Existentialism

Jean Paul Sartre founded the concept of existentialism, which states that people are free agents that are responsible for their own freedom and actions. The way humans exist is very different than the way other animals exist. Since we are rational beings, we are able to determine our actions and usually the outcomes of those actions. Even though we are free, some people are afraid of their own freedom. Jean Paul Sartre uses a waiter as an example of someone that is qualifying themselves as an object and lying to themselves, as well. To an extent, the waiter is an object, since he has to put on an act like he is chipper and wants to serve people. This could be the same for any other service worker.  But the fear of ones’ own freedom is best described by using examples of workers. Most workers that have lower paying jobs will tell you that they can not afford to lose their job. This is true, because unfortunately, we have to pay to live on the earth that we could not help but to be born on. The worker does have the freedom to choose to other options by which they can do., such as go to school or go through an apprenticeship to be able to work a better job. But, the worker also has the freedom to be able to choose to stay at their current job.

I really like the idea of existentialism because I like the idea of people being autonomous, free people. Life can be miserable if someone is dictating your every move. This idea of existentialism also holds people responsible for the things that they do, because it is understood that they choose to do it themselves. It is a good way to hold people accountable for their actions, whether they are right or wrong.