John Paul Sartre

A detailed Summary of John Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre says "man is nothing else but what he makes of himself" (762). This existentialist view depicts the idea that one is not based on the essence of a soul, but rather, based on decisions made throughout life. Sartre also believes that every man is responsible for all men. One may choose his marriage partner, however, in choosing to marry, one chooses monogamy. Decisions that individuals make will collectively create a set of principles and beliefs for all of man.

Many people believe that a person's decisions are a reflection of his soul and personality. However, it is more likely that the conclusion a person reaches is due to the influence of different ideas, as well as the circumstances surrounding the choices. One does not have an innate "essence", but instead, the choices that a person makes constantly shape his character, which in turn creates his essence.

Decision-making is based on many different conditions and controlling factors that exist at the time of conflict. People take into consideration the thoughts and opinions of others, hindering the idea of an individual's essence. If an essence really existed, another person's thoughts would not affect someone else's. Inste

Sartre steers away from the traditional belief that God has an influence on choices that a person makes, and the idea that unreasonable circumstances, or worse yet, bad luck, play a role in one's decisions. Instead, existentialism prompts a person to become liable for his choices. This often ignites anxiety because there is no longer a cushion to fall back on. Sartre explains this by saying, "the coward is defined on the basis of the acts he performs" (771). This portrays the idea that people are not born a certain way, or with a certain type of personality. Everyone creates his own essence by the decisions that he makes on a daily basis, and from this, he becomes the person that he created.

Also, one's choices and decisions create a code for all of man. This set of codes creates the unwritten laws of people, which in turn create "good and bad." If a person acts against this he can pray to God and ask for forgiveness. However, existentialism is indifferent to God's existence, which makes the person fully responsible for his own actions. This causes despair because it leaves people with nothing to cling to when they have made the wrong decision.

If God does not exist, then there is no moral code to follow, therefore all men are free. It is completely upon the man to decide what is good and what is not. There is no longer the sense of "God judging man" so one must make his own decisions and based on them he is "condemned to be free" (765-766). Sartre believes that man is condemned beca

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Approximate Word count = 1009
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts