Sartre argues that freedom is absolute and exists as humans make choices. He asserts that existence comes before essence, meaning there is no predetermined nature or role that determines human existence. Freedom is the capacity to choose, and with choice comes responsibility. While humans have freedom, their choices are not without consequences as they cannot choose to fly by jumping off a cliff. Freedom involves both choice and responsibility for that choice.

3. Where does
freedom
start?
Where does
it end?

4. Jean-Paul Sartre
1905-1980
French existentialist
philosopher
“Success
is not
important
to
freedom.”

5. Notion 1. Freedom is existence.
•Man is unconditionally free because
freedom “exists as it is”
•Freedom is about “making a choice”
and that by choosing freedom, the
person is “asserting his existence and
his freedom.”

6. Notion 2. Existence comes before essence
•Sartre asserts that “Existence is not
necessity. To exist is simply to be
there... no necessary being can explain
explain existence... Everything
gratutious (free).”

7. Notion 3. Freedom is absolute
•In Sartre’s view, the barriers to
freedom will only become a hindrance
if the human person chooses to accept
it as a hindrance to his freedom.

8. However...
“Freedom” in Sartre concept is not the
freedom to just do something or
anything. He says “you are free”
because the person always has a choice,
“therefore choose.”
-Freedom is the capacity to choose-

9. Freedom vs. Facticity
Example:
A man chooses to jump off a cliff and
and fly...

10. Therefore...
Freedom is a choice
and this choice
comes with a
responsibility.

11. EXISTENTIALISM
is a philosophical movement
known for its inquiry on
human existence. It is a
philosophy concerned with
finding self and the meaning of
life through free will, choice,
and personal responsibility.

13. Review Quiz
TRUE or FALSE

14. According to Sartre,
liberty is the foundation
of a person but not the
indispensable condition of
all actions.

15. Sartre argues that human
beings can mask their
freedom but not destroy
it

16. According to Sartre, human
beings are condemned to
be free, but they are not
condemned to exist always
beyond their essences

17. He declares that man
"cannot be sometimes free
and sometimes bound: he is
entirely and always free or
he is not"

18. According to Sartre, the
past determines the
present but not the future