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One topic many of the ancient philosophers and thinkers choose to share insights on is the nature of human freedom, this was done especially by the famous existentialists. Many coming to the conclusion that we are all radically free to shape our own unique existence, but what the majority of us never do this.
According to one the famous existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, many individuals choose to deny themselves the chance to experience what he called the 'dizzying freedom' which he posited is a result of many of us being not strong enough to bear the all too burden of the dizzying freedom's responsibility.
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Taking the words of Sartre as a way of changing our perspective, they can serve as a huge motivating force, since according to him, our lives are nothing other than what we make of it, and hence we all might as well get to work immediately and paint a masterpiece, as he wrote in his publication, Existentialism Is a Humanism:
Man is nothing other than his own project. He exists only to the extent that he realizes himself, therefore he is nothing more than the sum of his actions, nothing more than his life.” In view of this, we can clearly understand why our doctrine horrifies many people. For they often have no other way of putting up with their misery than to think: “Circumstances have been against me, I deserve a much better life than the one I have. Admittedly, I have never experienced a great love or extraordinary friendship, but that is because I never met a man or woman worthy of it; if I have written no great books, it is because I never had the leisure to do so; if I have had no children to whom I could devote myself, it is because I did not find a man with whom I could share my life…” In reality, however, for the existentialist, there is no love other than the deeds of love… there is no genius other than that which is expressed in works of art; the genius of Proust resides in the totality of his works; the genius of Racine is found in the series of his tragedies, outside of which there is nothing…In life, a man commits himself and draws his own portrait, outside of which there is nothing.
Sartre
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No doubt this thought may seem harsh to someone who has not made a success out of his life. But on the other hand, it helps people to understand that reality alone counts and that dreams, expectations, and hopes only serve to define a man as a broken dream, aborted hopes, and futile expectations; in other words, they define him negatively, not positively.
Sartre
The first time I came across this text, I felt criticized and like it was too harsh, but with time and going through other philosophical texts, I have made peace with it, and definitely reality alone is what counts.
I know today's update is rather short, but despite it being short, I believe it holds wisdom at par with any other length of philosophical updates I have shared.
Anyway, keep spreading the love people.
Cheers!