Single Idea 20754

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

Full Idea

Every man who takes refuge behind the excuse of his passions is a dishonest man.

Gist of Idea

It is dishonest to offer passions as an excuse

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.305), quoted by Kevin Aho - Existentialism: an introduction 5 'Core'

Book Reference

Aho,Kevin: 'Existentialism: an introduction' [Polity 2014], p.65


A Reaction

To say 'my passion was so strong that I was too weak to resist it' doesn't sound prima facie dishonest. Sartre's idea is more of an exhortation than a fact, and sounds rather old fashioned and puritan. Do my reasons constitutes excuses?