It’s terrifying to think that our lives are determined by our choices. But they are.
This is emphasized in existentialism, a philosophy rooted firmly in the idea of free will.
The central tenant of existentialism is that existence precedes essence. First we exist, then we determine our nature and lifepath through our choices. The individual’s meaning, value, future, are all self-determined.
The philosophy is therefore the opposite of determinism, in which the individual’s life is predestined.
It’s at once scary to think that we are responsible for everything in our lives – you reap what you sow – and yet incredibly liberating.
My choices and my choices alone will determine who I become.
This is why existentialism has been repurposed in a variety of different liberation movements. Simone de Beauvoir – Jean-Paul Sartre’s life partner – relied on Sartre’s philosophy in her feminist writings.
Existentialism is the seed of modern feminism, as it argues that Woman’s role is not predetermined by social or economic forces, that Woman can determine her own destiny.
One is not born a woman, but becomes one.
These findings were epoch-making. In a similar period, writers like Frantz Fanon channelled the same ideas into Black existentialism.
In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself.
The black individual’s identity is no longer predetermined by others and society, he has the power to define himself.
From a contemporary, pop-psychology perspective, we can think of existentialism as aligning with a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset.
Someone with a growth mindset believes that they can change themselves in a positive way. That they have the power to improve their abilities and qualities through hard work. Someone with a fixed mindset considers talent innate. One’s abilities and qualities are fixed and cannot be altered. The latter is therefore deterministic.
I think what is interesting with Fanon, is the idea of alienation. Yes, we can change, we have the choice but before that, we have to break the cycle of thoughts, behaviours we grew up in. In the case study of Fanon, it was colonialism that alienated both the colonist and the colonised person. With feminism, it's how to get rid of the gendered socialisation that put women at risk, make them suffer and not fulfil themselves. But how do you realise that ? How do you get rid of all of these ideations ? How to have access to the material to freed yourself? And especially who has access to it ? If I don't believe that we are determined, I don't belive that we are fully free either and more than everything, the truth is that some people just don't have the choice. I believe existentialism and freedom is the concern of certain people, in certain places, not all.