The freedom we have as humans to create our own meaning isn 't all sunshine and smiles, and in this paper, I will attempt to explain various quotes of Sartre, from his work "Existentialism is a Humanism." I will also go in depth about what each part of the quotes means, as well as define some key terms used in each quote to help in understanding each quote. I will also go over a few emotional responses that can arise when faced with the realization that as humans we have to invent our own meaning. Then at the end, I will attempt to tie it all back together with an experience in my personal life where I felt explained Sartre 's example.
"You are free, therefore choose, that is to say, invent" this is a quote by Jean Paul Sartre that can almost …show more content…
Anxiety in the context of Sartre is the feeling a person gets when they come face to face with their freedom of choice and realizes the lack of anything being predetermined. When faced with a choice, and you have no idea what the effects of choosing one or the other will be, yet you know something will happen, this is when the freedom of choice causes anxiety. Next is Abandonment, usually felt in those who believe in a higher power. Going back to the Sartre pupil, like many of us he is alone and is having to decide on his own what he will do. When a person comes to the realization of their complete freedom of choice and that nothing is predetermined, they feel abandoned as their guidance figure is now gone, and like Sartre 's pupil they are now left alone to make their own choices. It 's as if you were following a trail in the forest then suddenly the trail ends, and you are left standing in the middle of a forest with no guidance, and all alone, and anyway you walk is now completely up to you, and you alone. Finally, this brings up Despair, which comes from realizing that we must depend on others even without being sure how they will act, even though we are free to choose, our choices sometimes don 't always pan out the way we think. Sometimes other people, or even external forces prevent, or push against the choices we make. This which Sartre explains in his work, should not lead us to quietism, or inaction, but we should strive to continue taking actions/making choices even though some things we choose to do will not pan out the way we want, In short, though we are free to choose, we need to remember that not everything we choose will come to light, but we shouldn 't let this deter us from continuing to make our own choices, because once we give up, we fall into despair and a life of
"You are free, therefore choose, that is to say, invent" this is a quote by Jean Paul Sartre that can almost …show more content…
Anxiety in the context of Sartre is the feeling a person gets when they come face to face with their freedom of choice and realizes the lack of anything being predetermined. When faced with a choice, and you have no idea what the effects of choosing one or the other will be, yet you know something will happen, this is when the freedom of choice causes anxiety. Next is Abandonment, usually felt in those who believe in a higher power. Going back to the Sartre pupil, like many of us he is alone and is having to decide on his own what he will do. When a person comes to the realization of their complete freedom of choice and that nothing is predetermined, they feel abandoned as their guidance figure is now gone, and like Sartre 's pupil they are now left alone to make their own choices. It 's as if you were following a trail in the forest then suddenly the trail ends, and you are left standing in the middle of a forest with no guidance, and all alone, and anyway you walk is now completely up to you, and you alone. Finally, this brings up Despair, which comes from realizing that we must depend on others even without being sure how they will act, even though we are free to choose, our choices sometimes don 't always pan out the way we think. Sometimes other people, or even external forces prevent, or push against the choices we make. This which Sartre explains in his work, should not lead us to quietism, or inaction, but we should strive to continue taking actions/making choices even though some things we choose to do will not pan out the way we want, In short, though we are free to choose, we need to remember that not everything we choose will come to light, but we shouldn 't let this deter us from continuing to make our own choices, because once we give up, we fall into despair and a life of