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Single Idea 3852

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / d. Subjective value ]

Full Idea

Once a man has seen that values depend upon himself, he can only will one thing, and that is freedom as the foundation of all values.

Gist of Idea

If values depend on us, freedom is the foundation of all values

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.51)

Book Ref

Sartre,Jean-Paul: 'Existentialism and Humanism', ed/tr. Mairet,Philip [Methuen 1980], p.51


A Reaction

I don't think so. Is freedom the foundation of all arithmetic, because I am untrammelled when doing addition? Values are ridiculous if they don't reflect facts.


The 16 ideas from 'Existentialism and Humanism'

'Existence precedes essence' means we have no pre-existing self, but create it through existence [Sartre, by Le Poidevin]
Existence before essence (or begin with the subjective) [Sartre]
Existentialism says man is whatever he makes of himself [Sartre]
There is no human nature [Sartre]
In becoming what we want to be we create what we think man ought to be [Sartre]
There are no values to justify us, and no excuses [Sartre]
It is dishonest to offer passions as an excuse [Sartre]
When my personal freedom becomes involved, I must want freedom for everyone else [Sartre]
Without God there is no intelligibility or value [Sartre]
Man IS freedom [Sartre]
Existentialists says that cowards and heroes make themselves [Sartre]
When a man must choose between his mother and the Resistance, no theory can help [Sartre, by Fogelin]
Man is nothing else but the sum of his actions [Sartre]
Cowards are responsible for their cowardice [Sartre]
If I do not choose, that is still a choice [Sartre]
If values depend on us, freedom is the foundation of all values [Sartre]