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Single Idea 6571

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 7. Existential Action ]

Full Idea

When a young man must choose between his bereft mother and the French Resistance, Sartre says no moral theory is capable of resolving the dilemma; the man must act on his own, and in the process define his moral character.

Gist of Idea

When a man must choose between his mother and the Resistance, no theory can help

Source

report of Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.35-9) by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason Ch.2

Book Ref

Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.61

A Reaction

Fogelin agrees, but rejects Sartre's claim that all morality is like this. I agree with Fogelin. However, what I like is the idea of 'defining one's moral character' by choices, but that is because it endorses the views of Aristotle (e.g. Idea 4394).

Related Idea

Idea 4394 People develop their characters through the activities they pursue [Aristotle]

The 17 ideas with the same theme [existentialist attitude to decisions and ethics]:

22027 Life isn't given to us like a novel - we write the novel [Novalis]
20747 What matters is not right choice, but energy, earnestness and pathos in the choosing [Kierkegaard]
16001 Life may be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards [Kierkegaard]
24079 The best life is the dangerous life [Nietzsche]
4504 Morality used to be for preservation, but now we can only experiment, giving ourselves moral goals [Nietzsche]
20106 Nietzsche was fascinated by a will that can turn against itself [Nietzsche, by Safranski]
20316 Every decision I make moves towards or away from fulfilled Existenz [Jaspers]
6571 When a man must choose between his mother and the Resistance, no theory can help [Sartre, by Fogelin]
3851 If I do not choose, that is still a choice [Sartre]
9242 Essential problems either risk death, or intensify the passion of life [Camus]
9246 Danger and integrity are not in the leap of faith, but in remaining poised just before the leap [Camus]
22342 Kantian existentialists care greatly for reasons for action, whereas Surrealists care nothing [Murdoch]
22351 Only a philosopher might think choices create values [Murdoch]
22502 Refraining from murder is not made good by authenticity or self-fulfilment [Foot]
4245 Ethical conviction must be to some extent passive, and can't just depend on the will and decisions [Williams,B]
4246 Taking responsibility won't cure ethical uncertainty by; we are uncertain what to decide [Williams,B]
6689 The key to existentialism: the way you make choices is more important than what you choose [Graham]