We were not
the source of our existence. We find ourselves born into a world we didn't choose and at first had no control—a world not of our own making and for the most part indifferent to our
concerns.
The existentialist conceptions of freedom and value arise from a view of the individual. Since as adults we are ultimately responsible for our inner world, we can think subjectively or objectively, accurately or inaccurately, realistically or fancifully, optimistically or pessimistically, pragmatically or idealistically. We have freedom over our internal nature, and the source of our value is determined both by how we think, what we say, what we do, and what we don't do.
The existentialist conceptions of freedom and value arise from a view of the individual. Since as adults we are ultimately responsible for our inner world, we can think subjectively or objectively, accurately or inaccurately, realistically or fancifully, optimistically or pessimistically, pragmatically or idealistically. We have freedom over our internal nature, and the source of our value is determined both by how we think, what we say, what we do, and what we don't do.
Given that
we have independent mental potential, we are free to think independently for ourselves. We can, of course, let others do our thinking for us (and, of course, it is wise to follow a leader at times), but the individual alone can create himself or herself; those who don't have no personality--such a person is a copy of someone else's personality.
It is an existentialist view that we create our own nature. First, we are born into
existence without a predetermined nature and only later do we construct our
nature or essence through our thoughts and actions.
In other words, our
existence precedes our nature. As human beings with the potential to think
independently, we have the ability to self-create or re-create ourselves.
Existentialists are opposed to the traditional view that the essence of a person precedes that person's existence. In other words. existentialists do not believe that we have a given nature
prior to birth that predetermines our ultimate purpose or value.
Correctly
understood, it is the individual who is ultimately responsible for determining his
or her purposes and values.
Of course,
as children we did not have the physical maturity or sufficient experience to be
responsible for our own decisions; but, as mature adults with the potential to
think for ourselves, we are responsible for doing so. To abdicate this
responsibility by allowing our minds to be programmed and controlled by
cultures, traditions, other people, or institutions is irresponsible.
