Concept of Existentialism and Human Emotions

This week’s reading, “Existentialism and Human Emotion,” examined Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist outlook on ethics. Sartre (1905-1980) was a French philosopher who stressed the significance of human freedom and questioned the role of external theories and causes in determining ethical decisions. In your Discussion Post for this week, make sure you do the following 3 things:

• Describe Sartre’s conception of existentialist freedom
• Explain how the story of the undecided young man illustrates Sartre’s views
• Critically assess Sartre’s account of human freedom by giving a contemporary example that either confirms or challenges his views.