What is the human self? A story expounded through Sartre

Community Content This article has been written and edited by the research team. It has not passed through the quality control procedures applied to content produced by the Research Outreach team. September 13, 2023 What is the human self? A story expounded through Sartre Throughout human civilisation, the notion of an immanent self, emblematic of an immutable attribute that bestows upon humans their 'individual identity and autonomy' (Glynn, 2011) has prevailed. This self, frequently denoted as the 'I' is traditionally contemplated as delineating one’s essence. Notwithstanding the pervasive adherence to the conviction of a discrete self residing within each human being, a fundamental inquiry persists: is the conviction accurate? In pursuit of elucidation, we shall undertake an exploration of the conception of the human self propounded by the preeminent French thinker Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980) through the medium of a narrative. Caesar’s story As a child, Caesar’s world pivots around his parents; his friends Rick, Ram, Vladimir, and Susan; his teachers; his neighbours; and his home. He aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps as a businessman. Over time, he grows up, reaching the 12th grade and making new friends, but losing touch with his childhood companions due to a family relocation. His dreams shift towards joining the army, keeping fit, and finding love. As an adult, Caesar unexpectedly becomes a renowned writer, achieving fame and awards. He chooses a solitary life dedicated to his work, living far from his parents. Health issues limit his physical abilities, but he finds contentment in writing at home with only a couple of friends, as his worldview transforms. Caesar’s self Caesar’s identity is a dynamic conflux of evolving facets throughout his life, transcending a singular persona to embrace diverse roles. At times, he revels in youth among loved ones, yet at other times, he embraces solitude. His aspirations range from budding entrepreneur or soldier, to accomplished writer. He also tussles with physical wellbeing and periods of ill health. He exhibits ardour in romantic love and a profound passion for writing. All this renders his identity elusive and perpetually transforming, challenging others and himself to pinpoint a definitive essence. The fluidity of Caesar’s identity raises questions about its nature, revealing a lack of a fixed self. Instead, he emerges as a composite of diverse impressions gathered across life phases. His multifaceted nature defies categorisation, and this phenomenon prompts an inquiry into its underlying cause. The nature of Caesar’s self The notion that Caesar lacks a fixed self finds a comprehensive explanation within Sartre’s existential framework, as articulated in his works like Being and Nothingness (1943) and Existentialism is a Humanism (1946). According to Sartre, individuals exist within a world replete with people and numerous animate and inanimate elements, collectively constituting their surroundings. Concomitantly, each individual finds themselves invariably situated Reviews within a specific situation. Within this framework, the value attributed to the world and its attendant situations