Explain Sartre's idea of freedom and compare that to Walter Benjamin's notion of "aura" and 'authenticity".
You explain, and someone here will check your thinking and writing for you.
Sartre believes that we are condemned to be free. He syas that we were thrown into this world but now we are responsible for everything that we do; Sartre does not believe in determinism. How this connects to Walter Benjamin- because we make our own choices, we are unique/authentic, just like an artwork's aura makes it authentic.
Jean-Paul Sartre and Walter Benjamin were two prominent philosophers who explored different aspects of human experience. While Sartre focused on freedom, Benjamin delved into the concepts of "aura" and "authenticity." Let's discuss each of their ideas and then compare them.
Sartre's concept of freedom stems from his existentialist philosophy. According to Sartre, human beings are inherently free, and this freedom is a defining characteristic of our existence. He believed that individuals have the power to make choices and shape their lives without any pre-determined essence or external determinations. Sartre's famous quote, "Existence precedes essence," captures the essence of his idea. In other words, we exist first and then create our essence through the choices we make.
To understand Sartre's idea of freedom, you can refer to his major work, "Being and Nothingness." In this book, Sartre explores the concept of "bad faith," which refers to the denial of our freedom and the evasion of responsibility for our actions. By becoming aware of our own freedom, we can embrace personal authenticity and take control of our lives.
On the other hand, Walter Benjamin, a cultural theorist and philosopher, developed the concepts of "aura" and "authenticity" in his essay, "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Benjamin argued that in the era of mass production and reproduction, the traditional notion of aura, which refers to the unique aura or presence attributed to an original work of art, is diminishing.
According to Benjamin, aura is tied to the notion of authenticity. He claimed that the authenticity of an artwork is rooted in its unique existence in time and space. However, the reproduction of art through mechanical means, such as photography or printing, diminishes the aura and authenticity of the original artwork.
To understand Benjamin's ideas more deeply, you can read his essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," where he explores the impact of technological advancements on the art world.
Now, let's compare Sartre's idea of freedom with Benjamin's notion of "aura" and "authenticity." While Sartre focuses on personal freedom and individual responsibility, Benjamin's concept of aura and authenticity relate more to the cultural and societal aspects of human experience. Sartre emphasizes that individuals have the freedom to create their own essence and make meaningful choices in life, while Benjamin examines the impact of technology on the authenticity and aura of art.
In essence, Sartre's philosophy revolves around the individual's subjective freedom, while Benjamin's ideas explore the transformation of art in the modern age. Both philosophers offer unique perspectives on human experience, one from an existentialist standpoint and the other from a cultural and artistic lens.