Exploring the Interplay of Existential Philosophy and Moral Principles
Existentialism, a philosophical movement that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, challenges traditional moral systems by placing the burden of ethical meaning squarely on the individual's shoulders. This revolutionary approach to ethics emphasises personal freedom, responsibility, and authenticity as central tenets.
At the heart of existentialist ethics is the concept that existence precedes essence. Jean-Paul Sartre, often referred to as the father of existentialism, argues that humans exist first and must forge their own essence or moral character through choices. This active, ongoing process of self-creation contrasts with traditional ethics that often assumes inherent essences or divine commandments prescribing right and wrong.
Existentialist ethics also rejects universal or objective moral systems. Instead, it posits that moral meaning is subjective and must be authentically created by each individual through their free, responsible engagement with existence. This viewpoint opposes essentialist or deterministic frameworks typical in traditional ethics.
One of the key challenges of existentialist ethics is the rejection of universal morality. Existentialist ethics emphasises authenticity and personal commitment, requiring individuals to confront their freedom, make meaningful choices, and accept consequences. This approach often leads to feelings of anxiety or "existential dread", as individuals grapple with the weight of their choices and the lack of inherent meaning in life.
However, existentialist ethics does not abandon the idea of moral responsibility altogether. Instead, it shifts the focus to the individual, requiring them to take full ownership of their actions and their ethical significance. Sartre, for instance, believed that each person must determine their own ethical values based on their lived reality.
Moreover, while existentialist ethics centers on individual responsibility, thinkers like Emmanuel Levinas and Józef Tischner extend this to an ethical responsibility for others. This transformation of individual freedom into an interconnected responsibility suggests a deeper dimension to existentialist ethics beyond mere self-definition.
Notable existentialist thinkers who refined these ideas in the 20th century include Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus. Camus, in particular, emphasised the need to confront the absurdity of existence and choose one's own path despite its lack of inherent meaning. He proposed the concept of active nihilism, where individuals should embrace the absurd and commit to moral action despite the lack of inherent meaning.
In summary, existentialist ethics revolutionises traditional moral thought by demanding active individual responsibility and rejecting inherited moral systems as insufficient to capture the reality of human freedom and existence. It offers no easy answers but insists that moral responsibility lies in individual choice rather than imposed rules. This approach, while challenging, invites individuals to engage deeply with their own lives, choices, and the ethical implications of their actions.
[1] Sartre, J. P. (1946). Existentialism is a Humanism. Philosophical Library. [2] de Beauvoir, S. (1949). The Ethics of Ambiguity. Citadel Press. [3] Camus, A. (1942). The Myth of Sisyphus. Vintage International. [5] Kierkegaard, S. (1844). The Concept of Dread. Princeton University Press.
- The existentialist philosophy, originating in the 19th and 20th centuries, challenges conventional moral systems, as individuals are required to define their own essence or moral character through choices, following Jean-Paul Sartre's concept of 'existence precedes essence'.
- Existentialist ethics, unlike traditional ethics, rejects universal or objective moral systems, instead accepting that moral meaning is subjective and must be authentically created by each individual through their free, responsible engagement with existence.
- Existentialist ethics emphasizes core tenets of personal freedom, responsibility, and authenticity, leading to feelings of anxiety or existential dread as individuals grapple with the weight of their choices and the lack of inherent meaning in life.
- However, moral responsibility is not abandoned in existentialist ethics; instead, it shifts focus to the individual, requiring them to take full ownership of their actions and their ethical significance.
- Existentialist thinkers, like Emmanuel Levinas and Józef Tischner, extend the focus on individual responsibility to an ethical responsibility for others, transforming individual freedom into an interconnected responsibility.
- Notable existentialist thinkers who refined these ideas in the 20th century include Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus, each contributing significant perspectives on self-creation, moral ambiguity, and confronting the absurdity of existence.
- Key books that delve into these ideas are Sartre's 'Existentialism is a Humanism', de Beauvoir's 'The Ethics of Ambiguity', and Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus', along with Kierkegaard's 'The Concept of Dread' in the 19th century.
