Content warning: suicide
I am sitting on my chair in a room full of individuals. On my table lies a prompt regarding the philosophy exam I am taking. There is no explanation as to why I am here because the world in which I am has no rational order. I have radical freedom, meaning I could just leave the room. If I were to do that, I would ultimately be choosing something good because as long as I make choices and embrace that these are my decisions, I am being authentic.
If one decides to leave the examination room mid-exam, they would be practicing their freedom, not because it is freeing to walk out but rather because they have made a choice. However, one is fully responsible for the choices one makes. Indeed, one could imagine that one would get a zero on the exam, which would significantly drop one’s grade, and one would have to face the disappointment of those who believe in being in itself. This would mean that one believes that obtaining a high grade which is their essence precedes existence. On the other hand, the individual who believes in being for itself, that existence precedes essence, will instead establish that they are a person who fails philosophy. They will face anguish, the anxiety caused by the responsibility of choices. They not only have to take on the consequences for themself but also the consequences for others. They are a model of becoming, meaning their choices invent the future of mankind. In this situation, the existentialist confronts abandonment. There is no “other” power to guide them into deciphering what is wrong or right. They are forlorn. There is no one to reward or excuse them for their actions.
Furthermore, if the individual stays in the room, they must not exercise bad faith. This is to say that they should not blame their surroundings for their ability or inability to complete the exam. For instance, they cannot blame their classmates for talking because indeed, they choose to listen to them. They choose to be in the room. They should also not hope to pass the exam because that would be exercising false hope, limiting their freedom. Indeed, hope evades them from reality, making them envision a far-fetched fantasy. They should not allude to what they can do, but rather act in the present. If they fail, it means that they obtained a failing grade. They will be indifferent to the results. During the exam, they will make the most of it by appreciating the present situation.
It would be understandable that, as this individual tries to find reason in the meaningless exam, they contemplate suicide. However, that would demonstrate great failure in face of the absurdity of the world. Thus, they should embrace the fact that it is meaningless and they should spend three hours, three times sixty minutes, writing with a pen on paper. They, an individual human being out of eight billion on the tiny earth which they inhabit, will find meaning in the movement of their pen as it moves from left to right on the paper made from cellulose pulp and the fibers of trees, contributing to deforestation in the process.
This approach appears to be beneficial because it is easier to perceive the world as meaningless than to have to live with the fear of god. Sartre notes that existentialism is optimistic because one has complete power over his decisions and has no predetermined destiny. If one has a destiny, then one can already be set up for failure, possibly leading to despair. This approach is also satisfying because one is free and not constrained to a set of principles. In fact, the moral code is simply to be authentic. One may not feel as obliged to follow certain societal values. This can be taken into the circumstance of social ideals such as body and beauty standards. There may be anguish concerning the consequences of one’s action. However, that anxiety is not comparable to the anxiety of having to live to fulfill something.
Moreover, the existentialist philosophy is empowering to the extent that it acknowledges the possibility of suicide while providing a more suitable solution. If one falls into suicidal ideation because they find their life meaningless, then existentialism is able to respond. In addition, the lack of moral values established in this philosophy is also desirable. For instance, in The Stranger, Meursault does not have moral values and feels indifferent to the murder he committed. He does not suffer from guilt. He manages to be indifferent to his execution as he liberates himself from false hope. On the other hand, the chaplain, strongly devoted to his religious beliefs and obligations, fights to follow his values. Through his words, he expresses more guilt and despair than Meursault. These harsh emotions are the result of his theism. Thus, one could perceive that it is less painful to be free from excuses and guidance from a higher power. One being liberated from pre-existing values pertains to the existentialist philosophy. One could imagine that if Meursault were to be taking the exam, he would be free to write and act in whatever manner he chooses to. He would appreciate the exam situation as it is. He would not write faster to finish faster and get it over with because he remains in the present. If he were to implement a specific literary technique, it would not serve the purpose of embellishing his work so that he could obtain a satisfying grade. On the other hand, the chaplain would be constricted to his pre-existing expectations deriving from his values. Perhaps, a good grade would represent a good deed, expressing thankfulness to God. Thus, he would complete the exam for the purpose of achieving goodness. In contrast to Meursault, he would project himself into the future and is acting in accordance with his values.
To conclude, the existentialist philosophy is one that we can apply in our daily lives. It permits us to see the world in a different perspective than our already established success-driven society. Although it is far from perfect, it can allow individuals to detach themselves from the stress deriving from the expectations set up by ourselves or others. Its disregard for the future allows us to recognize and appreciate the present.
I have appreciated writing and developing ideas. Although my wrist aches, I admire the human’s capacity to detect fatigue and signal it through pain. As I hand my paper to the philosophy teacher, he tells me that my handwriting is illegible, meaning I will receive a zero. I respond by telling him that zero is a beautiful number, wishing him a nice afternoon. Outside the classroom, I see all my classmates exclaiming their apprehension concerning the grade they would get. To be quite honest, I cannot comprehend why they cared at all. I tell them to not worry and that regardless, it does not matter. Unintentionally, I have raised their eyebrows. Is this the path to success?//