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Sartre's Existentialism

Jean-Paul Sartre, in "Existentialism," argues that his philosophy is based on existence preceding essence, which means that the significance of an individual's life is created by the individual through his willed action and is not innate. He says that most people see God as the creator of man (and his essence) just as a manufacturer creates a paper-cutter. The existentialist, on the other hand, rejects the presence of God, which leaves man to work out his destiny and the meaning of life for himself. Without God, man must create, shape and define his own nature.

Existentialism holds that to be a man means to be aware that one is alone in the universe, that he is what he wills himself to be and nothing more and nothing less. Man must consciously plan his creation of himself by himself, rather than merely let things happen to him or rely on another man. The individual alone is responsible for his life and the significance of that life.

At the same time, existentialism holds that a man is responsible for all other men in that the choices he makes creates an image of man as the individual believes man should be. In other words, as the individual creates himself through his willed action, he also, in effect, creates all men at the same time, at least in the sense that his actions reflect his commitment to what he sees as good and not evil.

Sartre says that a man "chooses" all men as he "chooses" himself, which means that he creates the best man he can be and thereby creates the best man he believes all men should be. The realization of this tremendous responsibility, not only to himself but to the entire human race, creates anguish and anxiety in a man. if a man denies or ignores this responsibility and the anguish it brings, he will suffer from an "uneasy conscience" because his self-deception is a statement about how he thinks all men should be. In other words, no matter what man chooses to be or do, he represents all men, wh...

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Sartre's Existentialism. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 02:12, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1689854.html