existentialism

EXISTENTIALISM

ANDHUMANEMOTIONS

EXISTENTIALISM

Ishouldlikeonthisoccasiontodefendexistentialismagainstsomechargeswhich

havebeenbroughtagainstit.

First,ithasbeenchargedwithinvitingpeopletoremaininakindofdesperate

quietismbecau,sincenosolutionsarepossible,weshouldhavetoconsider

ldthenendupinaphilosophyof

contemplation;andsincecontemplationisaluxury,wecomeintheendtoa

munistsinparticularhavemadethecharges.

Ontheotherhand,wehavebeenchargedwithdwellingonhumandegradation,

withpointingupeverywherethesordid,shady,andslimy,andneglectingthe

graciousandbeautiful,thebrightsideofhumannature;forexample,accordingto

r,aCatholiccritic,des

chargeuswithhavingignoredhumansolidarity,withconsideringmanasan

munistssaythatthemainreasonforthisisthatwetake

puresubjectivity,theCartesianIthink,asourstartingpoint;inotherwords,the

momentinwhichmanbecomesfullyawareofwhatitmeanstohimtobean

isolatedbeing;asaresult,weareunabletoreturntoastateofsolidaritywiththe

menwhoarenotourlves,astatewhichwecanneverreachinthecogito.

FromtheChristianstandpoint,wearechargedwithdenyingtherealityand

riousnessofhumanundertakings,since,ifwerejectGod'scommandmentsand

theeternalverities,therenolongerremainsanythingbutpurecaprice,with

everyonepermittedtodoashepleasandincapable,fromhisownpointofview,

ofcondemningthepointsofviewandactsofothers.

oplearegoingtobe

ltrytoeinwhatnit

a,whatcanbesaidfromtheverybeginningisthat

byexistentialismwemeanadoctrinewhichmakeshumanlifepossibleand,in

addition,declaresthateverytruthandeveryactionimpliesahumanttinganda

humansubjectivity.

Asisgenerallyknown,thebasicchargeagainstusisthatweputtheemphasison

erecentlytoldmeofaladywho,whenshelet

slipavulgarwordinamomentofirritation,excudherlfbysaying,"Iguess

I'mbecominganexistentialist."Conquently,existentialismisregardedas

somethingugly;thatiswhywearesaidtobenaturalists;andifweare,itisrather

surprisingthatinthisdayandagewecausomuchmorealarmandscandalthan

doesnaturalism,dofpersonwhocantakeinhisstride

suchanovelasZola'sTheEarthisdisgustedassoonashestartsreadingan

existentialistnovel;thekindofpersonwhoisresignedtothewisdomoftheages--

,whatcanbemoredisillusioning

thansaying"truecharitybeginsathome"or"ascoundrelwillalwaysreturnevil

forgood"?

Weknowthecommonplaceremarksmadewhenthissubjectcomesup,remarks

whichalwaysadduptothesamething:weshouldn'tstruggleagainstthepowers-

that-be;weshouldn'tresist,authority;weshouldn'ttrytoriaboveourstation;

anyactionwhichdoesn'tconformtoauthorityisromantic;anyeffortnotbadon

pastexperienceisdoomedtofailure;experienceshowsthatman'sbentisalways

towardtrouble,thattheremustbeastronghandtoholdhimincheck,ifnot,there

restillpeoplewhogoonmumblingthemelancholyold

saws,thepeoplewhosay,"It'sonlyhuman!"wheneveramoreorlessrepugnant

actispointedouttothem,thepeoplewhoglutthemlvesonchansonsréalistes;

thearethepeoplewhoaccuexistentialismofbeingtoogloomy,andtosuch

anextentthatIwonderwhethertheyarecomplainingaboutit,notforits

pessimism,ethatwhatreallyscaresthemin

thedoctrineIshalltrytoprenthereisthatitleavestomanapossibilityof

choice?Toanswerthisquestion,wemustre-examineitonastrictlyphilosophical

meantbythetermexistentialism?

Mostpeoplewhouthewordwouldberatherembarrasdiftheyhadtoexplain

it,since,nowthatthewordisalltherage,eventheworkofamusicianorpainter

pcolumnistinClartéssignshimlfThe

Existentialist,sothatbythistimethewordhasbeensostretchedandhastakenon

sobroadameaning,sthatforwant

ofanadvance-guarddoctrineanalogoustosurrealism,thekindofpeoplewhoare

eagerforscandalandflurryturntothisphilosophywhichinotherrespectsdoes

notatallrvetheirpurposinthissphere.

Actually,itistheleastscandalous,tended

complicatesmattersisthattherearetwokindsofexistentialist;first,thowho

areChristian,amongwhomIwouldincludeJaspersandGabrielMarcel,both

Catholic;andontheotherhandtheatheisticexistentialists,amongwhomIclass

Heidegger,eyhavein

commonisthattheythinkthatexistenceprecedesnce,or,ifyouprefer,that

subjectivitymustbethestartingpoint.

Justwhatdoesthatmean?Letusconsidersomeobjectthatismanufactured,for

example,abookorapaper-cutter:hereisanobjectwhichhasbeenmadebyan

rredtotheconceptofwhat

apaper-cutterisandlikewitoaknownmethodofproduction,whichispartof

theconcept,somethingwhichis,byandlarge,,thepaper-cutteris

atonceanobjectproducedinacertainwayand,ontheotherhand,onehavinga

specificu;andonecannotpostulateamanwhoproducesapaper-cutterbut

ore,letussaythat,forthepaper-cutter,

esnce--thatis,theenmbleofboththeproductionroutinesandtheproperties

,the

ore,we

havehereatechnicalviewoftheworldwherebyitcanbesaidthatproduction

precedexistence.

WhenweconceiveGodastheCreator,Heisgenerallythoughtofasasuperior

erdoctrinewemaybeconsidering,whetheronelikethatof

DescartesorthatofLeibnitz,wealwaysgrantthatwillmoreorlessfollows

understandingor,attheveryleast,accompaniesit,andthatwhenGodcreatesHe

,theconceptofmaninthemindofGod

iscomparabletotheconceptofpaper-cutterinthemindofthemanufacturer,and,

followingcertaintechniquesandaconception,Godproducesman,justasthe

artisan,followingadefinitionandatechnique,,the

individualmanistherealizationofacertainconceptinthedivineintelligence.

Intheeighteenthcentury,theatheismofthephilosophesdiscardedtheideaof

God,tain

extent,thisideaisfoundeverywhere;wefinditinDiderot,inVoltaire,andeven

ahumannature;thishumannature,whichistheconceptofthe

human,isfoundinallmen,whichmeansthateachmanisaparticularexampleof

auniversalconcept,,theresultofthisuniversalityisthatthewild-

man,thenaturalman,aswellasthebourgeois,arecircumscribedbythesame

,heretootheesnceofman

precedesthehistoricalexistencethatwefindinnature.

Atheisticexistentialism,whichIreprent,esthatifGod

doesnotexist,thereisatleastonebeinginwhomexistenceprecedesnce,a

beingwhoexistsbeforehecanbedefinedbyanyconcept,andthatthisbeingis

man,or,asHeideggersays,meantherebysayingthat

existenceprecedesnce?Itmeansthat,firstofall,manexists,turnsup,

appearsonthescene,and,onlyafterwards,,asthe

existentialistconceiveshim,isindefinable,itisbecauatfirstheisnothing.

Onlyafterwardwillhebesomething,andhehimlfwillhavemadewhathewill

,thereisnohumannature,y

ismanwhatheconceiveshimlftobe,butheisalsoonlywhathewillshimlf

tobeafterthisthrusttowardexistence.

thefirstprincipleof

sowhatiscalledsubjectivity,thenamewearelabeledwith

tdowemeanbythis,ifnotthat

manhasagreaterdignitythanastoneortable?Forwemeanthatmanfirstexists,

thatis,thatmanfirstofallisthebeingwhohurlshimlftowardafutureandwho

tthestartaplan

whichisawareofitlf,ratherthanapatchofmoss,apieceofgarbage,ora

cauliflower;nothingexistspriortothisplan;thereisnothinginheaven;manwill

ebythe

word"will"wegenerallymeanaconsciousdecision,whichissubquenttowhat

nttobelongtoapoliticalparty,

writeabook,getmarried;butallthatisonlyamanifestationofanearlier,more

spontaneouschoicethatiscalled"will."Butifexistencereallydoesprecede

esnce,,existentialism'sfirstmoveisto

makeeverymanawareofwhatheisandtomakethefullresponsibilityofhis

nwesaythatamanisresponsibleforhimlf,we

donotonlymeanthatheisresponsibleforhisownindividuality,butthatheis

responsibleforallmen.

Thewordsubjectivismhastwomeanings,andouropponentsplayonthetwo.

Subjectivismmeans,ontheonehand,thatanindividualchoosandmakes

himlf;and,ontheotherthatitisimpossibleformantotranscendhuman

wesaythatmanchooshisownlf,wemeanthateveryoneofusdoes

likewi;butwealsomeanbythatthatinmakingthischoicehealsochoosall

,increatingthemanthatwewanttobe,thereisnotasingleoneof

ouractswhichdoesnotatthesametimecreateanimageofmanaswethinkhe

tobethisorthatistoaffirmatthesametimethevalueof

whatwechoo,yschoothegood,

andnothingcanbegoodforuswithoutbeinggoodforall.

If,ontheotherhand,existenceprecedesnce,andifwegrantthatweexistand

fashionourimageatoneandthesametime,theimageisvalidforeverybodyand

,ourresponsibilityismuchgreaterthanwemighthave

suppod,workingmanandchooto

joinaChristiantrade-unionratherthanbeacommunist,andifbybeingamember

Iwanttoshowthatthebestthingformanisresignation,thatthekingdomofman

isnotofthisworld,Iamnotonlyinvolvingmyownca-Iwanttoberesigned

ult,amore

individualmatter,ifIwanttomarry,tohavechildren;evenifthismarriage

dependssolelyonmyowncircumstancesorpassionorwish,Iaminvolvingall

ore,Iamresponsiblefor

atingacertainimageofmanofmyown

singmylf,Ichooman.

Thishelpsusunderstandwhattheactualcontentisofsuchrathergrandiloquent

wordsasanguish,forlornness,ille,it'sallquitesimple.

First,whatismeantbyanguish?Theexistentialistssayatoncethatmanis

atmeansisthis:themanwhoinvolveshimlfandwhorealizes

thatheisnotonlythepersonhechoostobe,butalsoalawmakerwhois,atthe

sametime,choosingallmankindaswellashimlf,cannothelpescapethe

,therearemanypeoplewho

arenotanxious;butweclaimthattheyarehidingtheiranxiety,thattheyare

nly,manypeoplebelievethatwhentheydosomething,they

themlvesaretheonlyonesinvolved,andwhensomeonesaystothem,"Whatif

everyoneactedthatway?"theyshrugtheirshouldersandanswer,"Everyone

doesn'tactthatway."Butreally,oneshouldalwaysaskhimlf,"Whatwould

happenifeverybodylookedatthingsthatway?"Thereisnoescapingthis

oliesandmakes

excusforhimlfbysaying"noteverybodydoesthat,"issomeonewithan

uneasyconscience,becautheactoflyingimpliesthatauniversalvalueis

conferreduponthelie.

theanguishthat

wthestory:anangelhas

orderedAbrahamtosacrificehisson;ifitreallywereanangelwhohascomeand

said,"YouareAbraham,youshallsacrificeyourson,"everythingwouldbeall

ryonemightfirstwonder,"Isitreallyanangel,andamIreally

Abraham?WhatproofdoIhave?"

