JEAN PAUL SARTRE’S ABSOLUTE FREEDOM AND ITS ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Jean Paul Sartre believes that man is absolutely free, and this notion of his absolute freedom has brought about subjectivism and relativism in ethical and moral issues, neglecting the natural law in terms of life preservation and human dignity. This conception which is contrary to the original and authentic nature of the human person of body and soul has led to the different abuses and devaluation of the human person by many who feel they are free to do whatever they want and as they want. For Sartre, existence precedes essence, freedom is absolute and existence is freedom. Freedom for Sartre is not the freedom to do something. He says “you are free” because you always have a choice, “therefore choose”. But this creates anxiety and anguish; individuals flee in self-deception and continue leading inauthentic lives. Man is free when his consciousness acknowledges that something is lacking, when he makes a purpose of himself, and when he commits. Sartre rejects determinism because he holds individuals to be outside of the world. There are no excuses which can be rooted in the idea of ‘human nature’ and this absolute freedom has really caused more harm in the society and even dehumanizes. This work tends to expose Jean-Paul Sartre’s notion of absolute freedom and its ethical implication.