Introduction#
The book "Existentialism is a Humanism" is actually a speech by Sartre, as the author mentions at the beginning, "to defend against several criticisms of existentialism." Some believe that existentialism is a pessimistic doctrine that "encourages people to adopt a despairing attitude of inaction towards life." Communists criticize existentialism for giving people too many choices, which leads to a hesitant "wait-and-see" attitude, viewing it as "another bourgeois philosophy." In response to these criticisms, Sartre delves into the core ideas of existentialism in this article—existence precedes essence, humans are free, choices shape the self, and choices influence others and the world.
Existence Precedes Essence: Hero or Coward, You Choose#
"Existence precedes essence" is a phrase that anyone familiar with existentialism has likely heard, but it is often misunderstood. It's quite simple: humans are not pre-defined finished products. Let me give a very simple example: we office workers often say we are cattle or workers, but in reality, no one can define our essence. The reason we become cattle or workers is actually our own choice.
"No one," meaning there is no God. Traditionally, it is believed that humans are created by God, carrying a fixed "essence"—such as rationality, morality, or goodness—just like a craftsman has a purpose and shape in mind when making a paper cutter. In traditional culture, Mencius advocates that "human nature is inherently good," while Xunzi claims "human nature is inherently evil." Existentialism directly overturns this table: there is no God, no pre-set essence, no so-called inherent goodness or evil; humans simply "exist" first, and then gradually shape their own "essence" through their choices.
For example, are you a hero or a coward? It's not innate; it's determined by your choices. If you choose to step up in a critical moment, you become a hero; if you choose to retreat, you may become a coward. As Sartre said, "Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself." This means not only are you what you think you are, but you are also what you are willing to become. Your life is the result of your active design, not a passive fate.
This perspective liberates people at once, but it can also leave them feeling lost. It seems you have infinite possibilities to shape yourself. Sartre tells a joke in the book about an old lady who calls herself an existentialist just because she swears; her choice—even if filled with profanity—is also her definition of her life.
But is it really like that? Is existentialism encouraging people to indulge in hedonism and pursue freedom?
The Cost of Freedom: The Gift You Think You Have, Fate Has Already Priced#
Sartre expresses his view in the book that the freedom of existentialism is not an easy gift, but a heavy responsibility. Because there is no God, no pre-set moral standards, individuals must face choices alone and bear the consequences.
Sartre illustrates this "pain" with the example of a military leader: a commander receives orders to attack, but he must decide how to execute it, and the lives of many soldiers will depend on his judgment. He cannot escape the choice, nor can he completely shirk responsibility, because even "obeying orders" is a choice.
For instance, imagine you are a doctor facing a terminal cancer patient: performing a high-risk surgery might offer a 20% chance of survival but also carries a 30% risk of death; not performing the surgery might leave the patient with only three months to live. You must choose, and the outcome of that choice may bring a huge psychological burden. This situation of "no standard answer" is what existentialism refers to as "pain."
As Sartre says, "All leaders understand this pain. It does not prevent them from acting; rather, it is the true condition of their action."
This pain is not a negative despair but a prerequisite for action. Because one must move forward, even not choosing is a choice. You cannot stagnate; you can only define yourself through action.
Others are Hell: Your Freedom Affects the World, and Others' Freedom Affects You#
Another core idea of existentialism is that your choices not only shape yourself but also shape others and even the entire world.
Sartre believes that when you choose to become a certain type of person, you establish an image in your mind of "how a person should be." For example, if you choose to be an honest person, you are not only shaping your own honesty but also declaring to the world that "people should be honest." Conversely, if you choose to do bad things, you must ask yourself: what would the world look like if everyone did the same?
This mutual influence can be traced back to phenomenology; for instance, if you see an apple as red, others are likely to see it the same way; the dilemmas you face, such as academic pressure or workplace setbacks, others may also empathize with. Therefore, your actions will serve as a reference for others, just like when someone looks up at the sky on the street, those around them will unconsciously follow suit.
This paradox of "others are hell, others are also heaven" reveals that we live in a world filled with "subjectivity": everyone's free choices reflect and influence each other.
Sartre gives an example: "I am creating an image of a person that I hope everyone will be like. In shaping myself, I shape humanity."
This means that every choice you make is writing a possible future for humanity. Great figures like Gandhi and Marx defined themselves through their choices and set examples for the liberation of humanity. What about you? What kind of person do you want to become? How will your choices influence others?
No Excuses: The Indivisibility of Freedom and Responsibility#
The freedom of existentialism is absolute, but it is also unsettling. You cannot excuse yourself with "it's just the way I am" or "I was forced by circumstances." For example, if a general blames a failure on "orders from superiors," he is evading freedom, which Sartre calls "cowardice." Similarly, if you say, "I could have succeeded, but I just didn't have the opportunity," existentialism would counter: you did not act, so you do not possess that "essence of success." The genius of writers like Mo Yan and Yu Hua is reflected in their works; without action, genius is just empty talk.
This absolute freedom means you must take full responsibility for your choices. Sartre states, "There are no universal moral standards to guide you on what to do: there are no divine signs falling from the sky."
When you consult others, you have already chosen the answer you want to hear in your heart, just as the old man in "The Convenience Store of Worries" says: when people come for advice, they already have the answer. This again reminds us: the choice is yours, and the responsibility is also yours.
The Optimism of Existentialism: Action Creates Meaning#
Although existentialism emphasizes the pain of freedom and the weight of responsibility, it is an optimistic philosophy. Why? Because it believes that individuals can create meaning through action.
The despair of Christianity stems from being "abandoned by God," while existentialism's "despair" is a clear recognition of freedom: you must rely on yourself to give life meaning.
Sartre says, "Existentialism is optimistic. It is a doctrine of action." The meaning of life does not lie in a pre-set essence but in the story you continuously write through your actions.
Every choice you make, every action you take, is shaping yourself. You are the sum of your experiences, your emotions, your pains, and your joys.
As Sartre said, "A person is nothing more or less than a series of actions."
The people you have interacted with, the paths you have walked, the barbecue stalls you have eaten at, the nights you have lost, all constitute the you of this moment. And in the future, you can still choose to become the person you want to be.
Conclusion#
To summarize Sartre's views:
- Existentialism is absolutely not a doctrine that indulges in despair; on the contrary, it awakens our freedom and tells us that humans have no fixed essence. Only through continuous choices and actions can we define ourselves.
- The freedom of existentialism is by no means a freedom of indulgence; it is a heavy burden and also infinite possibilities.
Finally, let me conclude with Sartre's words: "You are free, so choose—this means, go invent."
ps. Of course, you can also choose not to read this article; it all depends on you. But since you've read this far, a like wouldn't be too much to ask, right? Haha