SartreExistentialism

Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
Jean-Paul Sartre

Existentialism

refers to various philosophies that began in the 1930's. Existentialists attempt to interpret

human existence, stressing the concreteness of life and its problematic character. (1) Existentialist

theory

centered on the individual and his relationship to the universe or to God. (2)

Existentialists believe in knowledge and wisdom, but they believe that ideas must be tested in the

crucible

everyday existence. Knowledge must be put to work, and ones ideas must be backed up by

ones

actions. (3)

Existentialism resonates in a law enforcement environment where first responders

witness

and confront the

gamut of human emotions and experiences, from childbirth to death. The

ethical work of

law enforcement

officers often requires that ideas be supported by actions.

Existentialists revolt against the traditional subtle, theoretical and remote ideas of

metaphysical

approaches to

man and his place in the universe. Important existentialists of varying and conflicting

thought included

Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Heidegger, Marcel, and Jean-Paul Sartre. (Columbia)

French existentialist

Jean Paul Sartre

lived from 1905-1980. Sartre believed that existence precedes

essence.

(Craver & Ozmon p.259). Sartre questioned the existence of God. He believed that God is an

idea created by

man. For Sartre there is no God and therefore no fixed human nature that forces one to

act.

Sartre believed that man is free to choose and entirely responsible for what he makes of himself.

(Columbia)

Freedom as an existential concept means that man has perpetual and frequently agonizing

freedom of choice.

Sartre said that man is "condemned to be free" and exposed to the pain that free

choice

can bring. (4)

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(1) Existentialism. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 1, 2003, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

http://search.

eb.com/eb/article?eu=115432>

(2) Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. (2002) Columbia University Press. New York:

www.bartleby.com/65/. Retrieved June 1, 2003 from http://www.bartleby.com/65/ex/existentism.html

(3) Craver, S. M., & Ozmon, H. A. (1999).

Philosophical Foundations of Education

, (6th ed.). New Jersey:

Prentice Hall.

269.

(4) Free Will. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved June 1, 2003, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

http:

//search.eb.

com/eb/article?eu=35951>

THEORISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS TRAINING
- SARTRE -

Dr. Frank Kardasz P.O. Box 45048 Phoenix, AZ 85064
e-mail: kardasz@kardasz.org
blog: www.kardasz.org/blog/
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