Introduction
People want to create the best living conditions and follow the principles that facilitate decision-making and problem-solving. Today, it does not take much time to find interesting books to read, the required product to buy, or the person to communicate with. On the one hand, people admire the freedom and alternatives they get. On the other hand, as soon as options emerge, the importance of choice emerges and creates new concerns and questions.
About a century ago, Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the greatest existential philosophers of all time, introduced an interesting idea about existential anguish and proved that people could not get rid of this feeling because of several internal and external factors. During my previous reflection on his reading, Existentialism Is a Humanism, I got an excellent opportunity to explain my vision of his anguish conceptualization briefly. In this paper, I would like to expand my analysis and clarify how Sartre’s existential anguish may penetrate modern human life. Despite the presence of negative characteristics like distress and anxiety, anguish is a crucial human feeling that underlines the worth of life from a philosophical standpoint.
Purpose of Philosophy
Philosophy is probably one of the most exciting and complex ways that people like to use when they try to describe their lifestyles, interests, and demands. First, there has to be a clear moral principle according to which it is possible to distinguish between right and wrong. Then, it is expected to create a line of events that cannot be ignored because they help define the purpose and outcomes. Finally, everyone has a list of responsibilities that determine the quality of resources, decisions, and life.
Sartre’s Philosophical Point of View
What makes Sartre unique from the offered philosophical perspective is that he never tried to choose one issue and follow it precisely. His intention to discover a universe of attitudes makes his existential philosophy one of the most recognizable in the world. Sartre (2007) first admits all people are in anguish, then he says, “many people do not appear especially anguished,” and finally, he concludes some “are merely hiding their anguish or trying not to face it” (p. 25). Even this definition makes me uncomfortable, understanding what anguish means and why it matters today.
Anguish as Explored in Sartre’s Book
Therefore, my next decision is to gather as many specific definitions from Sartre’s book as possible to strengthen the background of the chosen concept. First, anguish is “not the kind that could lead to quietism or inaction” (Sartre, 2007, p. 27). It means that existential anguish is related to some activities or decisions that affect human actions and define that life has its beginning and end. People are the main drivers of this anguish as they can think, feel, and react to events, words, and situations.
Second, anguish is always something related to inevitability because, according to Sartre (2007), a man “cannot help but be aware of his own full and profound responsibility” (p. 25). Thus, despite the desire to behave according to personal needs and demands, there is always something to be responsible for in this life. Finally, Sartre (2007) discusses anguish with concepts such as abandonment and despair, adding a negative characteristic to living in anguish. Existential philosophers want to underline that human freedom has a high price, putting themselves at the point where a personal decision should be made.
Existential Anguish
Existential anguish is never simple because it emerges at the junction of two global-level problems: what people should and want to do. Therefore, there is a burning need to understand how free and highly responsible individuals become frustrated or anxious about their lives and face a so-called existential crisis at an early age. The reasons for anguish are poorly recognized, explaining Sartre’s (2007) thought that anguish may be concealed. Although millions of people enjoy being free and doing whatever they like, they are not confident that all their decisions are independent.
Several thoughts come to their mind about who should define the correctness of their choices, who determines the morale of human behavior, or who takes the primary responsibility. Existentialists like Sartre do not seem to give a single correct answer but motivate individuals to develop their own judgments, anguishing them. No one rejects freedom, nor does anyone reject responsibility. In combination, freedom and responsibility become the primary cause of existential anguish.
In addition, existential anguish is closely related to the definition given by Sartre, relying on the importance of representing personal ideas in real-life situations. There is a belief that “our responsibility is thus much greater than we might have supposed, because it concerns all mankind” (Sartre, 2007, p. 24). From this perspective, most people think they do the right thing and expect others to do the same. However, no one can give such guarantees that there is a common standard for what is right and what is wrong. As a result, people get angry, misunderstood, or frustrated when another person’s actions do not meet the already imposed expectations.
