Nausea Essay by JP

Embracing Superfluousness: Sartre’s Existential Outlook Nausea

            In Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, the protagonist Antoine Roquentin frequently experiences physical discomfort while reflecting on certain aspects of his human existence. His discomfort comes in the form of nausea, and is triggered when Antoine reflects on the idea that his existence is unnecessary and ultimately meaningless. He has trouble coming to terms with this fact, but as the novel continues, Antoine becomes progressively accepting of the absurd nature of his existence (he recognizes his meaningless birth and inevitable death). Sartre’s belief in the nothingness that defines existence parallels that of Arthur Schopenhauer, and Schopenhauer’s philosophies at times directly reflect Antoine’s thoughts. Additionally, the existential outlook of Viktor Frankl frequently applies to Antoine’s life, and his ideas explain some of Antoine’s confusion about existence. Through Antoine’s experiences, Sartre conveys the idea that the contingency of human existence is discomforting, yet if one can embrace it, he will become conscious of the freedom he has to define himself. [Read more…]

Nausea Essay by SLL

The Angst of Existence: The Restrictions on Freedom and Authenticity

            Jean Paul Sartre’s Nausea reflects the individual’s obsession with attempting to escape time through distractions in order to disregard the reality of his existence. Throughout Nausea, Antoine struggles with a pestering feeling of anxiety, which he describes as nausea, caused by a sudden change in his life. He thus embarks on a journey to find the root of his anxiety, in which he is faced with many realizations. As he observes people, he remarks their inauthentic relationships and comes to a conclusion that society pointlessly follows formalities in order to distract themselves from their own existence. Martin Heidegger would call Antoine’s feeling of nausea Angst, and would consequentially relate it to Antoine’s root of existentialist struggle. Because Antoine does not know how to deal with his Angst, he dedicates his life to research on a historical figure, Rollebon, who’s life has many uncertainties. By doing this, Antoine escapes the present, which according to Arthur Schopenhauer, is somethings that humans innately do, because, after all, it is impossible to truly live in the present. In a way, both Antoine’s freedom and self worth are restricted by this research as he struggles to come to terms with the present. It is only once Antoine abandons his research on Rollebon that he accepts his nausea, which stemmed from his existence. Through Heidegger and Schopenhauer’s philosophy, Sartre proves that as a result of life’s contingency, man fears the implications of his own existence and it is only once man accepts life’s contingency and assumes total freedom that he is living life authentically. [Read more…]

HW12 Due 11/18: Nausea and More…

1. Nausea Essay–This weekend you will begin laying the foundation for your essay (including thesis, relevant evidence, and relevant philosophical sources). You should do the following this weekend:

  • You should type out your thesis (but I also want to see your handwritten thesis process as well), the relevant illuminating evidence and your rationale for why you are using the philosophical sources.  Consider the following questions representing the two parts of your thesis:
    1. Your thesis’ argument–What is Sartre stating about the human condition (There are multiple possible answers to this question)? In answering this question, brainstorm a list of possible answers. Consider how these answers may be related to one another. This ultimately becomes your argument.
    2. Now consider HOW Sartre develops that commentary on the human condition. How does he communicate that message (i.e. Chestnut Tree, Self-Taught Man, absurdity, etc)? The answer(s) to this question will reflect your point(s) of analysis. In answering the HOW, you should choose the evidence you will use to illuminate your argument.
  • For this essay you must use skillfully use two philosophical sources (ONE THAT WE HAVE READ TOGETHER AND ONE SOURCE THAT WE HAVE NOT NOR WILL WE READ TOGETHER). Just as The Stranger essay, here, Nausea is the focus of the analysis. The philosophical sources are meant to help shape the discussion. So, choose your two sources (You must choose specific sources. Simply saying that I plan to use Schopenhauer and Heidegger is not good enough.  What essays/sources will you use?)

2. Self-Evaluations–For groups who have presented already, you should turn in a typed, detailed self-evaluation. Your individual grade will be affected by your self-evaluation.
3. Goodreads (due by Midnight Sunday)

Nausea Essay by GG

Metropolitan Escapism, Natural Liberation

Before the dawn of civilization, humans, living among wild and free beasts, were searching for meaning in life, seeking explanations for their seemingly purposeless existence. These difficult quandaries perplexed humans, but thankfully the Neolithic Revolution, which birthed the dense center of human activity known as cities, freed humans from senselessness and let them exist merely as worker bees in a hive. Yet this escape from perplexion into metropolis has proved detrimental to human life; an alternative is necessary. As humans find new forms of classification and work to continually flee from absurdity, the eternally monolithic routine within cities becomes the perfect escape from existence, but in the process thought and individuality are destroyed. Thus humans must embrace the beautiful absurdity within both nature and themselves to live authentically as individuals. [Read more…]