Jean-Paul Sartre dismisses the understanding of humanism that fails to acknowledge the importance of individual choice. Based on the rejected philosophy of humanism, people may take others’ credit for their personal accomplishments since they share humanity, thus, making others’ achievements their own. He critics the previous understanding of the concept by arguing that the centrality of one’s choice is not the self-congratulatory reveling of the entire race’s accomplishments but relies on the creation of every value. However, in Sartre’s understanding, humanism always emphasizes an individual’s ability to transcend their situation and act on behalf of every person. Therefore, Sartre believes that since people make world’s laws, then only their universe exists. God does not exist behind the scenes to give mankind its reality, generate a law governing their behavior, or give people a goal outside themselves. Even in the presence of such a God, Sartre argues nothing would change, and individuals would have to maintain their moral compass. Humanism, therefore, becomes the philosophy of man’s eternal concerns that endorses the concept of freedom, uniqueness, and human existence.
When Sartre’s account of existentialism is considered, the philosopher emphasizes the human way of life. Sartre believes that only one man exists, and his essence comes before his existence. Therefore, he shows that at the start, only a man exists, who turns up, appears on the scene, and later defines himself (Warburton). Since man is nothing, Sartre’s philosophy of existence, and hence humanism, is grounded on the notion that the idea of existence is often associated with nothingness. As Antoine Roquentin feels nausea, he says, “My thought is me: that’s why I can’t stop. I exist because I think….and I can’t stop myself from thinking. At this moment – it’s rightful – if I exist, it is because I am horrified at existing. I am the one who pulls myself from the nothingness to which I aspire” (Sartre 46). In life, one’s entire being relies on their way of thinking, and therefore, the state of existence is governed by the kind of thoughts an individual entertains.
Sartre’s concept of humanism is associated with freedom, where a man is born free. With the concept, Sartre shows that humans cannot find anything to rely on for themselves, both internally and externally, and with this, there is no fixed way to give meaning to life (Mittal). Since what defines a man squarely rests on his shoulders, then he has the responsibility over what he does. In the life of the narrator, Sartre shows, “I will outlive myself. Eat, sleep, sleep, eat. Exist slowly, softly, like trees, like a puddle of water, like the red bench in the streetcar” (79). How people face their lives and determine their state of being is a choice they freely have to make. From the novel, there is no fixed design on how humans should be; therefore, the absence of a pre-defined purpose alongside absurd existence presents people with infinite choices that are attributed to the anguish of freedom (Mittal). Since human beings live in constant anguish, getting ourselves from the quoted situation requires becoming self-aware, making choices, and changing the miserable life that humanity is condemned to in the name of freedom.
Another idea associated with Sartre’s humanity is the concept of human uniqueness. While Sartre emphasizes individual existence, he means that a person should live a complete, responsible, self-conscious, and growing life (Dagnachew 98). As a human, Sartre argues that one should be free to decide the tasks one should perform. That understanding brings out the notion of uniqueness since, in the distinction attributed to the levels of existence, an individual can choose to be authentic or inauthentic in everything. Sartre shows that humans are initially nothing, and therefore, through selected acts, they have the option to pick what they can freely and must do, whether to be part of a group or be different. In the novel, as the narrator feels nausea, he says, “I am alone in the midst of these happy, reasonable voices. All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other. In Heaven’s name, why is it so important to think the same things all together” (Sartre 126). From this, it becomes clear that a man’s social interaction does not necessarily define the level of happiness one encounters.
In humans, freedom comes in two forms; freedom of choice or choice of freedom. Regardless of the choice of freedom an individual takes, everything else that they do are tied to the chosen form of freedom. That translates to the decision one makes, even to the issue of love. Based on the novel, Antoine Rogentin shows, “It’s quite an undertaking to start loving somebody. You have to have energy, generosity, and blindness. There is even a moment right at the start where you have to jump across an abyss: if you think about it, you don’t do it” (Sartre 95). In the modern world, falling in love is simple; however, with the state of blindness associated with emotions, paying attention to reality makes people think about their relationships and how to go about them.
Based on how Sartre relates humanism with existence, the philosopher brings out the notion that every decision made by an individual is grounded on the self. The absence of God to govern what man does is the main reason people anguish in freedom, decide to be unique, and suffer the consequence of every choice they make. For example, people can opt to abide by and cultivate their moral and social law not necessarily because it is a requirement but because it is their freedom. With the understanding Sartre establishes about humanism, focusing on uniqueness, freedom, and way of life plays a central role in how people define and live their lives.
Works Cited
Dagnachew, Assefa. “Contingency, Absurdity and Human Conflict in Sartre’s Philosophy.” Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities. 16.2, 91-110. 2021. Web.
Mittal, Tarun. “To Be Is To Be: Jean-Paul Sartre On Existentialism And Freedom”. Yourstory.Com, 2017, Web.
Sartre, Jean-Paul. Nausea. Penguin Books. 2017.
Warburton, Nigel. “A Student’S Guide To Jean-Paul Sartre’S Existentialism And Humanism | Issue 15 | Philosophy Now”. Philosophynow.Org, Web.