Existentialism, Humanism, Sartre
Sartre (1905-1980) is the best known philosopher for his untiring pursuit of philosophical reflection and creativity. His writing "Existentialism is a Humanism" granted him the title "Father of philosophy" for setting an intellectual tone on philosophy in the time proceeding the Second World War. Sartre believes that human shape themselves and their morality by their actions. The meaning and purpose of what they do are created by their actions that are projected towards the achievement of certain aims. These thoughts shape Sartre's ethical philosophy that human beings are not the end, contrary to other ethical thinking (Thomas, par 1-3). This paper uses the ideas of Sartre to discuss how they can ethically shape the life that I live to make it more fulfilling.
Just like Sartre says, my life is shaped by my actions and people define my morality from what I do. I was born to guide my own life through self-control and conscience. I choose not to live by the means of anyone, for I believe that I am entirely responsible for my actions and for any criticism that might come out of my actions. However, I believe that the actions of everyone act as a mirror of the society. Either ethically wrong or right my actions are, they reflect the society where I come from, how it has taught me and how other people in that society define as morally good or bad. I ought to live an ethically right life in order to protect the image of my fellow men in the society and create a good image of the human population at large.
[...] Every person is in authority for his/her own actions. It is, however, important to know that our actions should be morally justifiable in a positive manner to reflect a good picture of the society that we come from. Surname 6 Bibliography Alex Vermeer. “Existentialism is a humanism” by Jean-Paul Sartre Retrieved from: http://alexvermeer.com/%E2%80%9Cexistentialism-is-a-humanism%E2%80%9D-byjean-paul-sartre/. Print. Jean-Paul Sartre. Existentialism and Humanism. Brooklyn: Haskell House Print. Thomas Flynn. Jean-Paul Sartre. [...]
[...] However, the converse would mean that he would be treating his mother as a means and the enemies as an end (Sartre, 36). According to this excerpt, both situations are morally justifiable, but one carries a weight than the other in the eyes of different people. Different advices given on what option to choose is, therefore, dependent on what kind of person the advice is sought. Furthermore, no general moral rule that exists to correctly distinguish and justify such actions. [...]
[...] I am nothing, but what I make myself to be; so I am obliged to take full responsibility of my actions of my actions that reflects what man ought to be, not only on an individual basis, but the whole society at large. The society brought me up as a single entity, but not in collectivity. Just like Sartre writes man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world and defines himself afterwards. If man as the existentialists sees him is not definable, it is because to begin he is nothing. He will not be anything until later, and then he will be what he makes for himself” (Sartre, 28). [...]
[...] I am not bound to act within these parameters as the choice of my action is still mine. However, my choice of action is still tied to the view of other men and the protection of the name of my fellow men from moral criticism. I am aware that my actions affect others, so I am forced, not from external forces but from within, to act within these parameters. Once a choice is taken, it is hard to go against it, so I have to consider any choice of action that I choose to adopt in order for it to affect positively all humankind. [...]
[...] Surname 1 Existentialism is a Humanism by Sartre Surname 2 Existentialism Introduction Sartre (1905-1980) is the best known philosopher for his untiring pursuit of philosophical reflection and creativity. His writing “Existentialism is a Humanism” granted him the title “Father of philosophy” for setting an intellectual tone on philosophy in the time proceeding the Second World War. Sartre believes that human shape themselves and their morality by their actions. The meaning and purpose of what they do are created by their actions that are projected towards the achievement of certain aims. [...]
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