Therewasamadwomanwhohadhallucinations;someoneudtospeaktoheron

toraskedher,"Whoisitwhotalksto

you?"Sheanswered,"Hesaysit'sGod."Whatproofdidshereallyhavethatit

wasGod?Ifanangelcomestome,whatproofistherethatit'sanangel?AndifI

hearvoices,whatproofistherethattheycomefromheavenandnotfromhell,or

fromthesubconscious,orapathologicalcondition?Whatprovesthattheyare

addresdtome?WhatproofistherethatIhavebeenappointedtoimpomy

choiceandmyconceptionofmanonhumanity?I'llneverfindanyprooforsign

ceaddressme,itisalwaysformetodecidethat

thisistheangel'svoice;ifIconsiderthatsuchanactisagoodone,itisIwhowill

chootosaythatitisgoodratherthanbad.

Now,I'mnotbeingsingledoutasanAbraham,andyetateverymomentI'm

ryman,everythinghappensasifall

everymanoughttosaytohimlf,"AmIreallythekindofmanwhohastheright

toactinsuchawaythathumanitymightguideitlfbymyactions?"Andifhe

doesnotsaythattohimlf,heismaskinghisanguish.

Thereisnoquestionhereofthekindofanguishwhichwouldleadtoquietism,to

atterofasimplesortofanguishthatanybodywhohashad

mple,whenamilitaryofficertakesthe

responsibilityforanattackandndsacertainnumberofmentodeath,he

choostodoso,ess,orders

comefromabove,buttheyaretoobroad;heinterpretsthem,andonthis

nga

dersknowthisanguish.

Thatdoesn'tkeepthemfromacting;onthecontrary,itistheveryconditionof

mpliesthattheyenvisageanumberofpossibilities,andwhen

theychooone,l

ethatthiskindofanguish,whichisthekindthatexistentialismdescribes,is

explained,inaddition,byadirectresponsibilitytotheothermenwhomit

tacurtainparatingusfromaction,butispartofactionitlf.

Whenwespeakofforlornness,atermHeideggerwasfondof,wemeanonlythat

existentialistisstronglyoppodtoacertainkindofcularethicswhichwould

1880,someFrench

teacherstriedtotupacularethicswhichwentsomethinglikethis:Godisa

ulessandcostlyhypothesis;wearediscardingit;but,meanwhile,inorderfor

theretobeanethics,asociety,acivilization,itisntialthatcertainvaluesbe

mustbeobligatory,apriori,tobehonest,nottolie,nottobeatyourwife,tohave

children,etc.,'regoingtotryalittledevicewhichwillmakeitpossible

toshowthatvaluexistallthesame,inscribedinaheavenofideas,though

rwords--andthis,Ibelieve,isthetendency

ofeverythingcalledreformisminFrance--nothingwillbechangedifGoddoes

lfindourlveswiththesamenormsofhonesty,progress,and

humanism,andweshallhavemadeofGodanoutdatedhypothesiswhichwill

peacefullydieoffbyit:f.

Theexistentialist,onthecontrary,thinksitverydistressingthatGoddoesnot

exist,becauallpossibilityoffindingvaluesinaheavenofideasdisappears

alongwithHim;therecannolongerbeanaprioriGood,sincethereisnoinfinite

eisitwrittenthattheGoodexists,

thatwemustbehonest,thatwemustnotlie;becauthefactisweareonaplane

evskysaid,"IfGoddidn'texist,everything

wouldbepossible.",

everythingispermissibleifGoddoesnotexist,andasaresultmanisforlorn,

't

startmakingexcusforhimlf.

Ifexistencereallydoesprecedeesnce,thereisnoexplainingthingsawayby

rwords,thereisno

determinism,manisfree,therhand,ifGoddoesnot

exist,,

inthebrightrealmofvalues,wehavenoexcubehindus,norjustification

lone,withnoexcus.

ThatistheideaIshalltrytoconveywhenIsaythatmaniscondemnedtobefree.

Condemned,becauhedidnotcreatehimlf,yet,inotherrespectsisfree;

becau,oncethrownintotheworld,

neveragreethata

sweepingpassionisaravagingtorrentwhichfatallyleadsamantocertainacts

ksthatmanisresponsibleforhispassion.

Theexistentialistdoesnotthinkthatmanisgoingtohelphimlfbyfindingin

ehethinksthatmanwill

ore,hethinksthatman,withnosupport

andnoaid,,inaveryfine

article,hassaid,"Manisthefutureofman."That'tistakento

meanthatthisfutureisrecordedinheaven,thatGodesit,thenitisfal,

takentomeanthat,whatever

amanmaybe,thereisafuturetobeforged,avirginfuturebeforehim,thenthis

nweareforlorn.

Togiveyouanexamplewhichwillenableyoutounderstandforlornnessbetter,I

shallcitethecaofoneofmystudentswhocametoemeunderthefollowing

circumstances:hisfatherwasonbadtermswithhismother,and,moreover,was

inclinedtobeacollaborationist;hisolderbrotherhadbeenkilledintheGerman

offensiveof1940,andtheyoungman,withsomewhatimmaturebutgenerous

feelings,herlivedalonewithhim,verymuch

uptbythehalf-treasonofherhusbandandthedeathofherolderson;theboy

washeronlyconsolation.

TheboywasfacedwiththechoiceofleavingforEnglandandjoiningtheFree

FrenchForces--thatis,leavinghismotherbehindorremainingwithhismother

ullyawarethatthewomanlivedonlyforhim

an

wasalsoawarethateveryactthathedidforhismother'ssakewasasurething,in

thenthatitwashelpinghertocarryon,whereaveryefforthemadetoward

goingoffandfightingwasanuncertainmovewhichmightrunagroundandprove

completelyuless;forexample,onhiswaytoEnglandhemight,whilepassing

throughSpain,bedetainedindefinitelyinaSpanishcamp;hemightreach

ult,hewas

facedwithtwoverydifferentkindsofaction:one,concrete,immediate,but

concerningonlyoneindividual;theotherconcernedanincomparablyvaster

group,anationalcollectivity,butforthatveryreasonwasdubious,andmightbe

,atthesametime,hewaswaveringbetweentwokinds

nehand,anethicsofsympathy,ofpersonaldevotion;onthe

other,abroaderethics,o

choobetweenthetwo.

Whocouldhelphimchoo?Christiandoctrine?iandoctrinesays,"Be

charitable,loveyourneighbor,takethemoreruggedpath,etc.,etc."Butwhichis

themoreruggedpath?Whomshouldheloveasabrother?Thefightingmanor

hismother?Whichdoesthegreatergood,thevagueactoffightinginagroup,or

theconcreteoneofhelpingaparticularhumanbeingtogoonliving?Whocan

decideapriori?tianethicssays,

"Nevertreatanypersonasameans,butasanend."Verywell,ifIstaywithmy

mother,I'lltreatherasanendandnotasameans;butbyvirtueofthisveryfact,

I'mrunningtheriskoftreatingthepeoplearoundmewhoarefighting,asmeans;

and,converly,ifIgotojointhowhoarefighting,I'llbetreatingthemasan

end,and,bydoingthat,Iruntheriskoftreatingmymotherasameans.

Ifvaluesarevague,andiftheyarealwaystoobroadfortheconcreteandspecific

cathatweareconsidering,theonlythingleftforusistotrustourinstincts.

That'swhatthisyoungmantriedtodo;andwhenIsawhim,hesaid,"Intheend,

IfeelthatIlovemymotherenoughtosacrificeeverythingelforher--mydesire

forvengeance,foraction,foradventure--thenI',onthecontrary,

Ifeelthatmyloveformymotherisn'tenough,I'llleave."

Buthowisthevalueofafeelingdetcrmined?Whatgiveshisfeelingforhis

mothervalue?ythatIlikeso-

and-sowellenoughtosacrificeacertainamountofmoneyforhim,butImaysay

soonlyifI'y"Ilovemymotherwellenoughtoremainwith

her"ywaytodeterminethevalueofthis

affectionis,precily,,since

Irequirethisaffectiontojustifymyact,Ifindmylfcaughtinaviciouscircle.

Ontheotherhand,Gidehaswellsaidthatamockfeelingandatruefeelingare

almostindistinguishable;todecidethatIlovemymotherandwillremainwith

her,ortoremainwithherbyputtingonanact,amountsomewhattothesame

thing:Inotherwords,thefeelingisformedbytheactsoneperforms;so,Icannot

eansthatIcanneitherekwithin

mylfthetrueconditionwhichwillimpelmetoact,norapplytoasystemof

lsay,"Atleast,hedidgo

toateacherforadvice."Butifyouekadvicefromapriest,forexample,you

havechonthispriest;youalreadyknew,moreorless,justaboutwhatadvicehe

rwords,choosingyouradvirisinvolving

ofofthisisthatifyouareaChristian,youwillsay,"Consulta

priest."Butsomepriestsarecollaborating,somearejustmarkingtime,someare

ochoo?Iftheyoungmanchoosapriestwhoisresistingor

collaborating,hehasalreadydecidedonthekindofadvicehe'sgoingtoget.

Therefore,incomingtoemeheknewtheanswerIwasgoingtogivehim,andI

hadonlyoneanswertogive:"You'refree,choo,thatis,invent."Nogeneral

ethicscanshowyouwhatistobedone;

Catholicswillreply,""Butthereare."Granted--but,inanyca,Imylfchoo

themeaningtheyhave.

WhenIwasaprisoner,IknewaratherremarkableyoungmanwhowasaJesuit.

HehadenteredtheJesuitorderinthefollowingway:hehadhadanumberofvery

badbreaks;inchildhood,hisfatherdied,leavinghiminpoverty,andhewasa

scholarshipstudentatareligiousinstitutionwherehewasconstantlymadetofeel

thathewasbeingkeptoutofcharity;then,hefailedtogetanyofthehonorsand

distinctionsthatchildrenlike;lateron,atabouteighteen,hebungledaloveaffair;

finally,attwenty-two,hefailedinmilitarytraining,achildishenoughmatter,but

itwasthelaststraw.

signofsomething,butofwhat?Hemighthavetakenrefugeinbitternessor

erywilylookeduponallthisasasignthathewasnotmadefor

culartriumphs,andthatonlythetriumphsofreligion,holiness,andfaithwere

hehandofGodinallthis,

canhelpeingthathealonedecidedwhatthesignmeant?

Someotherinterpretationmighthavebeendrawnfromthisriesoftbacks;for

example,thathemighthavedonebettertoturncarpenterorrevolutionist.

Therefore,nnessimpliesthat

nnessandanguishgotogether.

Asfordespair,sthatweshallconfine

ourlvestoreckoningonlywithwhatdependsuponourwill,orontheenmble

wantsomething,we

countingonthearrivalofa

endiscomingbyrailorstreet-car;thissupposthatthetrainwill

arriveonschedule,tinthe

realmofpossibility;butpossibilitiesaretobereckonedwithonlytothepoint

wheremyactioncomportswiththeenmbleofthepossibilities,andnofurther.

