In Sarte's "Existentialism is a Humanism," he addresses the various reproaches to existentialism and argues that, contrary to what many believe, existentialism presents the most optimistic outlook on life. He argues that every individual has the ability to make their life what they want it to be. Our lives are not defined by our situations or circumstances, but ultimately by the actions we take. On page 4, Sarte says “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. That is the first principle of existentialism.” This is the fundamental idea behind existentialism; that man is in control of his own life. That each individual chooses what he wants to become and becomes that through action. This point, that man is only what he makes of himself, that man creates and defines himself, holds each man responsible for his own life. On page 11, Sarte quotes the typical excuses people offer for failure; “Circumstances have been against me, I was worthy to be something much better than I have been. I admit I have never had a great love or a great friendship; but that is because I never met a man or a woman who were worthy of it…” These excuses, however, hold no ground, because every person can choose what their own life is going to be. That truth, that man makes himself, is a terrifying one. It shows that only you can be held accountable for the things you do or don’t do. According to Sarte, there is no such thing as predestination or a decider (such as god) to place blame onto. There is only you and the choices you make. You control and are responsible for your own life.
Although the idea that we are responsible for our own lives may be terrifying, anyone who knows that they are in control of their own life has an infinite amount of freedom. They have the freedom to do what they please, to pursue their own interests, to make their own decisions. Often, we don’t know what the “right decision is.” We fumble and stress over what classes to take, what major to pick, what career to choose. We look to other sources; parents, advisors, friends, to make those choices for us. But at the end of the day, each of us has to make a choice for ourself. We are free, because despite what the opinions of those other sources are, the choices you make define you and are ultimately made by you.
