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Exploring the concept of free will

we are free to make our own choices. As humans we pride ourselves on the fact that we are free to make our own choices and not having this freedom would leave us feeling almost imprisoned. The free will' argument takes into consideration that there are some things in life that can not be chosen, something Sartre calls facticity'. These things could include where we were born or who our parents are, or even as humans that we are not free to lay eggs. But our everyday choices such as which job shall I apply for, or where should I live, or as simple as shall I have a cheese or ham sandwich, is up to us and nothing can stop us making this decision. Sartre believes that we are free in life to make choices. This belief of freedom stems from his existentialist views, which emphasis that there is no pre-existing blueprint of humanity to which we must conform, in other words humans choose what they become. This notion is expressed in Sartre's quote existence precedes essence', meaning we exist first and then later make some meaning in our lives. Some might say this view is bleak and depressing because what Sartre is essentially saying is we live a Godless and meaningless existence, but it is exactly this notion which permits us as humans to be free to make our own choices.

There are times when we might argue that we do not have choice, not like the ones mentioned before such as where we are born, but ones were we are forced to make a decision. One example is if someone has a gun to your head, and the options are to do what the gun man says or die. It is here some might argue that this is not a choice because you are forced into a decision. However, Sartre argues that in this situation we still have a choice, it might not be a great choice, but it is still a definite choice. This concept is explained well by Sartre in the following phrase talking about men in war:

I deserve it because I can always get out of it by suicide or by desertion. Any way you look at it, it is a matter of choice.' (1)

In these unique situations, such as having a gun to your head, you could argue either way about whether you have a choice or not. However, the matter of the fact is that you still have two options which would suggest a choice. The options might not be great but life in general sometimes presents us with poor options. For example continuing an unhappy marriage or divorcing your husband, either way you will probably get hurt. The gun to the head' example is slightly more extreme, but


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