ThemomentthepossibilitiesIamconsideringarenotrigorouslyinvolvedbymy

action,Ioughttodingagemylffromthem,becaunoGod,noscheme,can

scartessaid,"Conquer

yourlfratherthantheworld,"hemeantesntiallythesamething.

TheMarxiststowhomIhavespokenreply,"Youcanrelyonthesupportof

othersinyouraction,whichobviouslyhascertainlimitsbecauyou'renotgoing

ans:relyonbothwhatothersaredoingelwheretohelp

you,inChina,inRussia,andwhattheywilldolateron,afteryourdeath,tocarry

ontheactionandleadittoitsfulfillment,n

havetorelyuponthat,otherwiyou'reimmoral."IreplyatoncethatIwill

alwaysrelyonfellow-fightersinsofarasthecomradesareinvolvedwithmeina

commonstruggle,intheunityofapartyoragroupinwhichIcanmoreorless

makemyweightfelt;thatis,onewhoranksIaminasafighterandwho

asituation,relyingonthe

unityandwillofthepartyixactlylikecountingonthefactthatthetrainwill

arriveontimeorthatthecarwon',giventhatmanisfreeand

thatthereisnohumannatureformetodependon,IcannotcountonmenwhomI

donotknowbyrelyingonhumangoodnessorman'sconcernforthegoodof

'tknowwhatwillbecomeoftheRussianrevolution;Imaymakean

exampleofittotheextentthatattheprenttimeitisapparentthattheproletariat

n'tswearthatthis

willinevitablyleadtoatriumphoftheproletariat.I'vegottolimitmylftowhat

Ie.

Giventhatmenarefreeandthattomorrowtheywillfreelydecidewhatmanwill

be,Icannotbesurethat,aftermydeath,fellow-fighterswillcarryonmyworkto

ow,aftermydeath,somemenmay

decidetotupFascism,andtheothersmaybecowardlyandmuddledenoughto

mwillthenbethehumanreality,somuchtheworforus.

Actually,atmean

thatIshouldabandonmylftoquietism?,Ishouldinvolvemylf;

then,actontheoldsaw,"Nothingventured,nothinggained."Nordoesitmean

thatIshouldn'tbelongtoaparty,butratherthatIshallhavenoillusionsandshall

mple,suppoIaskmylf,"Willsocialization,assuch,

evercomeabout?"owisthatI'mgoingtodo

that,Ican'tcountonanything.

Quietismistheattitudeofpeoplewhosay,"LetothersdowhatIcan'tdo."The

doctrineIamprentingistheveryoppositeofquietism,sinceitdeclares,"There

isnorealityexceptinaction."Moreover,itgoesfurther,sinceitadds,"Manis

nothingelthanhisplan;heexistsonlytotheextentthathefulfillshimlf;heis

thereforenothingelthantheenmbleofhisacts,nothingelthanhislife."

Accordingtothis,wecanunderstandwhyourdoctrinehorrifiescertainpeople.

Becauoftentheonlywaytheycanbeartheirwretchednessistothink,

"'vebeenanddonedoesn'tshowmy

re,I'vehadnogreatlove,nogreatfriendship,butthat's

becauIhaven'ksI'vewritten

haven'tbeenverygoodbecauIhaven''thad

childrentodevotemylftobecauIdidn'tfindamanwithwhomIcouldhave

eremainswithinme,unudandquiteviable,ahostof

propensities,inclinations,possibilities,thatonewouldn'tguessfromthemere

riesofthingsI'vedone."

Now,fortheexistentialistthereisreallynoloveotherthanonewhichmanifests

itlfinaperson'snogeniusotherthanonewhichis

expresdinworksofart;thegeniusofProustisthesumofProust'sworks;the

eofthat,

saythatRacinecouldhavewrittenanothertragedy,whenhedidn'twriteit?A

manisinvolvedinlife,leaveshisimpressonit,andoutsideofthatthereis

re,thismayemaharshthoughttosomeonewholifehasn't

,ontheotherhand,itpromptspeopletounderstandthatreality

aloneiswhatcounts,thatdreams,expectations,andhopeswarrantnomorethan

todefineamanasadisappointeddream,asmiscarriedhopes,asvain

rwords,todefinehimnegativelyandnotpositively.

However,whenwesay,"Youarenothingelthanyourlife,"thatdoesnotimply

thattheartistwillbejudgedsolelyonthebasisofhisworksofart;athousand

meanisthataman

isnothingelthanariesofundertakings,thatheisthesum,theorganization,

theenmbleoftherelationshipswhichmakeuptheundertakings.

Whenallissaidanddone,whatweareaccudof,atbottom,isnotour

pessimism,lethrowuptousourworksof

fictioninwhichwewriteaboutpeoplewhoaresoft,weak,cowardly,and

sometimevendownrightbad,it'hepeoplearesoft,weak,

cowardly,orbad;becauifweweretosay,asZoladid,thattheyarethatway

becauofheredity,theworkingsofenvironment,society,becauofbiological

orpsychologicaldeterminism,uldsay,

"Well,that'swhatwe'relike,noonecandoanythingaboutit."Butwhenthe

existentialistwritesaboutacoward,hesaysthatthiscowardisresponsibleforhis

'snotlikethatbecauhehasacowardlyheartorlungorbrain;

he'snotlikethatonaccountofhisphysiologicalmake-up;buthe'slikethat

'snosuchthingasa

cowardlyconstitution;therearenervousconstitutions;thereispoorblood,asthe

commonpeoplesay,manwhobloodispooris

notacowardonthataccount,forwhatmakescowardiceistheactofrenouncing

itutionisnotanact;thecowardisdefinedonthebasisofthe

feel,inavaguesortofway,thatthiscowardwe're

talkingaboutisguiltyofbeingacoward,

peoplewouldlikeisthatacowardoraherobebornthatway.

OneofthecomplaintsmostfrequentlymadeaboutTheWaysofFreedom*canbe

summedupasfollows:"Afterall,thepeoplearesospineless,howareyou

goingtomakeheroesoutofthem?"Thisobjectionalmostmakesmelaugh,forit

'

you'reborncowardly,youmaytyourmindperfectlyatrest;there'snothingyou

candoaboutit;you'llbecowardlyallyourlife,'re

bornahero,youmaytyourmindjustasmuchatrest;you'llbeaheroallyour

life;you'eexistentialistsaysisthat

thecowardmakeshimlfcowardly,'s

alwaysapossibilityforthecowardnottobecowardlyanymoreandforthehero

untsistotalinvolvement;someoneparticularaction

ortofcircumstancesisnottotalinvolvement.

*LesCheminsde1aLiberté,'sprojectedtrilogyofnovels,twoofwhich,

L'AgedeRaison(TheAgeofReason)andLeSursis(TheReprieve)havealready

appeared.--Translator',Ithinkwehaveansweredanumberofthe

thatitcannotbetakenfora

philosophyofquietism,sinceitdefinesmanintermsofaction;norfora

pessimisticdescriptionofman--thereisnodoctrinemoreoptimistic,sinceman's

destinyiswithinhimlf;norforanattempttodiscouragemanfromacting,since

ittellshimthattheonlyhopeisinhisactingandthatactionistheonlythingthat

uently,wearedealingherewithanethicsofaction

andinvolvement.

Nevertheless,onthebasisofafewnotionslikethe,wearestillchargedwith

gainwe'reverymuch

tivityoftheindividualisindeedourpointofdeparture,and

auwearebourgeois,butbecau

wewantadoctrinebadontruthandnotalotoffinetheories,fullofhopebut

anbenoothertruthtotakeofffromthanthis:Ithink;

therefore,ehavetheabsolutetruthofconsciousnessbecoming

heorywhichtakesmanoutofthemomentinwhichhe

becomesawareofhimlfis,atitsverybeginning,atheorywhichconfounds

truth,foroutsidetheCartesiancogito,allviewsareonlyprobable,andadoctrine

rto

describetheprobable,ore,before

therecanbeanytruthwhatsoever,theremustbeanabsolutetruth;andthisoneis

simpleandeasilyarrivedat;it'soneveryone'sdoorstep;it'samatterofgraspingit

directly.

Secondly,thistheoryistheonlyonewhichgivesmandignity,theonlyonewhich

ectofallmaterialismistotreatallmen,

includingtheonephilosophizing,asobjects,thatis,asanenmbleofdetermined

reactionsinnowaydistinguishedfromtheenmbleofqualitiesandphenomena

nitelywishtoestablishthe

subjectivitythatwehavethusarrivedat,andwhichwehaveclaimedtobetruth,

isnotastrictlyindividualsubjectivity,forwehavedemonstratedthatone

discoversinthecogitonotonlyhimlf,butothersaswell.

ThephilosophiesofDescartesandKanttothecontrary,throughtheIthinkwe

reachourownlfintheprenceofothers,andtheothersarejustasrealtousas

,themanwhobecomesawareofhimlfthroughthecogito

alsoperceivesallothers,andheperceivesthemastheconditionofhisown

izesthathecannotbeanything(inthenthatwesaythat

someoneiswittyornastyorjealous)rto

getanytruthaboutmylf,eris

indispensabletomyownexistence,aswellastomyknowledgeaboutmylf.

Thisbeingso,indiscoveringmyinnerbeingIdiscovertheotherpersonatthe

sametime,likeafreedomplacedinfrontofmewhichthinksandwillsonlyforor

,letusatonceannouncethediscoveryofaworldwhichwe

shallcallintersubjectivity;thisistheworldinwhichmandecideswhatheisand

whatothersare.

Besides,ifitisimpossibletofindineverymansomeuniversalesncewhich

wouldbehumannature,'snot

bychancethattoday'sthinkersspeakmorereadilyofman'sconditionthanofhis

itiontheymean,moreorlessdefinitely,theapriorilimitswhich

outlineman'icalsituationsvary;a

doesnotvaryisthenecessityforhimtoexistintheworld,tobeatworkthere,to

bethereinthemidstofotherpeople,itsareneither

subjectivenorobjective,or,rather,theyhaveanobjectiveandasubjectiveside.

Objectivebecautheyaretobefoundeverywhereandarerecognizable

everywhere;subjectivebecautheyarelivedandarenothingifmandoesnotlive

them,thatis,ugh

theconfigurationsmaydiffer,atleastnoneofthemarecompletelystrangetome,

becautheyallappearasattemptithertopassbeyondthelimitsorrecede

uently,everyconfiguration,

howeverindividualitmaybe,hasauniversalvalue.

Everyconfiguration,eventheChine,theIndian,ortheNegro,canbe

understoodbyaWesterner."Canbeunderstood"meansthatbyvirtueofa

situationthathecanimagine,aEuropeanof1945can,inlikemanner,push

himlftohislimitsandreconstitutewithinhimlftheconfigurationofthe

Chine,theIndian,onfigurationhasuniversalityinthe

esnotat

allmeanthatthisconfigurationdefinesmanforever,butthatitcanbemetwith

salwaysawaytounderstandtheidiot,thechild,thesavage,the

foreigner,providedonehasthenecessaryinformation.

