Jacob Clift October 6, 2013 Dr.

Hermon Philosophy 1000 Commentary of Sartres Existentialism is a Humanism Sartre begins his lecture by defining existentialism as the belief that existence precedes essence; that we create values and ideas, instead of the values and ideas defining us. He says that most people who use the word existentialism would be ashamed to explain it, even though the word is extremely popular, especially in the context of musicians and painters works. Sartre says that the idea of existentialism is intended for specialists and philosophers. I agree with Sartre in that opinion, because works of art and music are concepts and ideas, pure essence, instead of a physical object. I believe that art is essence given form, which is the opposite of existentialism. Sartre then describes two forms of existentialism that complicate the matter of defining existentialism, Christian existentialism and atheistic existentialism. He differentiates between the two by stating that the Christian existentialism is characterised by the idea that the individual man is the realization of a certain concept that Go d has, and that the atheistic existentialism is distinguished by the simplified idea that we are who we make ourselves to be, instead of being what God designed us to be. The way he worded his statements coupled with the fact that he described himself as having to the atheistic existentialist mentality lead me to believe that he is biased against Christian existentialism and religion in general.

Sartre then lectures about subjectivity, the idea that men are what they make of themselves. Combined with existentialism, that existence comes before essence, we are each responsible for what we are, for what we do with ourselves. He says that subjectivism has two meanings, one being that an individual chooses who he is, and the other that in making choices also chooses an image of what that person believes man is supposed to be. Sartre paints a picture in which every action has a consequence, no matter how small or insignificant an action may seem. He gives the example of getting married, and even though the reasons for marriage are based on his own reasoning, he claims that the action of getting married involves all humanity in marriage and not just himself. I agree with the idea of subjectivism, that we are responsible for our actions. Personal responsibility is something very lacking in society, and is what can make or break nations. If we are not responsible for what is going on around us, then our autonomy means nothing. I think that subjectivism is the main point of Sartres lecture. The idea that we are each responsible for our actions and for who we are is a powerful one, and an idea I agree with. I was surprised at reading that Sartre agreed with Marxist beliefs yet had ideas of personal responsibility. However, I do not have a full knowledge of Marxist ideology, and therefore cannot reliably comment on those beliefs.