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The Fear of Freedom: Existentialist Perspectives on Responsibility and Self-Growth Essay

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Introduction

Freedom is a central concept in existentialist philosophy, and the idea that humans can be afraid of their freedom is a topic that several existentialist philosophers have explored. The fear of freedom can stem from the inherent responsibility of being accessible and realizing that one’s choices have consequences. Additionally, people find it offensive when one tries to take away their freedom by telling them what to do or say.

The problem is that most people are not used to freeness. People have not been able to try it out sincerely and prove how valuable it is for human beings. Therefore, attaining total freedom is never a possibility, and the notion of such a thing repulses people because it can leave them entirely alone.

This paper will discuss why humans can experience fear of their freedom due to the inherent responsibility and realization of the consequences of their choices. It will further analyze why this fear can lead to self-improvement and personal growth.

Main Body

The idea of freedom as both liberating and terrifying is a central tenet of existentialist thought and supports the idea that humans may be afraid of their freedom. In his work, “Being and Nothingness,” Sartre (2003) writes, “Man is condemned to be free. Condemned, because he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does” (p. 3).

The realization that people are responsible for their own lives and the consequences of their choices can be overwhelming and cause anxiety. Further, it is up to people to give their lives meaning; it shows that humans are constantly being held accountable for their actions and must take responsibility for them. Humans may feel they have no choice but to be responsible for themselves, making individuals feel like one is in control of their lives. It can be scary if people do not know what they want out of life or do not know how to make it happen for themselves.

Simone de Beauvoir also shared this view, arguing that freedom can be daunting because it requires people to take responsibility for their own lives and make conscious choices. In her book, “The Second Sex,” de Beauvoir (1997) writes, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” (p. 47). This idea of becoming and taking control of one’s life is central to existentialist thought. It supports the thesis that freedom can be frightening because it requires people to take ownership of their own lives and decisions. The fear of making the wrong choices and failing can also contribute to the fear of freedom.

A person is nothing more than what he creates for himself, and he is also accountable to others. This idea is further reinforced by Heidegger (2010), who says that “each man represents an enterprise whose success or failure depends on him alone” (p. 77).

This means that people are responsible for their actions and should not blame anyone else for their mistakes or failures. This also means that people have the power to choose what happens next in their lives, which can be scary because there are so many possibilities. People can choose something good or bad, but one must never forget that it is their choice and no one else’s fault.

People want to be told what to do because they do not have to make decisions themselves. In addition, in the original text, Bakewell (2017) says that humans are afraid of their freedom because individuals are afraid of the responsibility that comes with it.

If one looks at how people live their lives, one can see this in action: Americans do not want to pay high taxes but complain about how bad public schools are. People complain about having too many immigrants in their country but then vote for candidates who do not promise to build a wall on the borders and ban Muslim refugees from entering the country. People complain about not having enough jobs available but vote for people who promise tax breaks for businesses so they can hire more workers, but only if those workers are white men who do not need healthcare coverage or maternity leave.

The choice is a burden that one has to carry, and it can be painful because it means having to decide between things that are important to them but incompatible with each other. People believe that being free means having to make decisions and take responsibility for those decisions, which is a lot of work (Fromm, 2020, p. 31).

The consequences of this belief are that it can affect one’s self-esteem. When one believes that they are not good enough or that something is wrong with them, it makes one feel like a failure. It is not easy to look in the mirror and see someone worthy of love and acceptance, which everyone wants.

Additionally, this belief can also lead to depression and anxiety. If every day is an uphill battle for people because things seem so hard in general, how do they expect anything else from their lives? People will try harder when they feel supported by their environment, and if they do not have that support system, they may give up on trying altogether.

Humans choose what they want their life to look like and what kind of person they want to be. Camus (2019) writes that “the most important thing about a man is still what he chooses to be” (p. 54). Individuals can decide whether they will live in freedom, and many choose not.

First, people give up their freedom by choosing someone else’s idea of what life should look like, for example, an idea that comes from religion or politics. Second, one tries to escape one’s freedom by becoming nothing more than a cog in a machine, for example, a worker; either way, humans give up their freedom.

People want someone or something else to choose for them, but this means they lose control over their lives; they are no longer authentic. Additionally, Fromm (2021, p. 26) argues that many people find freedom overwhelming. People fear their freedom because individuals tend to think about their lives as if one was already complete, making them feel like they do not have any control over them.

Humans do not consider that their lives are still ongoing, unfinished projects one can choose how to complete. People see themselves as having a complete personality and an established identity rather than as people who are constantly evolving and changing. When people think about themselves this way, it can seem like there is no place left for them to grow or change; it feels like there would be no point.

