Sartre’s existentialist view implies that persons do not persist (i.e., retain identity) over time. True False

Answer 1

Hi Mia,

If you need to develop the answer to this question in a few paragraphs, I am suggesting to follow this outline:

Since there are two opposing views about the issue of personal identity in philosophy, the first one stating our personal identity does not change over time. For example, Body theory stating that even though we change or add some new parts to our body, like a new medical transplant, we are still the same person because our body does not change.

Another theory following the same path is the "Memory theory" by John Lock, who thinks that we retain some memories even after a long time, for example, during childhood. Since those memories still persist even at a later age, that indicates we are the same person, which means our identity also persists overtime.

Contrary to this view is what the existentialists posit about personal identity. For example, Jean Paul Sartre thinks that identity is not what a person is but what they do. In other words, it is not a person’s qualities or essences that make their personal identity or personhood but their present actions directed towards some goal. For instance, instead of saying, “They care for their children because they are devoted parents,” we should say “They are devoted parents because they care for their children.” Another example is saying, "He runs away because he is a coward." instead of saying, "He is a coward because he runs away." In that sense, because our actions and goals constantly change, our identity also changes.