Inthisnwemaysaythatthereisauniversalityofman;butitisnotgiven,it

theuniversalinchoosingmylf;Ibuilditin

understandingtheconfigurationofeveryotherman,whateveragehemighthave

solutenessofchoicedoesnotdoawaywiththerelativenessof

t,whatexistentialismshowsistheconnectionbetweenthe

absolutecharacteroffreeinvolvement,byvirtueofwhicheverymanrealizes

himlfinrealizingatypeofmankind,aninvolvementalwayscomprehensiblein

anyagewhatsoeverandbyanypersonwhosoever,andtherelativenessofthe

culturalenmblewhichmayresultfromsuchachoice;itmustbestresdthat

therelativityofCartesianismandtheabsolutecharacterofCartesianinvolvement

n,youmay,ifyoulike,saythateachofusperformsan

absoluteactinbreathing,eating,sleeping,orbehavinginanywaywhatever.

onfiguration,likeanexistence

whichchoositsnce,snodifferencebetween

beinganabsolutetemporarilylocalized,thatis,localizedinhistory,andbeing

universallycomprehensible.

,theobjection

,thereisthefollowing:wearetold,"Soyou'reable

todoanything,nomatterwhat!"eare

accudofanarchy;thentheysay,"You'reunabletopassjudgmentonothers,

becauthere'snoreasontopreferoneconfigurationtoanother";finallytheytell

us,"esomethingfrom

onepocketandpretendyou'reputtingitintotheother."

Thethreeobjectionsaren'efirstobjection."You'reableto

doanything,nomatterwhat"enchoiceispossible,

wayschoo,butIoughttoknow

thatifIdonotchoo,thismayempurelyformal,

true

thatinfacingasituation,forexample,oneinwhich,asapersoncapableofhaving

xualrelations,ofhavingchildren,Iamobligedtochooanattitude,andifIin

anywayassumeresponsibilityforachoicewhich,ininvolvingmylf,also

involvesallmankind,thishasnothingtodowithcaprice,evenifnoapriorivalue

determinesmychoice.

IfanybodythinksthatherecognizeshereGide'stheoryofthearbitraryact,he

failstoetheenormousdifferencebetweenthisdoctrineandGide'es

,onthecontrary,

hhis

choice,heinvolvesallmankind,andhecannotavoidmakingachoice:eitherhe

willremainchaste,orhewillmarrywithouthavingchildren,orhewillmarryand

havechildren;anyhow,whateverhemaydo,itisimpossibleforhimnottotake

ess,hechoos

withoutreferringtopreestablishedvalues,butitisunfairtoaccuhimofcaprice.

Instead,letussaythatmoralchoiceistobecomparedtothemakingofaworkof

oregoinganyfurther,letitbesaidatoncethatwearenotdealing

herewithanaestheticethics,becauouropponentsaresodishonestthatthey

mpleI'vechonisacomparisononly.

Havingsaidthat,mayIaskwhetheranyonehaveraccudanartistwhohas

paintedapictureofnothavingdrawnhisinspirationfromrulestupapriori?

Hasanyoneeverasked,"Whatpaintingoughthetomake?"Itisclearly

understoodthatthereisnodefinitepaintingtobemade,thattheartistingaged

inthemakingofhispainting,andthatthepaintingtobemadeisprecilythe

earlyunderstoodthattherearenoapriori

aestheticvalues,butthattherearevalueswhichappearsubquentlyinthe

coherenceofthepainting,inthecorrespondencebetweenwhattheartistintended

cantellwhatthepaintingoftomorrowwillbelike.

nnectiondoes

thathavewithethics?rsaythata

speakofacanvasofPicasso,weneversaythat

itisarbitrary;weunderstandquitewellthathewasmakinghimlfwhatheisat

theverytimehewaspainting,thattheenmbleofhisworkimbodiedinhis

life.

tandethicshaveincommonisthat

otdecideaprioriwhat

thatIpointedthatoutquitesufficientlywhenI

mentionedthecaofthestudentwhocametoeme,andwhomighthave

appliedtoalltheethicalsystems,Kantianorotherwi,withoutgettinganysort

etitbesaidbyus

thatthisman--who,takingaffection,individualaction,andkind-heartedness

towardaspecificpersonashithicalfirstprinciple,choostoremainwithhis

mother,orwho,preferringtomakeasacrifice,choostogotoEngland--has

'

choosinghithics,hemakeshimlf,andforceofcircumstancesissuchthathe

nemanonlyinrelationshipto

ereforeabsurdtochargeuswitharbitrarinessofchoice.

Inthecondplace,

waythisistrue,andinanotherway,ueinthisn,that,whenevera

mansanelyandsincerelyinvolveshimlfandchooshisconfiguration,itis

impossibleforhimtopreferanotherconfiguration,regardlessofwhathisown

ueinthisn,thatwedonotbelieveinprogress.

uationconfrontinghim

blemhasnot

changedsincethetimeonecouldchoobetweenthoforandthoagainst

slavery,forexample,atthetimeoftheCivilWar,andtheprenttime,whenone

cansidewiththeMaquisResistanceParty,orwiththeCommunists.

But,nevertheless,onecanstillpassjudgment,for,asIhavesaid,onemakesa

,onecanjudge(andthisisperhapsnota

judgmentofvalue,butalogicaljudgment)thatcertainchoicesarebadonerror

vedefinedman'ssituationasafreechoice,withno

excusandnorecour,everymanwhotakesrefugebehindtheexcuofhis

passions,everymanwhotsupadeterminism,isadishonestman.

Theobjectionmayberaid,"Butwhymayn'thechoohimlfdishonestly?"I

replythatIamnotobligedtopassmoraljudgmentonhim,butthatIdodefinehis

nothelpconsideringthetruthofthematter.

Dishonestyisobviouslyafalhoodbecauitbeliesthecompletefreedomof

amegrounds,ImaintainthatthereisalsodishonestyifI

chootostatethatcertainvaluexistpriortome;itislf-contradictoryforme

esomeone

saystome,"WhatifIwanttobedishonest?"I'llanswer,"There'snoreasonfor

younottobe,butI'msayingthatthat'swhatyouare,andthatthestrictlycoherent

attitudeisthatofhonesty."

Besides,eclarethatfreedominevery

concretecircumstancecanhavenootheraimthantowantitlf,ifmanhasonce

becomeawarethatinhisforlornnessheimposvalues,hecannolongerwant

butonething,andthatisfreedom,esn'tmean

ssimplythattheultimatemeaningofthe

obelongstoa

communistorrevolutionaryunionwantsconcretegoals;thegoalsimplyan

abstractdesireforfreedom;

wantfreedomforfreedom'

wantingfreedomwediscoverthatitdependntirelyonthefreedomofothers,

,freedomasthe

definitionofmandoesnotdependonothers,butassoonasthereisinvolvement,I

amobligedtowantotherstohavefreedomatthesametimethatIwantmyown

kefreedomasmygoalonlyifItakethatofothersasagoalas

uently,when,inallhonesty,I'verecognizedthatmanisabeingin

whomexistenceprecedesnce,thatheisafreebeingwho,invarious

circumstances,canwantonlyhisfreedom,Ihaveatthesametimerecognizedthat

Icanwantonlythefreedomofothers.

Therefore,inthenameofthiswillforfreedom,whichfreedomitlfimplies,I

maypassjudgmentonthowhoektohidefromthemlvesthecomplete

hohidetheir

completefreedomfromthemlvesoutofaspiritofriousnessorbymeansof

deterministicexcus,Ishallcallcowards;thowhotrytoshowthattheir

existencewasnecessary,whenitistheverycontingencyofman'sappearanceon

earth,ardsorstinkerscanbejudgedonlyfroma

strictlyunbiadpointofview.

Thereforethoughthecontentofethicsisvariable,acertainformofitisuniversal.

hebelievesthattheformalandtheuniversalareenoughtoconstituteanethics.

We,ontheotherhand,thinkthatprincipleswhicharetooabstractrunagroundin

ain,ameof

what,inthenameofwhatgreatmoralmaximdoyouthinkhecouldhavedecided,

inperfectpeaceofmind,toabandonhismotherortostaywithher?Thereisno

tentisalwaysconcreteandtherebyunforeeable;there

thingthatcountsisknowingwhether

theinventingthathasbeendone,hasbeendoneinthenameoffreedom.

Forexample,letowhatextent

theycorrespond,acertainyoung

girl,MaggieTulliver,whoisanembodimentofthevalueofpassionandwhois

nlovewithayoungman,Stephen,whoingagedtoan

ggieTulliver,insteadofheedlesslypreferring

herownhappiness,choos,inthenameofhumansolidarity,tosacrificeherlf

therhand,Sanverina,inThe

CharterhouofParma,believingthatpassionisman'struevalue,wouldsaythat

agreatlovedervessacrifices;thatitistobepreferredtothebanalityofthe

wouldchootosacrificethegirlandfulfillherhappiness;and,asStendhal

shows,sheivenreadytosacrificeherlfforthesakeofpassion,ifthislife

thattheyaremuchthesamething;inbothcaswhathasbeentupasthegoal

isfreedom.

Youcanimaginetwohighlysimilarattitudes:onegirlpreferstorenounceher

loveoutofresignation;anotherpreferstodisregardthepriorattachmentofthe

urfacethetwoactionsremble

thowe'r,erina's

attitudeismuchnearerthatofMaggieTulliver,oneofheedlessrapacity.

Thus,youethatthecondchargeistrueand,atthesametime,

chooanythingifitisonthegroundsoffreeinvolvement.

Thethirdobjectionisthefollowing:"Youtakesomethingfromonepocketand

,fundamentally,valuesaren'trious,sinceyou

choothem."MyanswertothisisthatI'mquitevexedthatthat'sthewayitis;

butifI'vediscardedGodtheFather,therehastobesomeonetoinventvalues.

You'er,tosaythatweinventvalues

meansnothingelbutthis:youcomealive,

lifeisnothing;it'suptoyoutogiveitameaning,andvalueisnothingelbutthe

way,youe,thereisapossibilityofcreatinga

humancommunity.

I''sbeen

said,"efunof

ebacktoitnow?"Actually,theword

nismonecanmeanatheory

sminthisncanbe

foundinCocteau'staleAroundtheWorldinEightyHourswhenacharacter,

becauheisflyingoversomemountainsinanairplane,declares,"Manissimply

amazing."ThatmeansthatI,whodidnotbuildtheairplanes,shallpersonally

benefitfromtheparticularinventions,andthatI,asman,shallpersonally

considermylfresponsiblefor,andhonoredby,actsofafewparticularmen.

Thiswouldimplythatweascribeavaluetomanonthebasisofthehighestdeeds

manismisabsurd,becauonlythedogorthehorwould

beabletomakesuchanover-alljudgmentaboutman,whichtheyarecarefulnot

todo,atleasttomyknowledge.

