Jean-Paul Sartre, who happened to live from 1905-1980, was an existentialist philosopher. He famously challenged a particular question and left it available for anyone to interpret it. The question is all about “the self” and everything that comes with it. According to Sartre, “the self lies always in the future; it is what we aim toward, as we try to make ourselves into something. But this means that as long as we are alive there is no self - at least, no fixed and finished self” (pg. 206). By stating this, Sartre left “the self as a choice” an open question and expanded the problem of really understanding what “the self as a choice” means. To understand Sartre’s point of view, one must comprehend his argument to see what he sees. Sartre
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Sartre says that there is an essential part missing, which is choice. Having a choice gives us transcendence. This is important to realize so that one can understand Sartre’s position. Of course, there are factual facts which cannot be changed, which Sartre called this facticity. As always, one can go beyond one’s self. Just so that one can grasp this facticity better, let’s bring up the previous example of the boy with the injury. After being injured and gaining unnecessary weight, the boy feels deeply motivated to help out other people with their health related issues. He pursues a doctoral career so that it becomes easier to reach the masses. On his journey, the boy, who is now a college age man, finds himself involved in politics. He finds it quite interesting and enjoys it more than he thought. Well, his boy dream has been delayed but it is still present in him. His new hobby has shaped his “self” into a politician. Years after his political career started, it comes to an abrupt end. Now, this older man finds himself with a new motivation to become a doctor again, not because he pities himself but because his intentions have changed. Sartre would say that this man used his transcendence and facticity throughout his lifetime. He never started as a doctor, nor did he ever begin as a politician. As life went on, his intentions changed, this allowed him to transcend from his younger “self” to an older
Sartre says that there is an essential part missing, which is choice. Having a choice gives us transcendence. This is important to realize so that one can understand Sartre’s position. Of course, there are factual facts which cannot be changed, which Sartre called this facticity. As always, one can go beyond one’s self. Just so that one can grasp this facticity better, let’s bring up the previous example of the boy with the injury. After being injured and gaining unnecessary weight, the boy feels deeply motivated to help out other people with their health related issues. He pursues a doctoral career so that it becomes easier to reach the masses. On his journey, the boy, who is now a college age man, finds himself involved in politics. He finds it quite interesting and enjoys it more than he thought. Well, his boy dream has been delayed but it is still present in him. His new hobby has shaped his “self” into a politician. Years after his political career started, it comes to an abrupt end. Now, this older man finds himself with a new motivation to become a doctor again, not because he pities himself but because his intentions have changed. Sartre would say that this man used his transcendence and facticity throughout his lifetime. He never started as a doctor, nor did he ever begin as a politician. As life went on, his intentions changed, this allowed him to transcend from his younger “self” to an older