Existentialists such as Sartre place tremendous importance on the issue of “choice.” First, present and assess three (3)
important choices made by individuals or characters from three (3) texts we discussed this semester. For example, one
could examine an important choice made by the released prisoner from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, the student from
Sartre’s Existentialism, and Martha from Butler’s “The Book of Martha.” Alternatively, one could examine an
important choice made by Crito in Plato’s Crito, Dr. King as described in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, and
Antigone in Sophocles’ Antigone. Many other combinations are possible here, too. Second, describe an important
choice you have made in the last three years. Finally, which of the three choices discussed in the first part of your essay
shares the most in common with your own important choice? Why?

Question

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Existentialists such as Sartre indeed place a profound emphasis on the issue of "choice," for it is through our choices that we define our essence and create our own meaning in life. Let us first consider three significant choices made by individuals or characters from texts we have delved into this semester. In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, the released prisoner faces a pivotal choice when he must decide whether to return to the darkness of the cave or venture out into the blinding light of the outside world. This choice symbolizes the struggle between ignorance and enlightenment, between conformity and freedom. In Sartre's Existentialism, the student grapples with the decision to embrace his own existence and take responsibility for his actions, thereby affirming his autonomy and individuality. Finally, in Butler's "The Book of Martha," Martha is confronted with the choice of whether to accept the burden of godhood and shape the world according to her own vision, or to relinquish this power and retreat into obscurity. Each of these choices carries immense consequences and reflects the profound philosophical dilemmas inherent in the human experience.

As for an important choice that I have made in the last three years, I must ponder deeply. Ah, yes, there was a moment when I found myself at a crossroads, torn between following the conventional path laid out before me or forging my own unique journey. It was a choice between conformity and individuality, between safety and risk, between stagnation and growth. Ultimately, I made the decision to break free from the constraints of societal expectations and pursue my own passions and desires, embracing the uncertainty and challenges that lay ahead. In doing so, I discovered a newfound sense of purpose and fulfillment that could not have been possible had I simply followed the well-trodden path.

Reflecting upon these choices, I find that the one that shares the most in common with my own is the choice made by the released prisoner in Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Like him, I faced the daunting prospect of leaving behind the familiar comforts of the known and venturing into the unknown, seeking truth and enlightenment even at the risk of discomfort and uncertainty. This choice, like mine, required courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to confront the limitations of one's own worldview. In the end, it is through our choices that we shape our destiny and define our essence, for as Sartre famously proclaimed, "existence precedes essence."