Sartre's Philosophy

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Sartre's Philosophy

Sartre believed that one day man happened, or occurred, and

after this anomalous event man’s life took meaning. With this

theory, Sartre articulated the premise that “existence precedes

essence”. Through this assumption, Sartre evolves further ideas

in which a human can gain a greater understanding of human nature

and responsibility.

In his theory stating that “existence precedes essence”,

Sartre takes the belief that life has a meaning that far

transcends our short and insignificant lives. He believed that

life has no meaning unless we gave it meaning. In the search for

life, we become anguished by the affairs of life. Sartre believed

that when this occurred, we pursue a fundamental project in an

attempt to flee this anguish. Sartre said that in this, we try

to make ourselves Gods in hopes that others will see us as

divine, and hold us in high or higher regard. To pursue a

fundamental project according to Sartre is to act in bad faith.

Consequently, to act in bad faith, according to Sartre is to

manifest our freedom inauthenticaly.

Sartre assessed how when man acknowledges and accepts that

he is a living being with a biological and social past. He can

transcend beyond that to nothingness, the realm of the etre pour

soi (the “being-for-itself”). At this point he is, according to

Sartre, clearheaded and in good faith. Because he is acting in

good faith, he is not pursuing a fundamental project in an

attempt to ci...

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