In this paper of mine, I would like to discuss and synthesize Sartre’s “Nothingness” and “Freedom” and Foucault’s “Power” in relation to the reality of Politics and the “geist” of History. The Politics that I refer to are the Politics in the countries, businesses, churches/religions, organizations and corporations. Sartre’s philosophy is about “Nothingness” and “Freedom.” For Sartre, everything starts from “nothing.” The ground of “being” (verb as “to be”) is “nothing.” In other words, the ground of “freedom” is “nothing.” Because there is “nothing”, man has a “Total Freedom.” This freedom also comes with “responsibility.” All things that man does have their own consequences and these consequences will haunt man. That is why, man has to use his total freedom responsibly because the consequences of his actions are inescapable. Foucault’s philosophy is about history as the “history of power.” For Foucault, Power moves History. The people who are in power moves history. Because they are in power, they can dictate the “geist” of history (where history is going). Good and responsible leaders make good history while bad and corrupt leaders make bad history.
I.) Nothingness and Freedom
Jean Paul Sartre’s philosophy is about “Nothingness” and “Freedom.” He started with “Be-ing and Nothingness” as a critique to Heidegger’s “Be-ing and Time” (be-ing as “to be”). For Heidegger, the ground of man’s “be-ing” is time. In other words, man’s actions are grounded in time (as in time of the “Time-of-the-World”). Time is given because of the world. Because the time flows, “be-ing” is possible. Everything is grounded in time. On the other hand, Sartre considered “Nothing” as the ground of “be-ing.” Sartre’s “nothingness” is like an empty space or void. Because there is “nothing”, man can do a lot of things. Man can fill up “nothing” with something. Filling up “nothing” with something comes freedom.
Man uses his freedom in filling “nothing” with something. For Sartre, man is not born and later to be free. Man is “freedom” itself. Man does/acts because he has freedom and he is freedom. Man as freedom and man’s freedom is not limited. It is total and infinite. For Sartre, “Nothing” is a context where freedom is total. Man has a total freedom. Man has a total freedom but it does not mean that he will just do anything what he feels to do (pagusto). Man can do anything he want all as long that he is responsible for his actions for Freedom comes with responsibility. With “nothing” as the ground of freedom, the burden of responsibility is too much. That is why, we humans should be responsible for everything we do. We should be responsible for our actions because they have consequences. If man’s freedom is total, the consequences of man’s actions are also total and infinite. These consequences of his actions will haunt him and they are inescapable. Aside from the consequences, man’s conscience will also haunt him. That is why, we humans must use our total freedom responsibly and we must listen to our conscience first before we act. As we face the consequences of our actions, we can blame no one but our self alone.
II.) Power: The “Geist” of History
Michel Foucault’s philosophy centers on History and Power. His philosophy is about history as “History of Power.” For Foucault, power moves history. All of us, humans, have power. We share our power from our leaders (in all fields especially in Politics). Our leaders are by virtue more powerful than us. We just share our power from them. The problem with power is that, it is most of the time abused. Our leaders, who are more powerful than us abused their power while we ordinary citizens, who have lesser power use our power well.
If we speak of History, we refer to the history of a particular place or a bigger group of place (e.g History of the Philippines, History of Asia and History of the World). Talking about places, every place has their own set of leaders. Leadership comes with greater power. Our leaders are more powerful than us. Power comes with great responsibility. Because our leaders are more powerful than us, they have more responsibilities than us. Their being powerful demands so much responsibility from them. They are not only responsible for their self alone but also responsible for the people they are leading. Because the leaders shepherd the people they are leading, they are the ones who dictate where their history will go. They can dictate the “geist” of history (where history is going). Good and responsible leaders make good history while bad and corrupt leaders make bad history. What is lacking with our leaders is discipline. If they have self-discipline, they will not abuse their power and they will not put the lives of the people they are leading at stake/ in danger.
III.) Summary, Synthesis and Conclusion
Summary
For Sartre, “Nothing” is the ground of “be-ing.” Because there is “nothing”, “be-ing” is possible. What can we do with “nothing”? The answer is “infinite” (because there is so much to do with “nothing”). Here enters “choice” and “freedom.” Because man is free, he can choose what to do. Man has total and infinite freedom. Freedom comes with responsibility. Man has to be responsible in his actions because they have consequences. As man uses his freedom, he has to check and follow his conscience or else his conscience and the consequences of his actions will haunt him.
Foucault’s philosophy is about the History as “History of Power.” The main point of his philosophy is that, power moves history, power is the “geist” of history. We cannot escape power, All of us have power only that our leaders are more powerful than us and we share our power with them (lesser power than our leaders). What happens most of the time is that, people who are powerful abused their power while people who have lesser power used their power well. The use of power of those who are in power moves history. The key for a better direction of our history is discipline especially self-discipline of our leaders. If they can discipline their selves not to abuse their power, the history will go in the right path.
Synthesis and Conclusion: (The use of freedom of those who are in power moves history.)
