Thursday, April 23, 2009
From 4/22: Existence before Essence
In wrapping up existentialism, we dealt with Sartre's contention that each and every individual is self-made, being the sum total of his or her actions. Along the way, this assertion of invidual existence over a universal essence brings to light isssues of despair, abandonment, freedom, and accountability. So what do we make of the existentialists? What of this call to authenticity? Is existentialism pessimistic and quietistic or is there an underlying cheerfulness and call to action here? And where are our values to come from if existentialism is indeed a form of humanism? Perhaps only you - as an individual - can decide!
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In our last class the group presenters prompted a discussion on the connection between values and the existence of God. Could there be values and in a society where no God or religion existed. I am certain that a culture will establish values and morals regardless whether or not religion is present. I believe that human beings are born with a basic instinct of what is right or wrong. Crimes such as murder go against human nature. While there is always a small population that will commit such crimes, the majority of society has an innate feeling that murder is wrong. I believe that a society that has no religious beliefs would establish their own value system with rule and law based upon those innate senses that we are born with. I further believe that many religions and the values that come with them originate in the natural beliefs human beings hold. From this idea I have come to the conclusion that I partially disagree with Sartre's idea of Existence before Essence. While I agree with the idea of defining oneself and creating your own purpose, I am certain that humans are born with values and morals already intact. In this sense I perhaps believe that a part of our essence is intact before we exist.
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