As I read through the example essays, provided to us by
Thad, I could not help but notice that each and every one of them utilized something
that Jean-Paul Sartre had said. I was unable to read the material prior to
class on Monday, so I learned as I went along, and read during class. But while
I was in class I began to understand why all of those sample essays reflected
Sartre’s works. First reason being for the fact that it was probably the last
thing in class that the students covered. But, I believe the real reason is
because he literally defines existentialism. It says in the preview “It is
Sartre who is mainly responsible for both the formulation and the
popularization of existentialism.” But what has me confused about that is that I
thought Kierkegaard was the Father of
Existentialism. Anyways! I find that the way Sartre explains things it is
much straighter forward, and seems much more spot on.
“Man simply is. Not that he is simply what he conceives himself
to be, but he is what he wills, and as he conceives himself after already
existing---as he wills to be after that leap towards existence. Man is nothing else but that which he makes
of himself.”
Sartre makes this clear that this is the first principle of
existentialism. It makes perfect sense! We exist because we will ourselves to
live. If we chose not to live then we would take the easy road out and just
kill ourselves. (That’s what I feel people with no will or drive to live would
do—suicide). We cannot be something were not, for we are just what we are and
nothing more. (((Oooooooo I feel like a philosopher))) We are all unique and we have different things
that motivate us to live each day and we all have different aspirations for
what we plan to achieve down the road.
This is where responsibility comes into play. What I found
interesting with this is what Sartre said about for all of mankind.
“What we choose is always for the better; and nothing can be
better for us unless it is for the better for all.”
This is something I really didn’t agree with, as I side with
Dostoevsky here. I feel that there will come a time where people, regardless of
how harmful it could be to themselves or to others, will pursue their most advantageous
advantage no matter what. This is because they have the choice to do so. Our own
free unfettered choice to do whatever it is that we desire. I do not feel that
a person will always choose something that will always benefit mankind.
But to Sartre this is what gives us responsibility for our
actions. That we are to do what is best for us because we represent it for all.
His example:
“If I am a worker, for instance, I may choose to join a
Christian rather than a Communist trade union. And if, by that membership, I choose
to signify that resignation is, after all, the attitude that best becomes man ,
that man’s kingdom is not upon earth, I do not commit myself alone to that
view. Resignation is my will for everyone, and my action is, in consequence, a
commitment on behalf of all mankind. Or is, to take a more personal case, I decided
to marry and to have children, even though this decision proceeds simply from
my situation, from my passion or my desire, I am thereby committing not only
myself, but humanity as a whole, to the practice of monogamy. Lam thus
responsible for myself and for all men, and I am creating a certain image of
man as I would have him to be. In fashioning myself I fashion man.”
I think that if Sartre were to come back to this world now
and see just how things are I think that this would change. My counter example
would be that I could be a Christian and join a communist trade union and still
hold my faith, and I would advocate my stance should the opportunity arise. I
would not care if mankind was against this. I know lots of father who have
small families and are not there for them although they know it is wrong of
them to do so and that they should be holding that responsibility. But it doesn't
happen.
I do believe that we are all responsible for the actions
that we carry out in our lives, and we are the ones who have to live with the
effects of those actions. They may not be for the benefit of mankind but they
are something that each individual will have to live with.
Aubrey,
ReplyDeleteYou make some great points. I would like to speak directly to your ideas, and of course by extension Sartre's, on responsibility of actions. You mention that, "...we are all responsible for the actions that we carry out in our lives". Do you think that this is a complete picture of how we interact with social structures that both directly and indirectly affect/effect us on a day-to-day basis and beyond? Put differently, do you think a discussion about responsibility both begins and ends with the individual? I've struggled for many years with this because, of course, it seems like we have the choice to do this or that which would give rise to the assertion that ultimately we are responsible for these choices, but are we purely and actually in control of choice; are we truly free to do as we wish? Sartre, would have us look directly to consciousness, both reflective and pre-reflective. He would have it that we create our own realities, for good or bad, through our choices. Part of me agrees with this/your notion but, again, this doesn't seem like a proper place to end. Perhaps he was directing our attention outside of us when he discussed the notions of Alienation originally outlined by Marx? At the end of the day, this idea of freedom and choice leaves me with more questions than answers! Good post though!
Peace,
Jay