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Existentialism

Sartre (1905-1980) is the best known philosopher for his untiring pursuit of philosophical

reflection and creativity. His writing “Existentialism is a Humanism” granted him the title

“Father of philosophy” for setting an intellectual tone on philosophy in the time proceeding the

Second World War. Sartre believes that human shape themselves and their morality by their

actions. The meaning and purpose of what they do is created by their actions that are projected

towards the achievement of certain aims. These thoughts shapes Sartre’s ethical philosophy that

human beings are not the end, contrary to other ethical thinking (Thomas, par 1-3). This paper

uses the ideas of Sartre to discuss how they can ethically shape the life that I live to make it more

fulfilling.

Just like Sartre says, my life is shaped by my actions and people define my morality from

what I do. I was born to guide my own life through self-control and conscience. I choose not to

live by the means of anyone, for I believe that I am entirely responsible for my actions and for

any criticism that might come out of my actions. However, I believe that the actions of everyone

act as a mirror of the society. Either ethically wrong or right my actions are, they reflect the

society where I come from, how it has taught me and how other people in that society define as

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morally good or bad. I ought to live an ethically right life in order to protect the image of my

fellow men in the society and create a good image of the human population at large.

Human beings are guided by the ethics that are socially acceptable and that are viewed as

morally right in the society. However, we have a choice to choose from what is right and what is

wrong and adopt which way to live. I have the freedom of choice to choose what I do to make

myself; in fact, I am responsible for my own existence (Alex, par 2). I am nothing, but what I

make myself to be; so I am obliged to take full responsibility of my actions of my actions that

reflects what man ought to be, not only on individual basis, but the whole society at large. The

society brought me up as a single entity, but not in collectivity. Just like Sartre writes “…man

first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world and defines himself afterwards. If

man as the existentialists sees him is not definable, it is because to begin he is nothing. He will

not be anything until later, and then he will be what he makes for himself” (Sartre, 28).

I was brought in this world with specific personalities, sex and color that are distinct from

the rest of the people. Although I may share the color with other people in my society, the

personality is independent. These factors shape my acts and that of the society at large (20

century philosophy, par 5). I am not tied to act within these parameters as the choice of my

action is still mine. However, my choice of action is still tied to the view of other men and the

protection of the name of my fellow men from moral criticism. I am aware that my actions affect

others, so I am forced, not from external forces but from within, to act within these parameters.

Once a choice is taken, it is hard to go against it, so I have to consider any choice of action that I

choose to adopt in order for it to affect positively all humankind.

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I am faced with many challenges in choosing which way to go as far as ethical choices

are concerned. The mind is guided by what conscience tells me to do; “Man is free, man is

freedom” (Sartre, 34), and at the same time by the ideas that I borrow from others. Some

situations may demand seeking advice from other people around me in order to solve the

inequalities that exist in the way I look at some situations. I am morally justified in every choice

that I take, but I am always unable to determine if it is good or the best. However, by seeking

advice from other people, I have a pre-thought of what answer I might get. The answer that I get

is determined by whether the person sympathizes with the situation or not.

Although I am a believer and a Christian contrary to Sartre who was an atheist, his idea

of dependence of choice is important in guiding what is morally acceptable and what is wrong

according to moral believes. Sartre believes that God does not exist, but men have to face the

consequence of His inexistence. This idea shows us that there is no absolute right or wrong,

therefore no ultimate judge to what is right or wrong for our deeds (Alex, par 4). In contrary, I

believe that God exists, but I concur with Sartre when he uses abandonment in a metaphorical

way to men that God is not there to guide what is moral for me (Nigel, par 7). Although the

Christian teachings define what is right and wrong, God in not there to physically guide us in our

deeds, rather He provides us with the guide of what is right and wrong and eaves the choice to

man’s discretion.

Sartre gives the example of a gentleman who comes to seek in advice as to whether to

stay with his mother or go to England to fight against the enemies of his land. Remaining with

her mother would mean that he is treating her as an end, but not as a means. Choosing this option

would mean that he is treating those who are fighting on his behalf as a means. However, the

converse would mean that he would be treating his mother as a means and the enemies as an end

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(Sartre, 36). According to this excerpt, both situations are morally justifiable, but one carries

weight than the other in the eyes of different people. Different advices given on what choice to

choose is, therefore, dependent on what kind of person the advice is sought. Furthermore, no

general moral rule that exists to correctly distinguish and justify such actions. Therefore, under

such situations, I am forced to do it my own way and follow my conscience to guide my actions.

According to Sartre, we are free to choose as no general morality defines what we are supposed

to do and no signs are vouchsafed for us to follow (p. 38).

It can be concluded that there is no determinism in the actions of men and the choice of

what is right or wrong is left to the choice of men. Man is free and has the freedom to guide his

actions as there are no values or commands that dictate the way we conduct ourselves. Every

person is responsible for his/her own actions. It is, however, important to note that our actions

should be morally justifiable in a positive manner to reflect a good picture of the society that we

come from.

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Works cited

Alex Vermeer. “Existentialism is a humanism” by Jean-Paul Sartre. 2011. Retrieved from:

http://alexvermeer.com/%E2%80%9Cexistentialism-is-a-humanism%E2%80%9D-by-

jean-paul-sartre/. Print.

Jean-Paul Sartre. Existentialism and Humanism. Brooklyn: Haskell House. 1977. Print.

Thomas Flynn. Jean-Paul Sartre. Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. 2004. Retrieved from:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sartre/. Print.

-century-phylosophy. Jean Paul Sartre and the existential ethical position. Blog-20

century

philosophy. 2014. Retrieved from: https://20th-century-philosophy.wikispaces.com/Jean-

Paul+Sartre+and+the+Existential+Ethical+Position. Print.

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