The Terrifying Optimism of the Human Condition

Prompt #4

Nora Harlin

PHIL 2010

11/4/2016
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As someone who is attempting to convince his audience that existentialism is optimistic,

Sartre perhaps starts on the wrong foot by describing human existence as filled with anguish,

abandonment, and despair (396), an inherently alarming statement. However, as Sartre argues

his case for the optimism of existentialism, he presents the idea that these characteristics are in

fact those that make an existentialist life optimistic, as they allow more freedom and ability to

change ones situation in life.

Sartre has two facets to his argument: one, that existentialism is optimistic despite the

human condition, and two, that critics are afraid of said optimism. To argue that existentialism is

optimistic, he claims that due to several truths held by existentialism, the truths that mankind has

the power to choose and improve itself to no end, but the burden of the choice lays squarely on

the shoulders of the individual, make life optimistic rather than the pessimistic view critics view.

For Sartre, the ability to choose means that there is never an end to your situation in life, as you

must always keep choosing what to do. This implies that if one isnt happy with their life, there

is always an inherent ability to change your life around, because nothing is holding you to that

path of life.

This also places a large burden on each individual, as they cant merely trust that their life

will turn out the right or predetermined way and must make their own choices for themselves. As

such, each person also must take responsibility for their life and the way they live, and cannot

blame any misfortunes on anyone but themselves. Critics, Sartre states, believe this is a

pessimistic view as there is no residual hope that life will inherently improve on its own.

However, this also means that one can be whatever they choose to be regardless of situation and

limited only by physical capabilities. As he later states on page 395 man first of all exists and
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defines himself afterwards. This power of self-definition is frightening for critics of

existentialism, who see this as an opportunity not to make of oneself what one will, but an

opportunity to fail at life, to spiral out of control with no safety net or correct path to guide

oneself.

When Sartre describes the existential view that the human condition is characterized by

anguish, abandonment, and despair (396), he presents these characteristics as reactions to the

responsibilities places upon mankind in the form of self-determination. Sartre claims that

anguish arises not only from the sense of responsibility for oneself but responsibility for the

whole of mankind (397). Sartre claims that as each man makes a choice and decision for

himself, the same decision is imparted upon the rest of humanity as that man is choosing the best

possible option, which therefor the rest of humanity should also do. Key to this argument is the

claim that we are unable ever to choose the worse (396), a claim that is one of the most argued

in this piece. Many critics point out the fact that men are very capable of choosing a choice or

path that is almost inarguably the wrong one, such as murdering another or commencing a drug

addiction. While many argue that this is the wrong choice, Sartre argues that the man is making

the best decision based on his internal values. To this individual, based on his values the choices

he makes will always be the best one, because they will always be in accordance with these

values. A man may believe he holds certain values, but if his actions do not correspond with said

values, then he is denying his true nature, and therefor is denying the truth as well.

Sartre also uses the so-called anguish of Abraham (397) to demonstrate the anguish of

man. In this situation, Abraham and only Abraham can decide whether the commanding entity is

an angel or not, or whether its orders are in fact directed at Abraham at all. It is this burden of

proof that causes anguish, because there is nowhere to turn to for an answer. Even the act of
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seeking council is a choice, because the person seeking advice already has a pretty good idea of

what advice that particular person will give.

The abandonment Sartre describes is abandonment of the idea of God an any

repercussions that follow. By doing so, existentialism strips humans of any a priori values such

as honesty, progress, and humanity (399) because there is no source for said values.

Abandonment ties into anguish in that humans are abandoned to their choices without any

guiding principles and therefor must take responsibility for his actions and life. Abandonment

leads to despair as people realize the enormous burden and responsibility they now possess.

Similarly, despair is just the realization that on cannot count on outside aides, but must resign

themselves to their own physical capabilities and the possibilities that result from these limits.

There is no God to open up these possibilities, so despair is merely resigning oneself to your

distinct capabilities.

This end result- that God isnt real, men must take absolute responsibility for their

actions, and that one has certain limits that can never be overcome -is not exactly the most

optimistic view of life. Sartre displays this as the ultimate freedom, especially from nature-by-

birth ideals. In traditional stories, the man who is the hero is hero-like from his birth, and has

always had that potential and nature within him. However, from an existentialists point of view,

the coward of the story has just as much potential to be the hero as the hero does to be the

coward, as the existentialist only judges character by actions, as people are defined by the deed

[they] [have] done (406). So, while the characteristics Sartre defines are incredibly pessimistic,

these characteristics create an inherent human mobility in that one is never cornered into a

decision or situation, and there is always a way out or an option to improve ones life, an
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inherently optimistic viewpoint. While there is the potential to fail, there is also the potential to

succeed.