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Single Idea 20760

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 6. Authentic Self ]

Full Idea

Being sincere [in Sartre] has nothing to do with authenticity because, in committing ourselves to a particular identity, we strip away the possibility of transcendence by reducing ourselves to a thing.

Gist of Idea

Sincerity is not authenticity, because it only commits to one particular identity

Source

report of Jean-Paul Sartre (Being and Nothingness [1943]) by Kevin Aho - Existentialism: an introduction 6 'Bad'

Book Ref

Aho,Kevin: 'Existentialism: an introduction' [Polity 2014], p.101


A Reaction

I take this to mean that sincerity says genuinely what role you are playing (such as a waiter), but authenticity is recognition that you don't have to play that role. I think.


The 11 ideas from 'Being and Nothingness'

For Sartre there is only being for-itself, or being in-itself (which is beyond experience) [Sartre, by Daigle]
Sartre says consciousness is just directedness towards external objects [Sartre, by Rowlands]
Sartre rejects mental content, and the idea that the mind has hidden inner features [Sartre, by Rowlands]
Sartre's freedom is not for whimsical action, but taking responsibility for our own values [Sartre, by Daigle]
Sincerity is not authenticity, because it only commits to one particular identity [Sartre, by Aho]
Man is a useless passion [Sartre]
Appearances do not hide the essence; appearances are the essence [Sartre]
Love is the demand to be loved [Sartre]
Man is the desire to be God [Sartre]
Fear concerns the world, but 'anguish' comes from confronting my self [Sartre]
We flee from the anguish of freedom by seeing ourselves objectively, as determined [Sartre]