Sartre believed that one day man happened, or occurred, and after this anomalous event man’s life took meaning. With this theory, Sartre articulated the premise that ‘existence precedes essence’; . Through this assumption, Sartre evolves further ideas in which a human can gain a greater understanding of human nature and responsibility. In his theory stating that ‘existence precedes essence’; , Sartre takes the belief that life has a meaning that far transcends our short and insignificant lives. He believed that life has no meaning unless we gave it meaning. In the search for life, we become anguished by the affairs of life.
Sartre believed that when this occurred, we pursue a fundamental project in an attempt to flee this anguish. Sartre said that in this, we try to make ourselves Gods in hopes that others will see us as divine, and hold us in high or higher regard. To pursue a fundamental project according to Sartre is to act in bad faith. Consequently, to act in bad faith, according to Sartre is to manifest our freedom.
Sartre assessed how when man acknowledges and accepts tha the is a living being with a biological and social past. He can transcend beyond that to nothingness, the realm of the etre pours oi (the ‘being-for-itself’; ). At this point he is, according to Sartre, clearheaded and in good faith. Because he is acting in good faith, he is not pursuing a fundamental project in an attempt to circumvent the possibility of anguish. The outcome of this path of good faith is that man manifests his freedom authenticates and ultimately this freedom is real. Those who do not act clear headed will inevitably fall into anguish; which is what is felt by those who cannot except that they come from the realm of the etre en so (realm of the ” being-in-itself’; ) and therefore make attempts to deny their past.
In an attempt to flee their past and the anguish that can accompany it, Sartre believed that some will pursue a fundamental project. To do this is to act in bad faith. In No Exit the character Garcin is a clear cut example of an individual acting in bad faith in an attempt to flee anguish. Inthe play, Garcin is placed in a room to face hell with two other people, Estelle and Inez. The character Garcin is in this hell after being shot for fleeing his country after the breakout of war. Prior to the war, Garcin was the editor of a pacifist newspaper.
When he defied war, he was shot. Although he was defiant he chooses to think of himself as a hero and a martyr. As the story evolves, the character Inez forces Garcin to admit that he is not a hero, and that he did in fact, act cowardly. Garcin then pursues a fundamental project to flee the anguish that accompanies being labeled a coward. He tries to convince Estelle that he is not a coward. In doing so, Garcin feels that the words he hears spoken of him down from earth will be hushed, and he will be the hero he wishes to be.
This is exemplary of Sartre’s notion that when faced with angst, some will not act clear headed and instead will pursue a project in an attempt to lift themselves above and beyond the reality they are confronted by. It is important at this time to reaffirm Sartre’s belief that a fundamental project will fail. There are two reasons for this. First, Sartre believed that ‘I am not what I am – I am what I am not.’ ; What is meant by this is that we can never truly be what we wish to be.
Such a concept results from the fact that we exist in this world solely for others. Therefore, if we act in bad faith and do not try to legitimately come to terms with this fact, then we will never be more than what others wish us to be. The second reason is because we will never be regarded how we wish to be regarded. The reasoning behind this is that we are sentient beings who determine our own reality. Furthermore, we determine our own truths because we perceive them in our own unique way.
This is why no two individuals can ever see eye to eye on an issue. Therefore one who wishes to be regarded a certain way could never be, because he is relying on others for the regard he seeks. Unfortunately, others see him with eyes far different than his. As events in the play would have it, Garcin’s fundamental project does fail. He first attempts to get Estelle to believe that he is not a coward, but is angered to find that Estelle could care less.
Garcin finds that Estelle’s only concern is to be with a man, any man. He next attempts to convince Inez, but is stalemated. Inez only views Garcin as the coward he is. Garcin feels that if he can convince her otherwise, he could castaway the shadow that shades his death. It is at this point, that Inez says something quite insightful. She states, ‘Your a coward, Garcin, because I wish it.’ ; This represents Sartre ” side a that we are a being in the world for others.
Prior to Inez making this comment, Garcin had been trying to flee the anguish surrounding his position. After the statement, Garcin realizes that his fundamental project has failed and he must now spend his eternity in hell with his tormentors who see him differently than he does of himself. In conclusion, Sartre uses Garcin to try and guide the reader, and he illustrates his idea that one must take responsibility for their own life and their own past to truly come to peace with one’s self. With the concepts of bad faith fundamental project illustrated in a character in hell, Sartre emphasizes how severe he views the consequences of choosing the wrong path in life.