Question

Sartre says that existentialism leads one to recognize the human condition as one of forlornness, anguish, and despair. What does he specifically mean by each of these? In terms of the notion of anguish, why would Sartre argue against the idea that absolute values exist? How does his position against the notion of absolute value lead Sartre to a very odd view of moral decision-making? How do we determine on his view what the right or good choice is? How is this different from the way in which we usually engage in moral investigation and choice?

Answer 1

• The terms identified helps to articulate how Sartre views human consciousness. The sense of "forlornness" results from the rejection of all transcendental and totalizing ideas. When Sartre argues that human beings are "forlorn," he is stressing the idea that they are without any sort of guidance from transcendent ends.
• Folorness is the realization that god doesnt exist and that it matters that god doesnt exist.Such a realization implies that there is no such thing as theoretical goodness and that pure goodness cannot exist either.The non-existence of god implies, that there is no one responsible for our existence and thus all of our thoughts and actions have no justifications outside of our own free will.
• Existential anguish (or dread, abandonment, anxiety, etc) generally refers to the negative feelings which arise from the experience of human freedom and responsibility. This may occur on an individual level or a social level.
• In existentialism, you are defined by your actions (existence precedes essence). And, you have the freedom to choose your actions and thus define yourself (referred to as "subjectivity"). Here, on an individual level, anguish arises from knowing that you are alone and have to make decisions for yourself.
• However, when you act to define yourself in the way you wish to be, you are acknowledging that action as the best action, and so also the action which must be best for everyone. And, once again, as existence precedes essence, you are thus defining the image of all humans. Hence, in Sartre's words, "I am thus responsible for myself and for all men, and I am creating a certain image of man as I would have him to be. In fashioning myself I fashion man."
• Anguish, then, is the negative feeling that arises from the experience of freedom and responsibility: freedom in defining yourself, and responsibility in choosing for all of humankind.
• Despair is the understandind that one cannot control someone else's actions.Other people are free thinking and independent creatures,so there is no way to interact with someone else in a way that ensures any sort of certainty in our motives or actions.People other than ourselves will always be unpredictable and unknowable to us.Thus,we can only focus on our concerns and possibilities because to do so for others is waste of both time and energy that brings about despair.
• Due to time limit,remaining questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation