Whereas, medieval philosophers like Plato, believed in the existence of God and that we had an essence before existing. Sartre rejects

For this paper, both movies used to explain Existentialism are adapted from real stories. The first film is Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed and the second is Into the Wild, starring Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless. In Sartre’s definition of existentialism, human existence precedes essence, therefore leading to meaning, purpose and identity. When Chris and Cheryl leave their family, friends and everything else they know from the society, they are attempting to find a meaning and purpose to their lives.

Sartre expressed the existentialist position in the phrase that “existence precedes essence” This phrase means that it is the particular individual existence that is more important than the essence of the individual. As a matter of fact, Sartre believed that human beings do not possess any essential quality by which their nature is defined. Thus it is the individual human being who is able to define his/her own existence and whatever the individual is or what she is to become is a product of her own free choice.

Sartre’s stance that human existence precedes essence directly ties into his notion of rational freedom and responsibility. Existence precedes essence means that there is no predetermined human essence and that there is no human nature fixed in advance of human existence. Furthermore, if I create my essence then I am wholly responsible for the person that I am. In other words, one could say that humans exist and subsequently make themselves who they are by their actions, choices, as well as creating an image of what men ought to be. “Man simple is” (Sartre 28). When we are born we have no essence, but through experiences

     Jean Paul Sartre personally believed in the philosophical idea of existentialism, which is demonstrated in his play No Exit. His ideas of existentialism were profoundly outlined in the play. Based on the idea that mental torture is more agonizing than physical, No Exit leaves the reader with mixed emotions towards the importance of consequences for one’s acts.

Sartre believed that the way each of carves our path in life determines our essence. This basically means that we are alive first, we are born which means we live. Then the experiences and things one does to make themselves them. This is Sartre’s principle of metaphysics. This is under Sartre’s assumption that men are born as very selfish people and must work their entire life to prove to themselves that they are rational beings. Many may wish to be something their entire life but this is not apart of him that defines him. Sartre believes that men are only as much as they may act upon. For example I may believe my entire life I am the a cat but that does not make me a cat unless I actually act like it or truly am one. This also proceeds into

Sartre definition of the phrase "existentialism is a humanism" is that existentialism is a rule that attests that each fact, and each activity suggest both a domain and a human subjectivity. It is that existence introduces essence. Every individual are completely in charge of their own lives, regardless of what they may accept, and it can't be some other way. In this manner, only an individual can characterize their essence. Sartre defines that existentialism is nothing else than an endeavor to draw all the outcomes of a rational atheistic position. It isn't attempting to dive man into losing hope by any means. But rather, it pronounces that regardless of whether God existed, that would not change anything. Not that atheist trust that God exists, but rather they feel that the issue of his reality isn't the issue. In this instance existentialism is idealistic, a precept of activity.

A second concept of existentialism is Bad Faith. French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre believed that Bad Faith is the fundamental issue that prevents individuals from living an authentic life. He focused on the concept of radical freedom, in which the individual always has a choice. Since life itself and the universe is absurd, humans are completely responsible for creating their own destiny. Every action performed by the individual ultimately stems from the innate freedom they possess. Sartre looks at the darker aspects of freedom, and notes how “Man is condemned to be free” (Löwith 123). He is suggesting that individuals are thrown into a meaningless world, where he or she is forced to decide for him or herself. As rational beings, humans seek answers and guidelines for how to live, because they do not want to decide for themselves. Because, deciding for oneself means holding oneself responsible for every action performed. The thought of complete and utter responsibility frightens people and influences their decisions to commit acts of bad faith.

Existentialism is a philosophy in which people believe that their actions determine their own expansion as a person. The Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia states, “Sartre nevertheless insisted that his existentialism is a form of humanism, and he strongly emphasized human freedom, choice, and responsibility”

To fully understand an account of subjectivity by Sartre and the ambiguity pointed out by de Beauvoir in the human condition, one must be familiar with sketch of freedom Sartre draws. For Sartre, each and every human condemned to freedom— everyone is radically free. Any attempt to deny or ignore one’s freedom is an act of bad faith. Now, one might immediately question the validity of the statement everyone is radically free given the obvious limitations on every individual's freedom of choice. Physical and social constraints cannot be disregarded when considering the way in which we make choices. In Existentialism is a Humanism, Sartre does not have a problem with these constraints, for freedom is not defined by the ability to act. Freedom is the ability to choose. There is also more to freedom than just the ability to choose. Consider the following case, it is one easy for many of us to relate to, a college student is deciding to study what to study. We must recognize that whatever discipline is chosen will send the student down a different paths with different consequences.

Sartre’s Being and Nothingness is a Phenomenological Ontology. Ontology means the study of being; and phenomenological relates to perceptual consciousness (in short it takes human conscious experience as its subject, and its point of departure). Its descriptive method moves from the most abstract to the highly material. It starts by analysing two different and complex categories or kinds of being: the “in-itself” and the “for-itself”, or more