Man Makes Himself: a critique paper on Jean Paul Sartre’s view of Existentialism.

In this critique paper, I will critique Jean Paul Sartre’s perspective on the philosophy of
existentialism, but first, we must define the meaning of the word existentialism itself.
Existentialism, on its broadest terms, is a philosophy that is centered on the analysis of existence;
human existence and of how humans found themselves existing in this world; therefore,
existentialism is about human existence and their unrelenting search for themselves and their
meaning.

In Existentialism is a Humanism, Jean Paul Sartre sets forth a description of existentialism. An

idea of his that “existence precedes essence” which simply means that its essence is as is, from
the moment it exists. A pen is made for writing; that is its purpose. Man, however, does not have
its intended purpose. No one can declare that once a child is born they are a policeman or a
doctor when they grow up. Sartre’s view on existentialism presents that man is not born on a pre-
modeled or a significant purpose but has the free will to choose to find their own purpose in life.
We are the ones who should determine ourselves and our purpose.

“Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” This means that man has a choice to what
he wants to make himself of his life and is reflected by his actions. In certain aspects, I agree to
what Sartre’s perception on existentialism. We are born without a purpose, and we must find it
once we step a foot in this world. I often have these episodes when I question my purpose in this
world. Unwittingly, I was already experiencing Sartre’s views on existentialism. I long for my
cause as to why I exist. Moreover, questioning my purpose and existence helped me to reflect
upon my actions.

Sartre also points the idea that it is up to us how we are going to live our lives and there is no
higher being or someone who judges us for our actions as right or wrong. For me, that idea was
already a given because of him being in an atheistic position. His ideas present abandonment of a
deity that some may find terrifying especially those who has a strong belief that there is a god
that judges us based on our actions. I myself, is a religious person, to extent that there is someone
who evaluates our action whether it is morally right or wrong. But it does not stop me from
welcoming Sartre’s view. Responsibility of actions is the key to define what a man is.

At the end of the day, it is up to us whether we choose to believe or not, it is up to us, and our
actions that builds our character and purpose in this world that we live in. We do not have the
full control of the future, but we can control our actions. In the end, you are what you do.
Works Cited
Existentialism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism.htm
"Existentialism is a Humanism" by Jean-Paul Sartre. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://alexvermeer.com/“existentialism-is-a-humanism”-by-jean-paul-sartre/
Summary of Existentialism. (2018, May 24). Retrieved from
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2017/12/11/the-basic-ideas-of-existentialism/