Existentialism_Vs._Traditional_Morality

Existentialism Vs. Traditional Morality Existentialism seems to undermine the possibility of traditional morality Existentialism-is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts (Dictionary.com). Man is the only living creature that is conscious of its own existence. Sartre said that “existentialism is a humanism.” By that he meant that the existentialists start from nothing but humanity itself. He also said that man’s existence takes priority over whatever he might otherwise be. “Existence takes priority over essence.” Man must therefore create himself; create his own nature or “essence”, because it is not predetermined already before he is created. Sartre believed that man has no such eternal nature to fall back on. If one could just look in the Bible to find out how to live, it would be very practical. But we can’t and we must decide for ourselves how to live. Therefore there isn’t a traditional morality. Man must discover his own morality, and it shouldn’t be forced onto him like a religion forces traditional morals. man, own, existence, must, man’s, important, true, said, life, individual, create, truth, traditional, totally, therefore, significant, sartre, over, morality, meaning, lives, know, freedom, find, buddha, because, takes, responsibility, reason, priority, out, ourselves, one, once, objective