Introduction to Philosophy

Achieve Test Prep: Philosophy

free, which is a radical view of freedom that makes us entirely responsible for who we are. Humans use a metaphysical framework as a model for understanding human development, even though this “essence precedes existence” model is appropriate only for inanimate objects. This means our soul or spirit is a reality before our physical existence on earth and our thoughts, ideas, choices, and actions are a direct reflection of our preexisting sprit or soul. Sartre believes that existence precedes essence and it is our focus on the future the way our minds leap ahead imaginatively that distinguishes our essential natures. It is through imagining a future that we then weigh alternatives and select options to make this imagined future a reality. It is the ongoing projection toward the future that renders us uniquely human and it is the ability to imagine a healthy limitless number of paths and to select from among them that makes us uniquely free and defines our spirit. The consequence of this radical view of freedom is a radical responsibility. If every choice you make is genuinely free, independent of any historical influence, then you are completely responsible for your choice and their consequences. There is no point in seeking escape from your responsibility by blaming your human nature, past experiences, psychological forces, or social dynamics. You choose freely. Therefore, your choice is your responsibility. For Sartre, choosing freely and accepting one’s responsibility is not a solely individual project, as it takes place in a social context and embodies an enlightened sense of moral responsibility to humanity as a whole. When you make a choice, you are not just creating and defining yourself as a person; you are creating and setting your image of the way all humans should be. Sartre identifies three fundamental emotions that describe our experience when we discover that we are condemned to be free: anguish, abandonment, and despair . Sartre believes those who deny their experience of existential anguish are striving desperately to escape from their freedom are living their lives that are false, diminished, and inauthentic. This profound and abiding sense of responsibility should bring out the best in you, encouraging you to be thoughtful and serious about the choices you make. The life you create and the life that you lead demand your total commitment. This is your life, and you are responsible for crafting a life of which you can be proud, and that will earn the admiration of others. For Sartre, abandonment is another underlying emotion of the human condition. Abandonment is defined as the absence of a caring presence which one becomes accustomed to, a caring presence that is suddenly torn away. Many of us grow up to believe that there is an ultimate caring presence to guide, nurture, and take care of us. For many, this caring presence can be a supreme being, perhaps God. For others, the caring presence has been a cultural identity that has provided a clear moral framework. Still, for others, it has been a sharply defined natural philosophy that has included universal values independently of religion. According to Sartre, all of these caring presences provide a false and illegitimate sense of security. When we honestly understand the human predicament, we then realize we are alone and with no one to turn to for support other than ourselves. Sartre claims that some people try to maintain the advantages of God without believing in God’s existence. It is not possible to proclaim universal moral values inscribed in the structure of the universe because such as proclamation makes no sense without a supernatural being to authenticate these values. We cannot ground our values in a universal human nature because according to Sartre there is no human nature. Each person creates

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