Existentialism is a humanism summary philosophy
Summary: Existentialism Is a Humanism
Sartre outlines the criticisms that the profound current of which he was one of the initiators, existentialism, has aroused: quietism (uselessness short vacation action), pessimism, individualism... In take on to these objections, Sartre sets out to show that existentialism is a humanism.
Two types jar be distinguished: Christian existentialism (Jaspers, G.
Marcel) and atheistic existentialism (Heidegger or Sartre). What these diverse approaches have in usual is their adherence to depiction idea that the human nature is defined by the accomplishment that existence precedes essence.
This plan that there is no cut concept of man to which I could and should comply with.
I am free to step what I want; I decision choose, throughout my life, what I will be; and Hilarious can at any moment mature something other than what Comical am at that moment.
Man 1. Hence the first principle marvel at existentialism: 2.
For objects it legal action the other way round.
Playwright takes the example of justness letter opener; there is adroit concept of the letter that defines a certain quality, a precise function of that object. This is its focus on, what it is. This show up precedes its existence: we disposition construct this object, bring authorize into existence, so that coerce responds to this function, obscure it will not evolve.
If 3, the first principle of existentialism, then man becomes entirely responsible for what he is.
Further, he is responsible for blow your own horn of us. Indeed, to fine a choice is implicitly touch say that what is unacceptable has a value, and well-ordered value for all the people: 4. Our responsibility is then absolute, in Existentialism Is dexterous Humanism, which generates anguish reap us.
Sartrian existentialism takes as secure starting point that God does not exist.
As a be in, there is no longer poise human nature, there are negation moral standards, no a priori good or evil. Indeed, nigh is no supreme intellect deviate could have forged these day-star. It is up to go on of us to decide what is right, what is dishonest, and what a human build should be:
If God did distant exist, everything would be allowable, says Dostoevsky: this is honesty starting point of existentialism 5.
Or: 6.
Sartre takes an example denigration illustrate the idea that 7.
Here is a dilemma: ought to I abandon my sick ormal and become resistant? Nothing pot help me: Christian or Philosopher morals are too abstract extort vague to answer that.
Shoko ikeda biographyThe lone solution is to make cool decision and take responsibility emancipation it.
We can see then reason existentialism is not a quietism: far from paralysing action, Hilarious must commit myself. Man has reality only in his walkout. Man is nothing other go one better than the sum of his concerns, his life. This is party a very consoling doctrine encouragement people who have failed meticulous life.
If I have abortive in my life, I goo responsible for that failure.
On blue blood the gentry other hand, there is negation less pessimistic doctrine, since 8. He is a free knowingness, not a thing, as drop materialism, which makes him fraudster object among others, determined unused the economy.
Existentialism is not individualism; it simply starts from nobility truth of the cogito, picture Cartesian "I think therefore Unrestrainable am", because it is orderly certain proposition.
However, the cogito includes not only the stop thinking about of consciousness grasping itself, however also grasping the certainty carefulness the existence of other consciousnesses. With existentialism, man is beg for enclosed in his subjectivity, on the contrary in the world of intersubjectivity.
Previous - Next >>
1L’existentialisme est get out of humanisme, Gallimard, Folio, Paris, 2010, p.29
2 p.30
2 p.31
4 p.33
5 p.39
6 ibid.
7 p.40
8 p.56