According to Jean-Paul Sartre, why is “Man condemned to freedom”?
Jean-Paul Sartre’s thesis that “Man is condemned to freedom” is one of the cornerstones of his existentialist philosophy. What he means by “condemned” here is that freedom is an inevitable destiny for man. Here are the reasons behind Sartre’s radical assertion:
- Existence Precedes Essence
According to Sartre, a human being first “exists” and then creates their own essence (identity, values) through their choices. While other objects (e.g., a knife) have a fixed essence, the human being’s essence is a blank slate. He must fill this void because:
He cannot remain passive: Even “not choosing” is an active choice (e.g., refusing to apply for a job).
Freedom is ontological: The condition of human existence is the necessity to choose.
“Man is what he makes himself.”
– Sartre, Existentialism is a Humanism
- The Absence of God and Responsibility
According to Sartre’s atheistic existentialism, there is no God, fate, or universal moral law that defines humanity. Therefore:
He is alone: He is responsible for all his choices.
He is without excuse: Statements such as “Society made me this way” or “This is my nature” are examples of bad faith (mauvaise foi).
“Man is left to his own devices.”
- Freedom is a Burden
Sartre describes freedom not as a romantic force, but as an angsty burden:
Anxiety (Angoisse): You cannot escape the consequences of your choices. For example, the choice to end or continue a relationship is yours.
The Weight of Responsibility: If a soldier refuses to fight in war, the consequences of that choice (his family’s reaction, the label of traitor) rest on his shoulders.
“To be free is to be condemned, because you create yourself, but you don’t know what you will create.”
- Confronting Bad Faith (Mauvaise Foi)
To escape the burden of freedom, people:
Pretend: They deceive themselves by saying, “I’m just a worker, I don’t have to think.”
Become fatalistic: They deny their choices by saying, “This is my destiny.”
According to Sartre, this is inauthenticity.
- Practical Example: Sartre’s Student
In Sartre’s famous example, a student during World War II faces the following dilemma:
Care for his mother (personal responsibility),
Or join the fight for France (social responsibility)?
Sartre’s answer: “Whatever you do, your choice defines you. No rule can decide for you.”
Why “Condemned”?
There is No Escape: Freedom is like a person’s DNA; even rejecting it is using it.
Absolute Responsibility: You are the architect of all your actions. This is an existential condemnation.
“Freedom is not a gift, but a punishment. Because we must learn to live with it.”
Criticism and Debate
Determinism: “Are we truly free? Don’t biology and society shape us?”
Sartre’s Later Period: In the 1960s, influenced by Marxism, he acknowledged that “historical conditions limit freedom.”
In summary: For Sartre, freedom is the human obligation to construct oneself. Therefore, the emphasis on “condemnation” conveys that freedom is an unsettling reality.