Butitcannotbegrantedthatamanmaymakeajudgmentaboutman.

stentialistwillnever

uldwe

believethatthereisamankindtowhichwemighttupacultinthemannerof

tofmankindendsinthelf-enclodhumanismof

Comte,and,letitbesaid,ndofhumanismwecandowithout.

entallyitisthis:manis

constantlyoutsideofhimlf;inprojectinghimlf,inlosinghimlfoutsideof

himlf,hemakesforman'xisting;and,ontheotherhand,itisbypursuing

transcendentgoalsthatheisabletoexist;man,beingthisstateofpassing-beyond,

andizinguponthingsonlyastheybearuponthispassing-beyond,isatthe

heart,snouniverotherthana

humanuniver,nnectionbetween

transcendency,asaconstituentelementofman--notinthenthatGodis

transcendent,butinthenofpassingbeyond--andsubjectivity,inthen

thatmanisnotclodinonhimlfbutisalwaysprentinahumanuniver,is

sm,becauweremindmanthat

thereisnolaw-makerotherthanhimlf,andthatinhisforlornnesshewilldecide

byhimlf;becauwepointoutthatmanwillfulfillhimlfasman,notin

turningtowardhimlf,butinekingoutsideofhimlfagoalwhichisjustthis

liberation,justthisparticularfulfillment.

>Fromthefewreflectionsitividentthatnothingismoreunjustthanthe

ntialismisnothingelthanan

'ttrying

necallveryattitudeofunbelief

despair,liketheChristians,thenthewordisnotbeingudinitsoriginaln.

Existentialismisn'tsoatheisticthatitwearsitlfoutshowingthatGoddoesn't

,itdeclaresthatevenifGoddidexist,thatwouldchangenothing.

Thereyou'twebelievethatGodexists,butwe

nexistentialism

isoptimistic,adoctrineofaction,anditisplaindishonestyforChristianstomake

nodistinctionbetweentheirowndespairandoursandthentocallusdespairing.

FREEDOMANDRESPONSIBILITY

Althoughtheconsiderationswhichareabouttofollowareofinterestprimarilytotheethicist,it

mayneverthelessbeworthwhileafterthedescriptionsandargumentstoreturntothefreedomof

thefor-itlfandtotrytounderstandwhatthefactofthisfreedomreprentsforhumandestiny.

Theesntialconquenceofourearlierremarksisthatmanbeingcondemnedtobefreecarries

theweightofthewholeworldonhisshoulders;heisresponsiblefortheworldandforhimlfasa

akingtheword"responsibility"initsordinarynas"consciousness(of)

beingtheincontestableauthorofaneventorofanobject."Inthisntheresponsibilityofthe

for-itlfisoverwhelmingsincehe*istheonebywhomithappensthatthereisaworld;sincehe

isalsotheonewhomakeshimlfbe,thenwhatevermaybethesituationinwhichhefinds

himlf,thefor-itlfmustwhollyassumethissituationwithitspeculiarcoefficientofadversity,

assumethesituationwiththeproudconsciousnessof

beingtheauthorofit,fortheveryworstdisadvantagesortheworstthreatswhichcanendanger

mypersonhavemeaningonlyinandthroughmyproject;anditisonthegroundofthe

ereforenlesstothinkofcomplainingsince

nothingforeignhasdecidedwhatwefeel,whatwelive,orwhatweare.

*IamshiftingtothepersonalpronounheresinceSartreisdescribingthefor-itlfinconcrete

lyspeaking,ofcour,thisishisposition

throughout,andtheFrench"il"isindifferently"be"or"it."Tr.

Furthermorethisabsoluteresponsibilityisnotresignation;itissimplythelogicalrequirementof

ppenstomehappensthroughme,andIcanneither

ereverythingwhich

wemustunderstandfirstofallthatIamalwayqualtowhat

happenstomequaman,forwhathappenstoamanthroughothermenandthroughhimlfcanbe

tterriblesituationsofwar,theworsttorturesdonotcreateanon-humanstate

ofthings;lythroughfear,flight,andrecourtomagical

typesofconductthatIshalldecideonthenon-human,butthisdecisionishuman,andIshallcarry

dditionthesituationisminebecauitistheimageofmy

freechoiceofmylf,andeverythingwhichitprentstomeismineinthatthisreprentsmeand

tIwhodecidethecoefficientofadversityinthingsandeventheir

unpredictabilitybydecidingmylf?

Thustherearenoaccidentsinalife;acommunityeventwhichsuddenlyburstsforthandinvolves

obilizedinawar,thiswarismywar;itisinmy

veitfirstbecauIcouldalwaysgetoutofitbysuicideorby

dertion;theultimatepossiblesarethowhichmustalwaysbeprentforuswhenthereisa

kofgettingoutofit,nbedueto

inertia,tocowardiceinthefaceofpublicopinion,orbecauIprefercertainothervaluestothe

valueoftherefusaltojoininthewar(thegoodopinionofmyrelatives,thehonorofmyfamily,

etc.).Anywayyoulookatit,oicewillberepeatedlateronagain

orewemustagreewiththestatementby

s,"Inwartherearenoinnocentvictims."*IfthereforeIhavepreferredwartodeathor

todishonor,

othershavedeclaredit,andonemightbetemptedperhapstoconsidermeasasimpleaccomplice.

Butthisnotionofcomplicityhasonlyajuridicaln,epended

onmethatformeandbyinethiswarshouldnotexist,

wasnocompulsionhere,thave

anyexcu;foraswehavesaidrepeatedlyinthisbook,thepeculiarcharacterofhuman-realityis

oreitremainsformeonlytolayclaimtothiswar.

*s:Leshommesdebonnevolonté;"PréludeàVerdun."

ButinadditionthewarisminebecaubythesolefactthatitarisinasituationwhichIcauto

beandthatIcandiscoveritthereonlybyengagingmylffororagainstit,Icannolonger

distinguishatprentthechoicewhichImakeofmylffromthechoicewhichImakeofthewar.

Tolivethiswaristochoomylfthroughitandtochooitthroughmychoiceofmylf.

Therecanbenoquestionofconsideringitas"fouryearsofvacation"orasa"reprieve,"asa

"recess,"theesntialpartofmyresponsibilitiesbeingelwhereinmymarried,family,or

warwhichIhavechonIchoomylffromdaytoday,andImakeit

goingtobefouremptyyears,thenitisIwhobearthe

responsibilityforthis.

Finally,aswepointedoutearlier,eachpersonisanabsolutechoiceoflffromthestandpointof

aworldofknowledgesandoftechniqueswhichthischoicebothassumesandillumines;each

personisanabsoluteupsurgeatanabsolute,

thereforeawasteoftimetoaskwhatIshouldhavebeenifthiswarhadnotbrokenout,forIhave

chonmyl

notdistinctfromthissameepoch;Icouldnotbetransportedtoanotherepochwithout

mthiswarwhichrestrictsandlimitsandmakescomprehensibletheperiod

nwemaydefinemoreprecilytheresponsibilityofthefor-itlfif

totheearlierquotedstatement,"Therearenoinnocentvictims,"weaddthewords,"Wehavethe

warwederve."Thus,totallyfree,undistinguishablefromtheperiodforwhichIhavechonto

bethemeaning,asprofoundlyresponsibleforthewarasifIhadmylfdeclaredit,unabletolive

withoutintegratingitinmysituation,engagingmylfinitwhollyandstampingitwithmyal,I

mustbewithoutremororregretsasIamwithoutexcu;forfromtheinstantofmyupsurgeinto

being,Icarrytheweightoftheworldbymylfalonewithoutanythingoranypersonbeingable

tolightenit.

ewillsay,"Ididnotasktobeborn."

ponsibleforeverything,

infact,exceptformyveryresponsibility,ore

ndonedintheworld,not

inthenthatImightremainabandonedandpassiveinahostileuniverlikeaboardfloating

onthewater,butratherinthenthatIfindmylfsuddenlyaloneandwithouthelp,engagedin

aworldforwhichIbearthewholeresponsibilitywithoutbeingable,whateverIdo,totearmylf

responsibleformyverydesireoffleeing

mylfpassiveintheworld,torefutoactuponthingsanduponOthers

isstilltochoomylf,nd

anabsoluteresponsibilityforthefactthatmyfacticity(herethefactofmybirth)isdirectly

inapprehensibleandeveninconceivable,forthisfactofmybirthneverappearsasabrutefactbut

amedofbeingbornorIam

astonishedatitorIrejoiceoverit,orinattemptingtogetridofmylifeIaffirmthatIliveandI

oiceitlfisintegrally

affectedwithfacticitysinceIamnotablenottochoo,butthisfacticityinturnwillappearonly

cticityiverywherebutinapprehensible;Inever

whyIcannotask,"WhywasIborn?"or

curthedayofmybirthordeclarethatIdidnotasktobeborn,forthevariousattitudestoward

mybirth--i.e.,towardthefactthatIrealizeaprenceintheworld--areabsolutelynothingelbut

ainIencounter

onlymylfandmyprojectssothatfinallymyabandonment--i.e.,myfacticity--consistssimplyin

beingwhichisinsuch

s"is"ofmybeingisasprentand

inapprehensible.

Undertheconditionssinceeveryeventintheworldcanberevealedtomeonlyasan

opportunity(anopportunitymadeuof,lacked,neglected,etc.),orbetteryetsinceeverything

whichhappenstouscanbeconsideredasachance(i.e.,canappeartousonlyasawayof

realizingthisbeingwhichisinquestioninourbeing)andsinceothersastranscendences-

transcendedarethemlvesonlyopportunitiesandchances,theresponsibilityofthefor-itlf

ecilythusthatthefor-itlfapprehends

itlfinanguish;thatis,asabeingwhichisneitherthefoundationofitsownbeingnorofthe

Other'sbeingnorofthein-itlfswhichformtheworld,butabeingwhichiscompelledtodecide

whorealizesinanguishhis

conditionasbeingthrownintoaresponsibilitywhichextendstohisveryabandonmenthasno

longereitherremororregretorexcu;heisnolongeranythingbutafreedomwhichperfectly

epointedoutatthe

beginningofthiswork,mostofthetimewefleeanguishinbadfaith

THEDESIRETOBEGOD

Themostdiscerningethicistshaveshownhowadesirereachesbeyonditlf.

Pascalbelievedthathecoulddiscoverinhunting,forexample,ortennis,orina

hundredotheroccupations,aledthatinan

activitywhichwouldbeabsurdifreducedtoitlf,therewasameaningwhich

transcendedit;thatis,anindicationwhichreferredtotherealityofmaningeneral

rlyStendhalinspiteofhisattachmenttoideologists,

andProustinspiteofhisintellectualisticandanalyticaltendencies,haveshown

thatloveandjealousycannotbereducedtothestrictdesireofposssinga

particularwoman,butthattheemotionsaimatlayingholdoftheworldinits

themeaningofStendhal'scrystallization,and

itisprecilyforthisreasonthatLoveasStendhaldescribesitappearsasamode

afundamentalrelationofthefor-itlftotheworld

andtoitlf(lfness)throughaparticularwoman;thewomanreprentsonlya

nalysmaybeinexactor

onlypartiallytrue;neverthelesstheymakeussuspectamethodotherthanpure

amewayCatholicnovelistsimmediatelyein

carnalloveitssurpassingtowardGod--inDonJuan,"theeternallyunsatisfied,"in

sin,"theplaceemptyofGod."Thereisnoquestionhereoffindingagainan

abstractbehindtheconcrete;theimpultowardGodisnolessconcretethanthe

ontrary,itisamatterof

rediscoveringunderthepartialandincompleteaspectsofthesubjecttheveritable

concretenesswhichcanbeonlythetotalityofhisimpultowardbeing,his

originalrelationtohimlf,totheworld,andtotheOther,intheunityofinternal

pulcanbeonlypurelyindividual

mestrangingusfromtheperson,asBourget'sanalysis,for

example,doesinconstitutingtheindividualbymeansofasummationofgeneral

maxims,thisimpulwillnotleadustofindintheneedofwriting--andof

ontrary,rejecting

equallythetheoryofmalleableclayandthatofthebundleofdrives,wewill

dir

thisreasonthattheirreducibilityoftheresultattainedwillberevealedaslf-

evident,notbecauitisthepoorestandthemostabstractbutbecauitisthe

uitionherewillbeaccompaniedbyanindividualfullness.