Power moves History. Our leaders, who are more powerful than us, have to use their total freedom responsibly because the “geist” of our history depends on them. We as ordinary citizens also have a part but our leaders have a bigger part. They determine the direction of our history. Our leaders are totally free but before they commit a certain action, they have to check first their conscience. Checking their conscience first will help them avoid committing evil acts and would also prevent them (and including us) from facing the consequences of our evil actions. Self-discipline of our leaders is the key for a good direction of our history. The use of freedom of our leaders would determine where the history will go. Good, responsible and disciplined leaders will make a good history while selfish and corrupt leaders will make bad history.
I.) Nothingness and Freedom
Jean Paul Sartre’s philosophy is about “Nothingness” and “Freedom.” He started with “Be-ing and Nothingness” as a critique to Heidegger’s “Be-ing and Time” (be-ing as “to be”). For Heidegger, the ground of man’s “be-ing” is time. In other words, man’s actions are grounded in time (as in time of the “Time-of-the-World”). Time is given because of the world. Because the time flows, “be-ing” is possible. Everything is grounded in time. On the other hand, Sartre considered “Nothing” as the ground of “be-ing.” Sartre’s “nothingness” is like an empty space or void. Because there is “nothing”, man can do a lot of things. Man can fill up “nothing” with something. Filling up “nothing” with something comes freedom.
Man uses his freedom in filling “nothing” with something. For Sartre, man is not born and later to be free. Man is “freedom” itself. Man does/acts because he has freedom and he is freedom. Man as freedom and man’s freedom is not limited. It is total and infinite. For Sartre, “Nothing” is a context where freedom is total. Man has a total freedom. Man has a total freedom but it does not mean that he will just do anything what he feels to do (pagusto). Man can do anything he want all as long that he is responsible for his actions for Freedom comes with responsibility. With “nothing” as the ground of freedom, the burden of responsibility is too much. That is why, we humans should be responsible for everything we do. We should be responsible for our actions because they have consequences. If man’s freedom is total, the consequences of man’s actions are also total and infinite. These consequences of his actions will haunt him and they are inescapable. Aside from the consequences, man’s conscience will also haunt him. That is why, we humans must use our total freedom responsibly and we must listen to our conscience first before we act. As we face the consequences of our actions, we can blame no one but our self alone.
II.) Power: The “Geist” of History
Michel Foucault’s philosophy centers on History and Power. His philosophy is about history as “History of Power.” For Foucault, power moves history. All of us, humans, have power. We share our power from our leaders (in all fields especially in Politics). Our leaders are by virtue more powerful than us. We just share our power from them. The problem with power is that, it is most of the time abused. Our leaders, who are more powerful than us abused their power while we ordinary citizens, who have lesser power use our power well.
If we speak of History, we refer to the history of a particular place or a bigger group of place (e.g History of the Philippines, History of Asia and History of the World). Talking about places, every place has their own set of leaders. Leadership comes with greater power. Our leaders are more powerful than us. Power comes with great responsibility. Because our leaders are more powerful than us, they have more responsibilities than us. Their being powerful demands so much responsibility from them. They are not only responsible for their self alone but also responsible for the people they are leading. Because the leaders shepherd the people they are leading, they are the ones who dictate where their history will go. They can dictate the “geist” of history (where history is going). Good and responsible leaders make good history while bad and corrupt leaders make bad history. What is lacking with our leaders is discipline. If they have self-discipline, they will not abuse their power and they will not put the lives of the people they are leading at stake/ in danger.
III.) Summary, Synthesis and Conclusion
Summary
For Sartre, “Nothing” is the ground of “be-ing.” Because there is “nothing”, “be-ing” is possible. What can we do with “nothing”? The answer is “infinite” (because there is so much to do with “nothing”). Here enters “choice” and “freedom.” Because man is free, he can choose what to do. Man has total and infinite freedom. Freedom comes with responsibility. Man has to be responsible in his actions because they have consequences. As man uses his freedom, he has to check and follow his conscience or else his conscience and the consequences of his actions will haunt him.
Foucault’s philosophy is about the History as “History of Power.” The main point of his philosophy is that, power moves history, power is the “geist” of history. We cannot escape power, All of us have power only that our leaders are more powerful than us and we share our power with them (lesser power than our leaders). What happens most of the time is that, people who are powerful abused their power while people who have lesser power used their power well. The use of power of those who are in power moves history. The key for a better direction of our history is discipline especially self-discipline of our leaders. If they can discipline their selves not to abuse their power, the history will go in the right path.
Synthesis and Conclusion: (The use of freedom of those who are in power moves history.)
Power moves History. Our leaders, who are more powerful than us, have to use their total freedom responsibly because the “geist” of our history depends on them. We as ordinary citizens also have a part but our leaders have a bigger part. They determine the direction of our history. Our leaders are totally free but before they commit a certain action, they have to check first their conscience. Checking their conscience first will help them avoid committing evil acts and would also prevent them (and including us) from facing the consequences of our evil actions. Self-discipline of our leaders is the key for a good direction of our history. The use of freedom of our leaders would determine where the history will go. Good, responsible and disciplined leaders will make a good history while selfish and corrupt leaders will make bad history.