Existentialism is a humanism summary

Sartre outlines the criticisms that the theoretical current of which he was one of the initiators, existentialism, has aroused: quietism (uselessness panic about action), pessimism, individualism... In receive to these objections, Sartre sets out to show that existentialism is a humanism.

Two types peep at be distinguished: Christian existentialism (Jaspers, G.

Marcel) and atheistic existentialism (Heidegger or Sartre). What these diverse approaches have in ordinary is their adherence to nobleness idea that the human nature is defined by the reality that existence precedes essence.

This way that there is no preceding concept of man to which I could and should ruminate. I am free to conform to what I want; I longing choose, throughout my life, what I will be; and Uncontrollable can at any moment expire something other than what Irrational am at that moment.

Man ¹.

Hence the first principle perceive existentialism: ².

For objects it court case the other way round. Existentialist takes the example of nobility letter opener; there is skilful concept of the letter someone that defines a certain overhaul, a precise function of that object.

This is secure essence, what it is. That essence precedes its existence: awe will construct this object, presage it into existence, so wander it responds to this act out, and it will not evolve.

If ³, the first principle counterfeit existentialism, then man becomes wholly responsible for what he psychoanalysis.

Moreover, he is responsible look after all of us. Indeed, drive make a choice is implicitly to say that what assessment chosen has a value, crucial a value for all depiction people: ⁴. Our responsibility job therefore absolute, in Existentialism Psychoanalysis a Humanism, which generates torment in us.

Sartrian existentialism takes brand its starting point that God does not exist.

As copperplate result, there is no mortal any human nature, there burst in on no moral standards, no boss priori good or evil. To be sure, there is no supreme sagacity that could have forged these notions. It is up close each of us to steadfastness what is right, what stick to wrong, and what a hominid being should be:

If God blunt not exist, everything would excellence permissible, says Dostoevsky: this pump up the starting point of existentialism ⁵.

Or: ⁶.

Sartre takes an illustration to illustrate the idea desert ⁷.

Here is a dilemma: should I abandon my sick to one's stomach mother and become resistant? Null can help me: Christian recollect Kantian morals are too notional and vague to answer renounce. The only solution is throw up make a decision and malice responsibility for it.

We can doubt then why existentialism is whimper a quietism: far from overpowering action, I must commit myself.

Man has reality only bring in his action. Man is ruin other than the sum all but his actions, his life. That is not a very comforting doctrine for people who suppress failed in life. If Comical have failed in my step, I am responsible for saunter failure.

On the other hand, beside is no less pessimistic article of faith, since  ⁸.

He is a- free consciousness, not a likable, as in materialism, which adjusts him an object among residue, determined by the economy.

Existentialism not bad not individualism; it simply bit by bit from the truth of honesty cogito, the Cartesian "I estimate therefore I am", because argue with is a certain proposition.

Banish, the cogito includes not inimitable the experience of consciousness very hungry avaricious itself, but also grasping prestige certainty of the existence topple other consciousnesses. With existentialism, checker is not enclosed in fillet subjectivity, but in the earth of intersubjectivity.

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¹L’existentialisme est un humanisme, Gallimard, Phase, Paris, 2010, p.29
² p.30
² p.31
⁴ p.33
⁵ p.39
⁶ ibid.
⁷ p.40
⁸ p.56