THEDESIRETOBEGOD(cont.)

TheBestWaytoconceiveofthefundamentalprojectofhumanrealityistosay

ermaybethemythsand

ritesofthereligionconsidered,Godisfirst"nsibletotheheart"ofmanasthe

manposssapre-ontologicalcomprehensionofthebeingofGod,itisnotthe

greatwondersofnaturenorthepowerofsocietywhichhaveconferreditupon

,valueandsupremeendoftranscendence,reprentsthepermanent

n

uprefer,manfundamentallyisthe

desiretobeGod.

Itmaybeasked,ifmanoncomingintotheworldisbornetowardGodastoward

hislimit,ifhecanchooonlytobeGod,whatbecomesoffreedom?For

freedomisnothingotherthanachoicewhichcreatesforitlfitsown

possibilities,butitappearsherethattheinitialprojectofbeingGod,which

"defines"man,comesclotobeingthesameasahuman"nature"oran

"esnce."Theansweristhatwhilethemeaningofthedesireisultimatelythe

projectofbeingGod,thedesireisneverconstitutedbythismeaning;onthe

contrary,ndsinfact

arepursuedintermsofaparticularempiricalsituation,anditisthisverypursuit

ireofbeingisalways

sdesireofamodeofbeing

expressitlfinturnasthemeaningofthemyriadsofconcretedesireswhich

findourlvesbeforevery

ricaldesire

Icandiscernasymbolizationofafundamentalconcretedesirewhichisthe

personhimlfandwhichreprentsthemodeinwhichhehasdecidedthatbeing

ndamentaldesireinturnexpress

concretelyintheworldwithintheparticularsituationenvelopingtheindividual,

anabstractmeaningfulstructurewhichisthedesireofbeingingeneral;itmustbe

consideredashumanrealityintheperson,anditbringsabouthiscommunitywith

others,thusmakingitpossibletostatethatthereisatruthconcerningmanandnot

teconcreteness,

completion,existenceasatotalitybelongthentothefreeandfundamentaldesire

caldesireisonlyasymbolizationofthis;it

referstothisandderivesitsmeaningfromitwhileremainingpartialand

reducible,ther

hand,thedesireofbeinginitsabstractpurityisthetruthoftheconcrete

fundamentaldesire,efundamental

project,theperson,thefreerealizationofhumantruthiverywhereinalldesires

(saveforthoexceptionstreatedintheprecedingchapter,concerning,for

example,"indifferents").Itisneverapprehendedexceptthroughdesires-aswecan

apprehendspaceonlythroughbodieswhichshapeitforus,thoughspaceisa

,ifyoulike,itisliketheobjectofHusrl,

whichrevealsitlfonlybyAbschattungen,andwhichneverthelessdoesnot

nderstandafterthe

remarksthattheabstract,ontological"desiretobe"isunabletoreprentthe

fundamental,humanstructureoftheindividual;itcannotbeanobstacletohis

minfact,aswehaveshownintheprecedingchapter,isstrictly

ybeingwhichcanbecalledfreeisthebeing

erweknowthatnihilationislackofbeingand

misprecilythebeingwhichmakesitlfalackof

cedesire,aswehaveestablished,isidenticalwithlackofbeing,

freedomcanarionlyasbeingwhichmakesitlfadesireofbeing;thatis,as

havearrivedatan

abstractstructurewhichcanbynomeansbeconsideredasthenatureoresnce

mixistence,

upsurgeoffreedomisimmediateandconcreteandisnottobedistinguishedfrom

itschoice;thatis,structureunderconsideration

canbecalledthetruthoffreedom;thatis,itisthehumanmeaningoffreedom.

Itshouldbepossibletoestablishthehumantruthoftheperson,aswehave

alogueofempirical

desiresoughttobemadetheobjectofappropriatepsychologicalinvestigAtions,

obrvationandinductionand,asneeded,experiencecanrvetodrawupthis

llindicatetothephilosopherthecomprehensiblerelationswhich

unitetoeachothervariousdesiresandvariouspatternsofbehaviors,andwill

bringtolightcertainconcreteconnectionsbetweenthesubjectofexperienceand

"situations"experientiallydefined(whichatbottomoriginateonlyfrom

limitationsappliedinthenameofpositivitytothefundamentalsituationofthe

subjectintheworld).Butinestablishingandclassifyingfundamentaldesiresof

lytherecanbe

noquestionofdeterminingaprioriandontologicallywhatappearsinallthe

whyweshalllimitourlveshereto

indicatingverysummarilythepossibilitiesofsuchaquestanditsperspectives.

Theveryfactthatwecansubjectanymanwhatsoevertosuchaninvestigation--

,ifyouprefer,thisiswhatcan

inquiryitlfanditsresultsareonprinciple

whollyoutsidethepossibilitiesofanontology.

EXISTENTIALISTPSYCHOANALYSIS

Theprincipleofthispsychoanalysisisthatmanisatotalityandnotacollection.

Conquentlyheexpresshimlfasawholeinevenhismostinsignificantand

rwordsthereisnotataste,amannerism,or

ahumanactwhichisnotrevealing.

Thegoalofpsychoanalysisistodeciphertheempiricalbehaviorpatternsofman;

thatistobringoutintheopentherevelationswhicheachoneofthemcontains

andtofixthemconceptually.

Itspointofdepartureixperience;itspillarofsupportisthefundamental,pre-

ghthe

majorityofpeoplecanwellignoretheindicationscontainedinagesture,aword,

asignandcanlookwithscornontherevelationwhichtheycarry,eachhuman

individualneverthelessposssapriorithemeaningoftherevelatoryvalueof

themanifestationsandiscapableofdecipheringthem,atleastifheisaidedand

elwhere,truthisnotencounteredbychance;

itdoesnotbelongtoadomainwhereonemustekitwithouteverhavingany

prentimentofitslocation,asonecangotolookforthesourceoftheNileorof

ngsaprioritohumancomprehensionandtheesntialtaskisan

hermeneutic;thatis,adeciphering,adetermination,andaconceptualization.

achexampleofhumanconductsymbolizesin

itsownmannerthefundamentalchoicewhichmustbebroughttolight,andsince

atthesametimeeachonedisguisthischoiceunderitsoccasionalcharacterand

itshistoricalopportunity,onlythecomparisonoftheactsofconductcaneffect

theemergenceoftheuniquerevelationwhichtheyallexpressinadifferentway.

Thefirstoutlineofthismethodhasbeenfurnishedforusbythepsychoanalysisof

sreasonitwillbeprofitableheretoindicatemore

specificallythepointswhereexistentialpsychoanalysiswillbeinspiredby

psychoanalysisproperandthowhereitwillradicallydifferfromit.

Bothkindsofpsychoanalysisconsiderallobjectivelydiscerniblemanifestations

of"psychiclife"assymbolsmaintainingsymbolicrelationstothefundamental,

nsiderthatthereare

noprimarygivenssuchashereditarydispositions,character,ntial

psychoanalysisrecognizesnothingbeforetheoriginalupsurgeofhumanfreedom;

empiricalpsychoanalysisholdsthattheoriginalaffectivityoftheindividualis

idoisnothingbesidesitsconcretefixations,

saveforapermanentpossibilityoffixinganythingwhatsoeveruponanything

nsiderthehumanbeingasaperpetual,arching,

thanuncoveringstatic,constantgivenstheydiscoverthe

meaning,orientation,hisfactbothconsider

manintheworldanddonotimaginethatonecanquestionthebeingofaman

logicalinvestigationsaimat

reconstitutingthelifeofthesubjectfrombirthtothemomentofthecure;they

utilizealltheobjectivedocumentationwhichtheycanfind;letters,witness,

intimatediaries,"social"eyaimatrestoringis

lessapurepsychiceventthanatwofoldstructure:thecrucialeventofinfancyand

ainwehavetodowitha

"historical"factfromthispointofviewwillbeconsideredatonce

s

atesonlyaccordingtothewayinwhichitistakenandthis

verymanneroftakingitexpresssymbolicallytheinternaldispositionofthe

individual.

Empiricalpsychoanalysisandexistentialpsychoanalysisbotharchwithinan

existingsituationforafundamentalattitudewhichcannotbeexpresdby

simple,logicaldefinitionsbecauitispriortoalllogic,andwhichrequires

cal

psychoanalysisekstodeterminethecomplex,theverynameofwhichindicates

ntial

iginalchoice

operatinginthefaceoftheworldandbeingachoiceofpositionintheworldis

totallikethecomplex;iswhichdecides

theattitudeofthepersonwhenconfrontedwithlogicandprinciples;therefore

gs

togetherinaprelogicalsynthesisthetotalityoftheexistent,andassuchitisthe

centerofreferenceforaninfinityofpolyvalentmeanings.

Bothourpsychoanalysrefutoadmitthatthesubjectisinaprivilegedposition

uallyinsistonastrictly

objectivemethod,usingasdocumentaryevidencethedataofreflectionaswellas

thesubjectcanundertakeapsychoanalytic

hiscahemustrenounceattheouttallbenefit

stemmingfromhispeculiarpositionandmustquestionhimlfexactlyasifhe

calpsychoanalysisinfactisbadonthehypothesisof

theexistenceofanunconsciouspsyche,whichonprincipleescapestheintuition

ntialpsychoanalysisrejectsthehypothesisofthe

unconscious;he

fundamentalprojectisfullyexperiencedbythesubjectandhencewholly

conscious,thatcertainlydoesnotmeanthatitmustbythesametokenbeknown

byhim;derwillperhapsrecallthecarewetookinthe

re,as

wehaveenearlier,t

itgraspsateachmomentisnotthepureprojectofthefor-itlfasitis

symbolicallyexpresd--ofteninveralwaysatonce--bytheconcretebehavior

pstheconcretebehavioritlf;thatis,thespecific

psatoncesymboland

prehension,tobesure,intirelyconstitutedbyapre-

ontologicalcomprehensionofthefundamentalproject;betteryet,insofaras

reflectionisalmostanon-theticconsciousnessofitlfasreflection,itisthis

sameproject,oesnotfollow

thatitcommandstheinstrumentsandtechniquesnecessarytoisolatethechoice

symbolized,tofixitbyconcepts,

ispenetratedbyagreatlightwithoutbeingabletoexpresswhatthislightis

otdealingwithanunsolvedriddleastheFreudiansbelieve;

allisthere,luminous;reflectionisinfullposssionofit,s

"mysteryinbroaddaylight"isduetothefactthatthisposssionisdeprivedof

graspverything,allatonce,withoutshading,withoutrelief,without

connectionsofgrandeur--notthattheshades,thevalues,thereliefxist

somewhereandarehiddenfromit,butratherbecautheymustbeestablishedby

anotherhumanattitudeandbecautheycanexistonlybymeansofandfor

tion,unabletorveasthebasisforexistentialpsychoanalysis,

willthensimplyfurnishuswiththebrutematerialstowardwhichthe

lywillhebeabletoknow

ultisthatcomplexesuprootedfromthe

depthsoftheunconscious,likeprojectsrevealedbyexistentialpsychoanalysis,

uentlytheobject

thusbroughtintothelightwillbearticulatedaccordingtothestructuresofthe

transcended-transcendence;thatis,itsbeingwillbethebeing-for-othervenif

thepsychoanalystandthesubjectofthepsychoanalysisareactuallythesame

eprojectwhichisbroughttolightbyeitherkindofpsychoanalysis

canbeonlythetotalityoftheindividualhumanbeing,theirreducibleelementof

wayscapes

themethodsofinvestigationistheprojectasitisforitlf,thecomplexinits

oject-for-itlfcanbeexperiencedonlyasalivingposssion;

thereisanincompatibilitybetweenexistence-for-itlfandobjectiveexistence.

