Freedom and Existentialism

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the views of the existentialists, Jean-Paul Sartre, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Simone de Beauvior, and points out where they agree and or disagree. The paper explains that all three agree on the ideology of freedom, but they disagree on how it is expressed in our lives. The paper discusses how Sartre says freedom is absolute and he places no restrictions on our freedom, while Merleau-Ponty agrees that we are all inherently free but does not believe that our freedom is unrestricted. The paper explains Merleau-Ponty's ideas on past decisions and experiences and the limitations they place on freedom. The paper then turns to the beliefs of Beauvoir who agrees with Merleau-Ponty but analyzes the ethics of freedom and its relationship to ambiguity.

From the Paper:

"The definition of Freedom in and of itself is simple. Freedom is the condition of being free, which is to be without constraint and under no obligation according to the American Heritage Dictionary. When applying the art of philosophy in terms that always seem to need another definition it is quite the opposite of simple. Existentialism is a 20th century philosophy that views the individual as being unique and alone in an indifferent and even hostile universe. From this standpoint the definition of Freedom becomes an intense topic of discussion in which some points are agreed upon and others are hotly debated."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fullbrook, Edward. Fullbrook, Kate., Merleau-Ponty on Beauvoir's Literary-Philosophical Method, http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Lite/LiteFull.htm on 4/24/06
• Sartre Online - The Ultimate Sartrean Resource: Freedom and Facticity, http://www.geocities.com/sartresite/sartre_theses4.html?200624 4/24/06
• Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception, http://www.anglefire.com/md2/timewarp/merleauponty.html 4/24/06
• Being-for-itself and Being-In-The-World, part 3 chapter 3 (B), http://www.ucd.ie/philosop/documents/MA%20Freedom%20B%20%5B1%5D.htm
• Beauvoir, Simone de, The Ethics of Ambiguity., 1947http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/ethics/de-beauvoir/ambiguity/ch01.htm

More papers on Freedom and Existentialism:

• Term Paper # 125105 : "Death and Existentialism"
• Analytical Essay # 148427 : "The Authentic and Inauthentic Selves: What They Do to Freedom and Self-Liberty"
• Essay # 67245 : "Jean-Paul Sartre and Existentialism"

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