Sartre's Existential Philosophy in a Nutshell
Key Concepts and Aspects of French Atheistic Existentialism
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80) divides the complex philosophical movement of existentialism into two broad branches: those who are Christian Existentialists, which include Jaspers and Gabriel Marcel and those who like Sartre and Heidegger are atheists. As can be seen, existentialism does not necessarily deny the existence of God and both branches still overlap and have several points and outlooks in common.
Existence Precedes Essence
The supposition of existence preceding essence is one of the trademarks of existentialism and is of paramount philosophical relevance. An object, such as a paper-cutter, is an object produced in a certain way or fashion, that is, it has its own method of production. The object in question has been designed and is meant for specific intended use. It has been created by a person who planned to create this particular object with practical aims and uses, while at the same time aware of how to produce and manufacture the object, the technical aspects of production.
Sartre claims that since God does not exist then humans, or what Heidegger calls human reality, are indeed unique since for them existence precedes essence. They are not created to serve any particular purpose; at first, they are nothing, they simply exist and it is only later that they get to define themselves.
Mankind’s Responsibility and Forlornness in a Godless Universe
In other words, mankind is responsible for its own actions. There are no excuses. For Sartre there is no such thing as crimes of passion, for one is equally responsible for those actions. What we are then is mainly judged by our acts during our lifetime, that we actively create and shape the person we want to be. Dreams and intentions are not valid in such cases because they are not grounded in reality.
The forlornness or angst of man comes from the fact that since God does not exist anymore, man has to face all the consequences now without any help or guidance. It is a distressing experience because God and all the value system that He came to represent suddenly lose importance and meaning. There is nothing to cling to and one cannot make excuses anymore.
As a result, man is condemned to be free. Man is condemned, according to Sartre, because he did not create himself; yet he is free to do as he wishes in the same vein as Dostoevsky once stated “If God didn’t exist, everything would be possible.”
Optimistic Philosophy with a Doctrine of Action
Existentialism is described as optimistic while it is driven by concrete human acts. Mankind is essentially free and not bound by religion or dogma and consequently needs to take responsibility and act according to his or her conscience and ideology.
Jean-Paul Sartre
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Sartre's Grave
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