Overall, when one makes a choice, one is taking responsibility for that choice, and sometimes, it is easier to take a shortcut by letting someone else decide on their behalf. However, there are some consequences to this approach. For example, if people choose not to eat healthy foods or exercise regularly, it will affect their health in future years. Choosing not to go to college or get an education will affect career opportunities later (Mooney & Moran, 2002, p.48).

If one chooses not to be honest with others and tell them what is on their mind, it could lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. Choosing for oneself can be difficult, especially if one does not know what is best for them. Thus, being able to make decisions about how one wants to live one’s life is worth the risk of making mistakes along the way.

Humans fear freedom because they fear being alone, making mistakes, and the unknown. The fear of being alone is one that humans have had since the beginning of time. It seems to be a natural tendency for people to prefer the company of others. One may feel lonely or miss out on something important alone. Individuals also might feel like no one is around to help them when things are difficult.

However, this fear can be overcome with practice; the first step is accepting that being alone is not necessarily wrong (Engelland, 2020, p. 7). It is just an experience one will have to get used to over time. One can start small by practicing self-care routines like taking bubble baths, reading books alone, or meditating before bedtime without feeling guilty. People should also try engaging in activities where they do not have to interact with others, such as going on long walks or visiting art galleries alone.

Moreover, humans fear their freedom because they do not know how to handle it. One fears making decisions independently and being responsible for one’s own life. This is why humans often rely on the opinions of others. Individuals want to know what other people think so they can make decisions based on that information. However, this leads to herd mentality, where people follow everyone else’s actions instead of thinking for themselves.

Further, the fear of being free is present in people’s daily lives and influences political decisions on a larger scale. This is evident in the case of France’s economic crisis during the 1930s (Arendt, 1998, p. 56). This time, people were trying to decide whether to leave or stay with the Gold Standard.

In addition, humans use different ways to escape from being free. One of the ways that humans try to escape from being free is through social conventions and norms. One example is when people follow the norm of not wearing hats in a restaurant or other public place. Humans do not want to be judged for breaking these norms (Bakewell, 2017, p. 45).

Another way that humans try to escape from being free is through religion and faith. For example, many believe in God as a way to escape their thinking and responsibility (Bakewell, 2017, p. 34; Stephan & Anthony, 2015, p. 17). People believe God knows what one is doing and will care for them even if individuals make mistakes or wrong choices.

An additional means by which people attempt to avoid being free is through addiction and self-medication. People often use alcohol or drugs to escape reality because it helps them forget their problems (Bakewell, 2017, p. 47). It also helps them forget about their responsibilities in life.

When one talks about freedom, one usually associates it with something negative, like crime or terrorism. People think that if there were no laws and restrictions, people would start killing each other or vandalizing public property. However, this is not true; if people were free to do whatever they want, they would probably go home and relax after work instead of doing something terrible.

People who commit crimes do so because they are mentally ill or do not have any other choice in life, for example, economic (De Beauvoir, 1997, p. 49). The same goes for terrorist attacks: most happen in developing countries where people have no hope for a better future. Therefore, decide to avenge society by blowing up some innocent people.

Furthermore, people should be responsible for their actions because they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of being accessible without them. Some people are afraid because they feel that since one has no purpose in life, individuals have no reason to live (Cerbone, 2006, p. 36). Humans feel that if one has no goal or purpose, there is nothing for them; therefore, life has no meaning. These people are also afraid because they think that if there is no meaning in this world, what happens when people die? People think that since everything has an end, so do people’s lives, too, and after death, nothing remains but an empty void full of darkness and silence where there is nothing but emptiness.

One of the most troubling aspects of being free is the inability to be in charge of all the aspects of life. According to Sartre and Beauvoir, humans fear their freedom because individuals have no control over their situation. The authors argue that the self-made man is the man who has accepted his acts and their consequences (De Beauvoir, 1997, p. 51). Acceptance of responsibility is what makes one a moral subject. The fact that people are not the masters of their destinies makes them feel so powerless and insignificant.

An example would be if someone had a choice between two jobs: one that pays more but requires more work or another that pays less but requires less work. The person must decide which job they think is best for them; however, if one chooses the wrong job, one ends up unemployed due to a lack of skills or experience. It would make them feel like they had no control over their lives. Humans fear their freedom because others cannot control their lives and situations. Therefore, one can only act in any way possible, which can cause consequences such as unemployment or other adverse outcomes.

Humans crave certainty because individuals are afraid of their freedom. When one is born, the individual is unaware of the world around them and has no sense of self. Humans are at the mercy of their environment and the people around them. One has no control over what happens to them, so people depend on others to survive. In this way, humans develop a sense of self based on their interactions with others and the world around them. This begins as early as infancy and continues throughout life as humans learn about themselves through their experiences in the world around them.