Sartre’s statement that human actions and decisions concern all individuals across the globe is too general and provocative a proclamation, which becomes another cause of anguish. While some individuals and even whole communities or nations are ready to put aside their benefits to support others, expecting the same reactions from all is useless. Thus, despite achieving the desired motivation and inspiration for society, human responsibility and decision-making impose new restrictions and reasons for personal freedom and obligations concerns.
However, one should realize that anguish should not always be associated with negative emotions and outcomes. Sartre never mentioned that anguish was bad, but explained that anguish was inevitable. Therefore, to survive an existential crisis, people need to accept anguish as a challenge or an internal struggle that can make them better and achieve positive outcomes with time.
Existential thinkers are interested in discussing such ethical questions as life’s meaning, the inevitability of death, human existence, climate change, and the connection between a line of interpersonal decisions. In other words, existential anguish is an action related to another action that makes one more action possible. This phrase is complex and challenging to understand, but it is what existentialism looks like.
Complex decisions within the frames of other complex decisions fulfill human life, making it unique and priceless. It seems that the primary goal of existentialists is to confuse people so that they are ready to develop their own lifelong approaches and choices. Some people get upset and confused with this absurdism; thus, I want to apply other knowledge obtained during the course.
Comparison of Sartre’s and Camus’s Existentialism
During the course, I read another interesting text by Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus. The author believes that people complicate their lives and bring them to the absurd because of their consciousness and the intention to find meaning in everything (Camus, 2018). Instead, Camus (2018) recommends living “without appeal” and defining standards and meanings according to personal demands and interests (p. 51). There is no need to ask questions and be obliged to have all the answers or to make choices at a particular moment.
Combining Camus’s and Sartre’s recommendations is more than successful for modern people. The absurdity of human life is not always easy to accept and understand, but people have to take some actions because they define their quality of life. Therefore, today, it is possible to reduce the existential anguish introduced by Sartre with the help of life without appeal developed by Camus.
Related Personal Experience
Relying on my experience, I cannot ignore the necessity to make various daily decisions to determine my freedom and dependence on external factors. For example, I am an independent person who makes rational evaluations and chooses to rely on personal demands and interests. However, despite my independence level, I cannot ignore such obligations as waking up early in the morning, completing my assignments, and meeting deadlines that are not always convenient for me.
Although I may neglect my work, I have no right to do so because I miss further opportunities. This existential anguish devastates and inspires me at the same time. I already have a list of tasks and decided to choose the area of interest. Thus, I am not limited but well-instructed in this case.
In fact, existential anguish can influence contemporary human experiences in many different ways. People lose their beloved ones in accidents or some health complications, experience new feelings as a result of marriage, divorce, or having children, or have to adjust to new living conditions or employment. Change is challenging because not many individuals like transformations or need more time to adapt to innovations.
Some of my friends feel anxious when they have to change their hairdresser or think about a new look as a way to improve their life. They face multiple choices and cannot get rid of the thought that they can choose something wrong or ineffective. Thus, they start asking questions, searching for feedback, or surfing the web for guidance. This is a good example of existential anguish related to the absurdity of free and dependent lifestyles.
Conclusion
Discussing existential themes is a great chance to evaluate one’s whole life, with all its benefits and challenges. Sartre’s existential anguish and Camus’s absurd life without appeal are critical aspects that help answer many questions. People may improve their understanding of the meaning of life, the importance of choices, and the inevitability of some events through the prism of natural freedom.
Sometimes, it is easy for a person to rely on particular events and conditions and ensure they make decisions by addressing their interests and demands. However, in most cases, people are concerned about the freedom of choice they get daily. Therefore, absurd attitudes are common, and anguish is a rational reply to the circumstances. Today, existential anguish penetrates all spheres, and I decide to treat it (as a challenge or an opportunity) and deal with it.
References
Camus, A. (2018). The Myth of Sisyphus (2nd ed.). Vintage International.
Sartre, J. P. (2007). Existentialism Is a Humanism. (C. Macomber, Trans.). Yale University Press. (Original work published in 1947).