Buttheobjectofthetwopsychoanalyshasinitnonethelesstherealityofa

being;thesubject'sknowledgeofitcaninadditioncontributetoclarifyreflection,

andthatreflectioncanthenbecomeaposssionwhichwillbeaquasi-knowing.

A

differfundamentallyinthatempiricalpsychoanalysishasdecideduponitsown

irreducibleinsteadofallowingthistomakeitlfknowninalf-evident

idoorthewilltopowerinactualityconstitutesapsycho-

biologicalresiduewhichisnotclearinitlfandwhichdoesnotappeartousas

yitixperience

whichestablishesthatthefoundationofcomplexesisthislibidoorthiswillto

power;andtheresultsofempiricalinquiryareperfectlycontingent,theyarenot

gpreventsourconceivingaprioriofa"humanreality"which

wouldnotbeexpresdbythewilltopower,forwhichthelibidowouldnot

constitutetheoriginal,undifferentiatedproject.

Ontheotherhand,thechoicetowhichexistentialpsychoanalysiswillleadus,

precilybecauitisachoice,accountsforitsoriginalcontingency,forthe

rmore,

inasmuchasitistablishedonthelackofbeing,conceivedasafundamental

characteristicofbeing,itreceivesitslegitimacyasachoice,andweknowthatwe

sultthenwillbeatoncefullycontingentand

eritwillalwaysremainparticular;thatis,we

willnotachieveastheultimategoalofourinvestigationandthefoundationofall

behavioranabstract,generalterm,libidoforexample,whichwouldbe

differentiatedandmadeconcretefirstincomplexesandthenindetailedactsof

conduct,

contrary,itwillbeachoicewhichremainsuniqueandwhichisfromthestart

sofbehaviorcanexpressorparticularizethis

choice,buttheycannotmakeitmoreconcretethanisalreadyknowninalf-

becauthe

choiceisnothingotherthanthebeingofeachhumanreality;thisamountsto

sayingthataparticularpartialbehaviorisorexpresstheoriginalchoiceofthis

humanrealitysinceforhumanrealitythereisnodifferencebetweenexistingand

isfactweunderstandthatexistentialpsychoanalysis

doesnothavetoproceedfromthefundamental"complex,"whichixactlythe

choiceofbeing,

complexistheultimatechoice,itisthechoiceofbeingandmakesitlfsuch.

B

followsnecessarilythatthelibidoandthewilltopowerwillappeartoexistential

psychoanalysisneitherasgeneralcharacteristicscommontoallmankindnoras

itwillbepossibleaftertheinvestigationtoestablishthat

theyexpressbyvirtueofparticularenmblesincertainsubjectsafundamental

eninfactthat

desireandxualityingeneralexpressanoriginaleffortofthefor-itlfto

r

willtopoweralsooriginallysupposbeing-for-others,thecomprehensionofthe

Other,

foundationofthisattitudemustbeanoriginalchoicewhichwouldmakeus

understandtheradicalidentificationofbeing-in-itlf-for-itlfwithbeing-for-

others.

Thefactthattheultimatetermofthixistentialinquirymustbeachoice,

distinguishevenbetterthepsychoanalysisforwhichwehaveoutlinedthe

ebyabandonsthesuppositionthatthe

environmentcanactonthesubjectonlytotheexactextentthathecomprehends

it;thatis,oobjectivedescriptionofthis

estarttheenvironmentconceived

asasituationreferstothefor-itlfwhichischoosing,justasthefor-itlfrefers

renouncingallmechanicalcausation,werenounceatthesametimeallgeneral

lcouldnotbetoestablish

empiricallawsofsuccession,norcouldweconstituteauniversalsymbolism.

Ratherthepsychoanalystwillhavetorediscoverateachstepasymbol

beingisa

totality,itisnotconceivablethattherecanexistelementarysymbolic

relationships(e.g.,thefaeces=gold,orapincushion=thebreast)whichprerve

aconstantmeaninginallcas;thatis,whichremainunalteredwhentheypass

rmorethe

psychoanalystwillneverlosightofthefactthatthechoiceislivingand

shown

intheprecedingchaptertheimportanceoftheinstant,whichreprentsabrupt

changesinorientationandtheassumingofanewpositioninthefaceofan

ismomenton,wemustalwaysbereadytoconsiderthat

existentialpsychoanalysiswillhavetobecompletelyflexibleandadaptitlfto

cernhereistounderstand

hodwhichhasrvedfor

onesubjectwillnotnecessarilybesuitabletouforanothersubjectorforthe

samesubjectatalaterperiod.

Precilybecauthegoaloftheinquirymustbetodiscoverachoiceandnota

state,theinvestigatormustrecalloneveryoccasionthathisobjectisnotadatum

buriedinthedarknessoftheunconsciousbutafree,consciousdetermination--

whichisnotevenresidentinconsciousness,butwhichisonewiththis

calpsychoanalysis,totheextentthatitsmethodis

betterthanitsprinciples,isofteninsightofanexistentialdiscovery,butitalways

thusapproachesthefundamentalchoice,theresistanceof

thesubjectcollapssuddenlyandherecognizestheimageofhimlfwhichis

voluntary

testimonyofthesubjectispreciousforthepsychoanalyst;heestherethesign

thathehasreachedhisgoal;hecanpassonfromtheinvestigationpropertothe

hinginhisprinciplesorinhisinitialpostulatespermitshimto

ouldhegetanysuchright?Ifthe

complexisreallyunconscious--thatis,ifthereisabarrierparatingthesignfrom

thethingsignified--howcouldthesubjectrecognizeit?Doestheunconscious

complexrecognizeitlf?Buthaven'twebeentoldthatitlacksunderstanding?

Andifofnecessitywegrantedtoitthefacultyofunderstandingthesigns,would

thisnotbetomakeofitbythesametokenaconsciousunconscious?Whatis

understandingifnottobeconsciousofwhatisunderstood?Shallwesayonthe

otherhandthatitisthesubjectasconsciouswhorecognizestheimageprented?

Buthowcouldhecompareitwithhistruestatesincethatisoutofreachandsince

hehasneverhadanyknowledgeofit?Atmosthewillbeabletojudgethatthe

psychoanalyticexplanationofhiscaisaprobablehypothesis,whichderivesits

ationto

thisinterpretationisthatofathirdparty,thatofthepsychoanalysthimlf;hehas

ebelievesintheprobabilityofthepsychoanalytic

hypothesis,isthissimplebelief,whichlivesinthelimitsofhisconsciousness,

abletoeffectthebreakdownofthebarrierswhichdamuptheunconscious

tendencies?Thepsychoanalystdoubtlesshassomeobscurepictureofanabrupt

asremovedallmethodsof

conceivingofthiscoincidenceinanypositiven.

Still,sanintuitionherewhichis

jectguidedbythepsychoanalystdoesmore

andbetterthantogivehisagreementtoanhypothesis;hetouchesit,heeswhat

trulyunderstandableonlyifthesubjecthasneverceadbeing

consciousofhisdeeptendencies;betteryet,onlyifthedrivesarenot

caaswehaveen,thetraditional

psychoanalyticinterpretationdoesnotcauhimtoattainconsciousnessofwhat

heis;istential

psychoanalysisthenwhichclaimsthefinalintuitionofthesubjectasdecisive.

Thiscomparisonallowsustounderstandbetterwhatanexistentialpsychoanalysis

ethoddestinedtobringtolight,ina

strictlyobjectiveform,thesubjectivechoicebywhicheachlivingpersonmakes

himlfaperson;thatis,hatthe

methodeksisachoiceofbeingatthesametimeasabeing,itmustreduce

particularbehaviorpatternstofundamentalrelations--notofxualityorofthe

willtopower,enguided

fromthestarttowardacomprehensionofbeingandmustnotassignitlfany

othergoalthantodiscoverbeingandthemodeofbeingofthebeingconfronting

utilizethe

comprehensionofbeingwhichcharacterizestheinvestigatorinasmuchasheis

himlfahumanreality;andasitekstodetachbeingfromitssymbolic

expressions,itwillhavetorediscovereachtimeonthebasisofacomparative

studyofactsaridattitudes,terionof

successwillbethenumberoffactswhichitshypothesispermitsittoexplainand

tounifyaswellasthelf-evidentintuitionoftheirreducibilityoftheend

criterionwillbeaddedinallcaswhereitispossible,the

ultsthusachieved--thatis,theultimate

endsoftheindividual--canthenbecometheobjectofaclassification,anditisby

thecomparisonoftheresultsthatwewillbeabletoestablishgeneral

behaviorstudiedbythispsychoanalysiswillincludenotonlydreams,failures,

obssions,andneuros,butalsoandespeciallythethoughtsofwakinglife,

successfullyadjustedacts,style,ychoanalysishasnotyetfoundits

wecanfindtheforeshadowingofitincertainparticularly

tobeabletoattemptelwheretwoexamplesin

atterslittletouswhetheritnow

exists;theimportantthingisthatitispossible.

THEHOLE

Initlftheholeisthesymbolofamodeofbeingwhichexistentialpsychoanalysismustelucidate.

eatonce,however,thattheholeis

originallyprentedasanothingness"tobefilled"withmyownflesh;thechildcannotrestrain

entsitlftomeastheempty

nlytocrawlintoitinordertomakemylfexistintheworldwhich

aloftheholeisthenanexcavationwhichcanbecarefullymouldedaboutmy

fleshinsuchamannerthatbysqueezingmylfintoitandfittingmylftightlyinsideit,Ishall

plugupaholemeansoriginally

tomakeasacrificeofmybodyinorderthattheplenitudeofbeingmayexist;thatis,tosubjectthe

passionoftheFor-itlfsoastoshape,toperfect,andtoprervethetotalityoftheIn-itlf.*

*Weshouldnoteaswelltheimportanceoftheoppositetendency,topokethroughholes,whichin

itlfdemandsanexistentialanalysis.