However, for humans to function within this framework, one must believe that there is some order or structure. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to communicate with each other or make decisions about how to live their lives. This sense of order comes from religion or spirituality, a belief system that explains why things happen in life and what those events mean for one’s existence (Merleau-Ponty 2013, p. 14). For example, if someone dies unexpectedly at age 40, something terrible must have happened while one was alive. Therefore, individuals must have done something wrong during their lifetime that caused their death.

Personally, I think that everyone has an innate dread of being free. This is due to the negative habit of society of pressing individuals to find solutions to issues that overlook their fundamental nature. For instance, some parents would push their kids to make a career decision at an early age without taking into account their hobbies or skills. Instead, they concentrate on what they think will bring them money or status (Zahavi, 2019, p.18). Similarly to this, many organizations put pressure on staff to behave in ways that do not accurately represent who they are. Businesses attempt to shape them into more useful employees (Sartre, 2003, p. 20).

I believe that humans also attempt to exert self-control in order to live up to expectations placed on them by others. As an illustration, someone who has always been seen as timid now wants to attempt something new, like learning to dance or speak a new language. They may hear from their friends that it is impossible since they will never be skilled in such areas. This may lead those seeking change in their life to give up before making any fresh attempts. When one understands what is best for oneself, they do not want anybody else dictating what is feasible for their life.

Overall, the consequence is that people have created an environment where one can continue complaining about problems without actually doing anything about them. The result is an endless cycle of blame-shifting and finger-pointing, and nothing changes. People also become less capable of making their own choices, which means they are limited in their ability to live meaningful lives. If people cannot choose what they want out of life because someone else has already made those decisions, their lives will never have meaning or purpose. Whatever happens, will happen if no one stops them from doing it.

However, this fear of freedom can also have positive consequences. The fear of freedom can drive personal growth and the development of a strong sense of self (Käufer and Chemero, 2015, p. 24). By confronting fear and embracing one’s freedom, people can take control of their lives and make conscious choices that shape their identity and future. The fear of freedom can also help one to appreciate the value of their freedom and to make the most of the opportunities it offers them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the tradition of philosophical thought known as existentialism holds that humans fear their freedom, which has many adverse consequences. These thinkers believe that people live in a fundamentally subjective world. Everyone has to constantly invent their meaning and purpose in this world.

This subjectivity means that nothing can be objectively known with certainty. Instead, all knowledge is open to interpretation and reflection. The human condition is one of being born into a world where people have no say but must adapt. It is an individual’s responsibility to find their place in the world because that is how one can live happily. Exploring this idea shows that existentialists point out how people should lead their lives.

People are afraid of their freedom because they are intimated by the responsibility that comes with it and because this freedom is limitless. It informs every decision one makes, and the consequences of those decisions may be beneficial or detrimental at times. One can choose to take responsibility and act positively or negatively. Humans can choose to uphold their values or force upon others what they feel is right. There is no denying that one’s capacity for freedom is one of their greatest gifts and the greatest threat one faces daily.

Ultimately, the fear of freedom that some humans experience is a central concept in existentialist philosophy. It is attributed to the inherent responsibility and the realization that their choices have consequences. It can lead to anxiety and a sense of being overwhelmed, but it can also promote self-improvement and the formation of a solid sense of self. It is essential to recognize and understand this fear of freedom to make the most of the opportunities that freedom offers people.

References

Arendt, H. (1998). The human condition. University of Chicago Press.

Bakewell, S. (2017). At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails with Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Edmund Husserl, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Others. Other Press, LLC.

Camus, A. (2019). Create Dangerously: The power and responsibility of the artist. Vintage.

Cerbone, D. R. (2006). Understanding phenomenology. Routledge.

De Beauvoir, S. (1997). The second sex. Vintage

Engelland, C. (2020). Phenomenology. MIT Press.

Fromm, E. (2020). Man for himself: An inquiry into the psychology of ethics. Routledge.

Fromm, E. (2021). The fear of freedom. Routledge.

Heidegger, M. (2010). Being and time. Suny Press.

Käufer and Chemero. (2015). Phenomenology: An Introduction. Polity.

Merleau-Ponty, M. (2013). Phenomenology of perception. Routledge.

Mooney, T., & Moran, D. (2002). The phenomenology reader. Routledge

Moran, D. (2002). Introduction to phenomenology. Routledge.

Sartre, J. P. (2003). Being and nothingness. Routledge.

Stephan, K., & Anthony, C. (2015). Phenomenology: An introduction. Polity.

Zahavi, D. (2019). Phenomenology: The basics. Routledge.

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