Existentialism

Existentialism is philosophical movement of the 20th century. Existentialism is generally defined as “a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. And personal choices become unique without the necessity of an objective form of truth. An existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions” (AAP, 2009).It is important to note that existentialism has never existed as movement. The antipathy of the theory is drawn from the matter of the ‘existence’ itself, as it is individual and unique by the definition meaning the experience of one particular individual, unlike anyone else. Human’s soul could be called some kind of existence analogue. Due to this factor it should be taken into consideration that neither of philosophers added to existentialism school, were not actually philosophers-existentialists. The one and only who directly expressed his affiliation with this school was Jean Paul Sartre. His direct position was shown in the report “Existentialism is humanism”, where he tried to generalize all the existentialist aspirations of separate philosophers of the 20th century. Some scientists call Sartre’s existentialist theory radical or atheist existentialism.

Jean Paul Sartre’s main philosophical work is his doctoral thesis “L'Être et le néant ” (engl. “Being and Nothingness”). The author himself considered this work to be “the experience of phenomenological ontology”. “Sartre's overriding concern in writing Being and Nothingness was to vindicate the fundamental freedom of the human being, against determinists of all stripes. It was for the sake of this freedom that he asserted the impotence of physical causality over human beings, that he analysed the place of nothingness within consciousness and showed how it intervened between the forces that act upon us and our actions” (Levy, 2002).

Denial from traditional rational understanding of correlation between essence and existence has become a typical trait of Sartre’s philosophy and existentialism as a whole. The main idea of Sartre’s existentialism is that existence foregoes essence. Sartre expressed it as consciousness is being, which existence is se by essence. Being-for-yourself described by Sartre is dynamical. The same time any kind of activity, initiative; any creational actions are understood negatively by philosopher. For Sartre himself and existentialists as particular the emotionally and voluntary interpretation of negation is also typical. Sartre found a human being, to be the creature, who brought negation in the world. This ability to negate everything given, himself as given in particular, produces maintenance of being-for-yourself, of the whole human existence. It will be important to note that Sartre means not a human ‘generally’, but unique individuality, human singleness.

Freedom has always been the core of Sartre’s ‘anthropology’. Followers of Sartre’s existentialism call it “freedom philosophy”. The concept of Sartre’s freedom is the key to all his world understanding as in his theoretical constructions as well as in practical conclusions. According to Sartre’s theory freedom is not based on cognition of objective necessity. Freedom puts a human out of appropriateness and causal dependence. Freedom is not defined by human’s ability to act according what he actually is, as his freedom is his particular choice of existence. The human being is such as wishes himself to be and he makes this choice freely.

Freedom according to Sartre, surmises independence from the past, negation of it, severance with it. Freedom is a human being removing its past from the game, he thought. Freedom, as it is understood by Sartre is breaking of casual dependence, causation, it is creating ‘a hole in being’. According to Sartre, there is no objective conditions existing, that could deprive a human essential freedom. Freedom is left with human in every situation and is expressed in ability to choose. Sartre meant the choice personal attitude to the situation existing, but he did not mean the real abilities to do no or not to do something.

Objective situation according to Sartre’s theory of existentialism is not limiting or suppress our freedom itself, our attitude to the situation actually regulates and percepts it like some kind of limitation. We treat it as it is some kind of obstacle and it could easily become an obstacle. All the barriers and boundaries are broken buried by the understanding the meaning of freedom

In the basis of morality, as it is understood by Sartre, lie free desires of individual. Human being, according to Sartre, is the single source, criteria and aim of morality. Neither society, nor the human ‘in general’, but every human being as a separate individual. It will be important to note that Sartre speaks not only about the personal moral responsibility, but about individual as a mere of morality.

Actually he meant that there is no planned way for the humanity. There is no some naturally determined, progressive way of social development. Choosing the way for yourself and humanity in particular, every individual should act without any hope. There are no guarantees, that our choice, or our way will be supported for our followers, the future generations that will come after us. Another human’s choice could cross everything that humanity tries to plan see fulfilled right now. Existentialism gives the destiny of an individual into his hands.

The ideas of existentialism of Sartre influenced a lot his famous play “No exit”. Even the name of this play has certain symbolism if we take his concept of freedom. The main characters are Joseph Garcin, Inès Serrano and Estelle Rigault. They appeared in the closed room and in some time they realize that it is hell and try to prepare to the worst. But the supposed tortures and physical pain are not felt. Each of them tries to learn the truth what was the reason of their appearing in hell and tries to keep his personal information unknown to the others. And they have some surprising secrets for each other.

Garcin awfully treated his wife and in decisive situation showed himself as a coward. Inès, being a lesbian, snatched away her cousin’s girlfriend and he committed a suicide, being depressed her girlfriend killed herself and Inès by gas. Estelle killed he baby and made her lover to kill himself. Soon they all understand that these hell tortures are in this mutual lies. Inès tries to attract attention Estelle, but she prefers Garcin, who tries to draw attention of Inès.

They could not leave or avoid each other. They even could not kill each other as they are already dead. This torture by neighbour will last forever. The author showed typical situation he described in his philosophical works. If the main heroes knew about their actual freedom – the freedom to change their attitude to the situation – the hell will not be actually hell for them. But being overwhelmed by their fears they actually limit themselves and could not see the situation differently.

References:

1. Levy, Neil (2002). Sartre. One World Publications.

2. Sartre, Jean-Paul; translated by Hazel E. Barnes [1958] (2003). Being and Nothingness. London: Routledge.

3. Fiero, Gloria (2006). The Humanistic Tradition: The Modern World to the Present. Vol. 2, 5th edition. McGraw Hill

4. AAP (2009) Existentialism – A Philosophy. Retrieved 4th of December 2009 from All About Philosophy web site