Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the most known French existentialists of the twentieth century. His ideas were expressed in numerous works related not only to philosophical writings but also to plays (Hayim, 2017). The main problems that he discussed were connected to the notion of freedom as a central theme of his thought. However, the consideration of this concept was not limited to the statement of its absolute nature. It implied a more complex set of ideas including one’s responsibility for their freedom in all the aspects and the promotion of corresponding values (Sartre, 2007). This way, the philosopher can be considered as one of the most known thinkers examining the concept of freedom in application to all spheres of human life.
The Main Ideas and Contributions
The ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre regarding freedom of people were related to the problem of human existence. He believed that one is not born with specific qualities and characteristics but develops them in the process of life (Sartre, 2007). Moreover, their acquisition is defined not by the environment but the choices a person makes (Hayim, 2017). In this way, the freedom to choose is the ultimate reason for people’s success in finding their place in the world. Along with the focus on this aspect of life, he also promoted the idea that the refusal to do so can be seen in one’s escape from reality with the help of religion or arts (Sartre, 2007). Therefore, freedom of choice implies a certain degree of responsibility and the willingness to take it.
Jean-Paul Sartre made a significant contribution to the philosophical thought of existentialists of the time. It is explained by the examination of the connection between cause and effect of exploiting one’s freedom, its dependence on human values, and the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions (Sartre, 2007). However, the philosopher contributed not only to this field but also indirectly affected the development of positive psychology. According to Quackenbush et al. (2016), his ideas on freedom as the principal value are connected to the concept of the cardinal psychosocial virtue. From this perspective, the works of Sartre are essential not only for philosophy but also for other disciplines.
Example of an Everyday Experience
The perspective of Jean-Paul Sartre is applicable to the present-day world with a variety of options regarding every sphere of human life. Thus, for example, the most difficult choice for young people is the one related to education and future profession. It is clear that everyone can decide to either study or start working right after graduating from school. However, these choices should be made in a responsible manner since, according to Sartre, freedom should not derive from the lack of actions (Sartre, 2007). In other words, one’s intention to gain correlates with the idea of “the ultimate significance of the actions of men of good faith” (Sartre, 2007, p.48). In the light of these words, I agree with Jean-Paul Sartre regarding the views on the matter and the importance of responsibility.
Conclusion
To sum up, it is impossible to underestimate the role of Jean-Paul Sartre for the philosophical thought of France of the twentieth century. What is more important, his ideas are applicable to the present-day world and any situations, in which people have to make a responsible and deliberate choice in their lives. In this way, Sartre significantly contributed to the mechanism of decision-making from the perspective of freedom, which is essential not only for philosophy but also for other fields.
References
Hayim, G. (2017). Existentialism and sociology: Contribution of Jean-Paul Sartre. Routledge.
Sartre, J.-P. (2007). Existentialism is a Humanism. Yale University Press.
Quackenbush, S. W., Lockwood, A. K., & Cyr, T. G. (2016). “And yet your duty is to hope”: The positive psychology of Jean-Paul Sartre. Theory & Psychology, 26(3), 360-376.