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Why Sartre Thinks You’re a Coward if You Don’t Take Responsibility
Ever thought about how your choices define who you are? Jean-Paul Sartre sure did, and he had some pretty strong words for anyone who disagrees.
In his essay Existentialism Is a Humanism, Sartre famously said, “Man is condemned to be free.” What does he mean by that? Let’s break it down.
Imagine this: nobody is born a jerk. There’s no essence of jerkiness at birth. But someone may become a jerk through their actions and decisions.
Sartre argues that we create our identities through the choices we make. “Existence precedes essence,” he declares, meaning that we first exist and then define ourselves through actions.
We are the architects of our own lives, for better or worse. If you think your life is shaped by someone else, Sartre would call that cowardice.
Sartre’s point is simple: wherever you are in life, it’s because of your choices. Sure, circumstances play a role, but ultimately, your decisions matter.
Imagine you’re at a crossroads. The path you choose will define your future self. This perspective heavily burdens us with making the…
