An example of this is tools. A tool is a device that carries out a specific function. It was designed with a purpose in mind or an essence as Sartre would say. Here is where people and tools can be compared to pinpoint what type of freedom is with existentialism. A tool’s existence does not precede its essence. Why? Because its purpose was given to it before it was ever created. Otherwise it would not have been designed specifically to fit its function. Therefore, the tool does not have what Sartre would call freedom since its essence existed before it has ever existed. Tools are just defined by their function. People for example are not defined like how tools are but they define themselves. They have freedom because they have can define their …show more content…
That is a point where Sartre would label living in bad faith. He states that, “ If we define man’s situation as one of free choice, in which he has no recourse to excuses or outside aid, then any man who takes refuge behind any passions, any man who fabricates some deterministic theory, is operating in bad faith” (47). Sartre is saying that humans who deceive themselves while doing what they don’t want to do is a case in which the person is cultivating bad faith. All people have a free will but when they choose to do something they would rather not, they go against their will and carry out their lives with a predetermined essence just like an object or an animal has. They ignore their fundamental freedom which is something that makes them distinguishable from tools/objects or animals. By cultivating bad faith, people put themselves out of reach and acts as an escape. They refuse responsibility. On the contrary, living in good faith would be the opposite of bad faith. Sartre says that, “the ultimate significance of the actions of men of good faith is the quest of freedom itself” (48). Bad faith is lying to oneself about not being able to do what one wants when one actually can. The concept of good faith can only be exemplified when human beings take responsibility for themselves. People can live in good faith when they own up to their mistakes