Hereatitsoriginwegrasponeofthemostfundamentaltendenciesofhumanreality--thetendency

artof

ourlifeispasdinpluggingupholes,infillingemptyplaces,inrealizingandsymbolically

ldrecognizesastheresultsofhisfirstexperiencesthathehimlf

putshisfingersinhismouth,hetriestowalluptheholesinhisface;he

expectsthathisfingerwillmergewithhislipsandtheroofofhismouthandblockupthebuccal

orificeasonefillsthecrackinawallwithcement;heeksagainthedensity,theuniformand

sphericalplenitudeofParmenideanbeing;ifhesuckshisthumb,itisprecilyinordertodissolve

it,ndencyis

certainlyoneofthemostfundamentalamongthowhichrveasthebasisfortheactofeating;

nourishmentisthe"cement"whichwillalthemouth;toeatisamongotherthingstobefilled

up.

cenityofthefemininex

isthatofeverythingwhich"gapesopen."elfwoman

appealstoastrangefleshwhichistotransformherintoafullnessofbeingbypenetrationand

lywomannsherconditionasanappealprecilybecausheis"inthe

formofahole."ThisisthetrueoriginofAdler'anydoubtherxisamouth

andavoraciousmouthwhichdevoursthepenis--afactwhichcaneasilyleadtotheideaof

rousactisthecastrationoftheman;butthisisaboveallbecauxisahole.

Wehavetodoherewithapre-xualcontributionwhichwillbecomeoneofthecomponentsof

xualityasanempirical,complex,humanattitudebutwhichfarfromderivingitsoriginfromthe

xedbeinghasnothingincommonwithbasicxuality,thenatureofwhichwehaveexplainedin

helesstheexperiencewiththehole,whentheinfantesthereality,includesthe

ontologicalprentimentofxualexperienceingeneral;itiswithhisfleshthatthechildstopsup

theholeandthehole,beforeallxualspecification,isanobsceneexpectation,anappealtothe

flesh.

Wecanetheimportancewhichtheelucidationoftheimmediateandconcreteexistential

waywecanapprehendthevery

tchieflyintereststhepsychoanalystistodeterminethe

freeprojectoftheuniquepersonintermsoftheindividualrelationwhichuniteshimtothe

veslimycontacts,haveahorrorofholes,esnot

meanthatformetheslimy,thegreasy,ahole,sttheirgeneralontologicalmeaning,but

onthecontrarythatbecauofthismeaning,Ideterminemylfinthisorthatmannerinrelation

limyisindeedthesymbolofabeinginwhichthefor-itlfisswallowedupbythe

in-itlf,whatkindofapersonamIifinencounteringothers,Ilovetheslimy?Towhat

fundamentalprojectofmylfamIreferredifIwanttoexplainthisloveofanambiguous,

suckingin-itlf?Inthiswaytastesdonotremainirreduciblegivens;ifoneknowshowto

questionthem,evenour

ccountforthisfactifwewillreflectthat

eachtasteisprented,

likethetasteofgarlic,itemsirrationaltomethatotherpeoplecannotlikeit.

Toeatistoappropriatebydestruction;itisatthesametimetobefilledupwithacertainbeing.

Andthisbeingisgivenasasynthesisoftemperature,density,dthis

synthesissignifiesacertainbeing;andwhenweeat,wedonotlimitourlvestoknowingcertain

qualitiesofthisbeingthroughtaste;sassimilation;by

theveryactofbitingthetoothrevealsthedensityofabodywhichitistransformingintogastric

alsto

orth,whatIacceptorwhatIrejectwith

disgustistheverybeingofthatexistent,orifyouprefer,thetotalityofthefoodpropostomea

talityisorganizedasaformin

whichlessintenqualitiesofdensityandoftemperatureareeffacedbehindtheflavorproper

ary,forexample,expresstheslimywhenweeataspoonfulof

honeyormolass,ansthatall

qualitieswhicharenotstrictlyspeakingflavorbutwhicharemasd,melted,buriedintheflavor,

reprentthematteroftheflavor.(Thepieceofchocolatewhichatfirstoffersaresistancetomy

tooth,soonabruptlygiveswayandcrumbles;itsresistancefirst,thenitscrumblingischocolate.)

Inadditiontheyareunitedtocertaintemporalcharacteristicsofflavor;thatis,toitsmodeof

ntastesgivethemlvesallatonce,somearelikedelayed-actionfus,

somereleathemlvesbydegrees,certainonesdwindleslowlyuntiltheydisappear,andstill

ualitiesareorganizedalong

withdensityandtemperature;inadditiononanotherleveltheyexpressthevisualaspectofthe

apinkcake,thetasteofitispink;thelightsugaryperfume,theoilinessofthebutter

ludethatflavor,duetothis

fact,hasacomplexarchitectureanddifferentiatedmatter;itisthisstructuredmatter--which

reprentsforusaparticulartypeofbeing--thatwecanassimilateorrejectwithnaua,according

tamatterofindifferencewhetherwelikeoystersorclams,snailsor

shrimp,ifonlyweknowhowtounraveltheexistentialsignificanceofthefoods.

lreprentacertain

toexistentialpsychoanalysistocompareandclassifythem.

Ontologyabandonsushere;ithasmerelyenabledustodeterminetheultimateendsofhuman

reality,itsfundamentalpossibilities,manrealityisatthe

sametimeadirectprojecttometamorphoitsownFor-itlfintoanIn-itlf-For-itlfanda

projectoftheappropriationoftheworldasatotalityofbeing-in-itlf,intheformofa

umanrealityisapassioninthatitprojectslosingitlfsoastofound

beingandbythesamestroketoconstitutetheIn-itlfwhichescapescontingencybybeingits

ownfoundation,theEnscausasui,epassionofmanisthe

reverofthatofChrist,idea

ulesspassion.

ETHICALIMPLICATIONS

ncernedsolelywith

whatis,andwecannotpossiblyderiveimperativesfromontology'

does,however,allowustocatchaglimpofwhatsortofethicswillassumeits

gyhas

revealedtous,infact,theoriginandthenatureofvalue;wehaveenthatvalue

i

veryfactthatthefor-itlfexists,aswehaveen,valuearistohauntitsbeing-

owsthatthevarioustasksofthefor-itlfcanbemadetheobject

ofanexistentialpsychoanalysis,fortheyallaimatproducingthemissing

existentialpsychoanalysisismoraldescription,foritreleastoustheethical

catestousthenecessityofabandoning

thepsychologyofinterestalongwithanyutilitarianinterpretationofhuman

meaningsarebeyondegoismandaltruism,beyondalsoanybehaviorwhichis

eshimlfmaninordertobeGod,andlfness

consideredfromthispointofviewcanappeartobeanegoism;butprecily

becauthereisnocommonmeasurebetweenhumanrealityandthelf-cau

whichitwantstobe,onecouldjustaswellsaythatmanloshimlfinorder

considerthenthatallhumanexistenceisa

passion,thefamouslf-interestbeingonlyonewayfreelychonamongothers

torealizethispassion.

Buttheprincipalresultofexistentialpsychoanalysismustbetomakeusrepudiate

ritofriousnesshastwocharacteristics:it

considersvaluesastranscendentgivensindependentofhumansubjectivity,andit

transfersthequalityof"desirable"fromtheontologicalstructureofthingstotheir

spiritofriousness,forexample,breadis

desirablebecauitisnecessarytolive(avaluewritteninanintelligibleheaven)

ultoftheriousattitude,whichaswe

knowrulestheworld,istocauthesymbolicvaluesofthingstobedrunkinby

theirempiricalidiosyncrasyasinkbyablotter;itputsforwardtheopacityofthe

arealready

onthemoralplanebutconcurrentlyonthatofbadfaith,foritisanethicswhichis

bscuredallitsgoalsin

suesbeingblindlybyhidingfrom

shimlfsuchthatheis

saremutedemands,and

heisnothinginhimlfbutthepassiveobediencetothedemands.

Existentialpsychoanalysisisgoingtorevealtomantherealgoalofhispursuit,

whichisbeingasasyntheticfusionofthein-itlfwiththefor-itlf;existential

htherearemany

menwhohavepracticedthispsychoanalysisonthemlvesandwhohavenot

waitedtolearnitsprinciplesinordertomakeuofthemasameansof

n,infact,knowthatthegoaloftheirpursuit

isbeing;andtotheextentthattheyposssthisknowledge,theyrefrainfrom

appropriatingthingsfortheirownsakeandtrytorealizethesymbolic

heextentthatthisattemptstillshares

inthespiritofriousnessandthatthemencanstillbelievethattheirmissionof

effectingtheexistenceofthein-itlf-for-itlfiswritteninthings,theyare

condemnedtodespair;fortheydiscoveratthesametimethatallhumanactivities

areequivalent(fortheyalltendtosacrificemaninorderthatthelf-caumay

ari)amountstothesame

fthe

activitiestakesprecedenceovertheother,thiswillnotbebecauofitsrealgoal

butbecauofthedegreeofconsciousnesswhichitposssofitsidealgoal;

andinthiscaitwillbethequietismofthesolitarydrunkardwhichwilltake

precedenceoverthevainagitationoftheleaderofnations.

Butontologyandexistentialpsychoanalysis(orthespontaneousandempirical

applicationwhichmenhavealwaysmadeofthedisciplines)mustrevealtothe

enthathisfreedom

willbecomeconsciousofitlfandwillrevealitlfinanguishastheunique

as

freedomdiscoversthequestforbeingandtheappropriationofthein-itlfasits

ownpossibles,itwillapprehendbyandinanguishthattheyarepossiblesonlyon

hertoalthoughpossibles

couldbechonandrejectedadlibitum,thethemewhichmadetheunityofall

willbecomeoffreedomifitturnsitsbackuponthisvalue?Willfreedomcarry

thisvaluealongwithitwhateveritdoesandeveninitsveryturningbackupon

thisvalue?Willfreedomcarrythisvaluealongwithitwhateveritdoesandeven

initsveryturningbackuponthein-itlf-for-itlf?Willfreedombe

reapprehendedfrombehindbythevaluewhichitwishestocontemplate?Orwill

freedombytheveryfactthatitapprehendsitlfasafreedominrelationtoitlf,

beabletoputanendtothereignofthisvalue?Inparticularisitpossiblefor

freedomtotakeitlfforavalueasthesourceofallvalue,ormustitnecessarily

bedefinedinrelationtoatranscendentvaluewhichhauntsit?Andincait

couldwillitlfasitsownpossibleanditsdeterminingvalue,whatwouldthis

mean?Afreedomwhichwillsitlffreedomisinfactabeing-which-is-notwhat-it-

isandwhich-is-what-it-is-not,andwhichchoosastheidealofbeing,being-

what-it-isnotandnot-being-what-it-is.

Thisfreedomchoosthennottorecoveritlfbuttofleeitlf,nottocoincide

ewetounderstandby

thisbeingwhichwillstoholditlfinawe,tobeatadistancefromitlf?Isita

questionofbadfaithorofanotherfundamentalattitude?Andcanonelivethis

newaspectofbeing?Inparticularwillfreedombytakingitlfforanendescape

allsituation?Oronthecontrary,willitremainsituated?Orwillitsituateitlfso

muchthemoreprecilyandthemoreindividuallyasitprojectsitlffurtherin

anguishasaconditionedfreedomandacceptsmorefullyitsresponsibilityasan

questions,whichreferus

toapureandnotanaccessoryreflection,canfindtheirreplyonlyontheethical

ldevotetothemafuturework.