Jean Paul- Sartre introduces an approachable description of “Existentialism”.
According to, Jean Paul- Sartre a major key idea to existentialism and human
conditions is that ‘existence precedes essences”. The extract of something is
the deliberate meaning. In “Existentialism” the idea that we “make” who and
what we are is introduced. It’s important that we take the responsibility to be
aware of who we are. Sartre over all point is “Existentialism is nothing else
than an attempt to draw all the consequences of a coherent atheistic position.
It isn’t trying to plunge man into despair at all.” In “Everything Determined”
Stephen Hawking discusses the ties of fate and God’s work along with free will.
Throughout the essay, he talks about free will and rather or not we should be
punished for our actions. Sartre says
that we are responsible for our actions, while Hawking’s argues that God or
science is the reason for our actions. I agree with both. However, I strongly
agree with Sartre point more. God and fate may be responsible for some of our
actions, but WE primarily choose which ones we use. We are given many options
not just one, which leaves us the responsibility to choose the route we want to
take. Every action we take a consequence follows. For example, a convicted
murder serving a jail sentence is in jail because of the actions they chose to
take. We live in a “free” world so everything is a choice. Earning a degree is
an option. We often tend to forget that it’s an option because we are told it’s
the “only” option. We all chose to attend college and we were responsible for
our decisions. College isn’t for everyone therefore, others made the decision
to do something else. My point is everyone is responsible for their actions. Other
factors may determine where we may end up due to the choices WE make, but primarily
we are responsible for ourselves and our actions.
In the essays “Is Everything Determined?” by Stephen Hawking and “Existentialism” by Jean-Paul Sartre the two authors argue whether fate has all our lives planned out for us or whether we as individuals can change our future simply by making our own decisions. Jean-Paul Sartre’s argument is for the idea that we form who and what we are as a person and that we should live in light of our responsibly and know we have no one else to blame for the consequences of our own actions. While Stephen Hawking’s argument her is more toward fate predetermining our lives and God’s work tying in with our little free will, he believes we should live our lives the way God and fate intended and that we should not be taken responsible for most of what we do. I agree with Jean-Paul Sartre whole-heartedly, though raised devoutly Christian I see how people’s decisions are fueled by their own mind and not that of a higher power, I don’t think the world would be fair if no one took responsibly for their own actions because “it’s God’s plan” or “the hands of fate have decided”.
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