Single Idea 22229

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 1. Existentialism]

Full Idea

What the existentialist says is that the coward makes himself cowardly, that the hero makes himself heroic.

Gist of Idea

Existentialists says that cowards and heroes make themselves

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.35), quoted by Christine Daigle - Jean-Paul Sartre 2.3

Book Reference

Daigle,Christine: 'Jean-Paul Sartre' [Routledge 2010], p.50


A Reaction

A nice statement of the existential plasticity of the self, in opposition to the much stronger concept of human nature in Aristotle (who nevertheless believes you can acquire virtues and vices).