Simone de Beauvoir: The Importance of Freedom in Living a Good Life
The age-old question of 'What does it mean to live a good life?" has persisted throughout history. Each time this question has been asked, there have been various responses:
Some assert that the meaning of a good life is one where we strive to attain the highest form of knowledge. Others may argue that there is a specific set of guidelines one must follow to be good. Many in search of guidance may turn to religion and sacred texts.
Irrespective of which ideology you may believe, the consensus is that these explanations are what give us comfort in the uncertainties of life.
However, one philosopher proposes that to live a good life, rather than hide from doubts we must embrace them. This article explores Simone de Beauvoir, and what she constitutes as a good life.
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone-Ernestine-Lucie-Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir, known in the literary world as Simone de Beauvoir was a French philosopher born in 1908. Beauvoir was interested in philosophy from a very young age. At 21 she became the youngest person to take the philosophy exams at one of France’s most esteemed universities, placing second to Jean-Paul Sartre.
Sartre and Beauvoir would become academic comrades and intellectual partners for the rest of their lives. Later on, they both developed the framework for the school of thought known today as existentialism.
Existentialism
Existentialism is defined by Beauvoir as the idea that humans are not born with a predestined meaning for life. Rather we are free to create our own essence through choice. Many critique existentialism because of its lack of an “answer”. Additionally, some find the concept of such freedom too intimidating. Although true, this idea is foundational in Beauvoir's definition of a good life.
Ethics and Concepts of Freedom:
“Freedom is the source from which all significations and all values spring. It is the original condition of all justification of existence.” - Simone de Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity
Simone de Beauvoir's concept of a good life, as seen in "The Ethics of Ambiguity," revolves around the idea that freedom is the basis of all meanings and values. Her exploration of ethics through the lens of existentialism challenged the framework of traditional ethics which is based upon set principles.
Beauvoir believes that such principles negate our identity and reduce it to a predetermined purpose. She believes that it is unethical to reduce ourselves to this lack of being. By doing so, we lose freedom.
In her structure of a good life, she determines that to live is to “will ourselves free”.
She places importance on freedom because freedom is the basis of morality, thus life. Without freedom, the ability to make moral choices and determine one's destiny is lost.
She further extends this ethical imperative to others. Beauvoir asserts that we must help improve the freedom of others because humanity is interconnected. Others are with whom we form relationships and meaning in life. To help them will their own freedom is to help them will our own freedom.
Thus, Beauvoir's meaning of a good life is to fulfill the ethical imperative of creating our own life meaning while protesting for the freedom of others to do the same.
Application in Feminism
“A freedom which is interested only in denying freedom must be denied.” - Simone de Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity
In exploration of her own life's meaning, Beauvoir applied her existentialist freedom to her work as a feminist. Though her life was well accomplished, she often felt that her own freedom was being held back by society's expectations of womanhood. This conflict prompted her to publish “The Second Sex”. A book where Beauvoir voiced her own experiences and described the “othering” of women in society.
In the book she advocates against this, explaining that the difference in treatment is not a result of biological conditions but rather a result of history. “We inscribe into her body what later appears to be destiny.” In the same way, she thought of destiny, she thought that women should not be chained to ideals but be able to have self determination .
Summary
Simone de Beauvoir's contributions have significantly altered the worlds of philosophy and feminism. Her work in both existentialism and feminism is regarded as groundbreaking especially considering her time.
To summarize, Beauvoir places importance on having ambiguity in our lives. It is this ambiguity that gives us the freedom to choose our own destiny. As a result, Beauvoir's definition of a good life is one where we can acknowledge freedom, take responsibility for our choices, and behave in a way to help others realize their freedom too.
As captured in The Ethics of Ambiguity, "Morality resides in the painfulness of an indefinite questioning…" Beauvoir's philosophy encourages us to explore the intricacy of existentialism and the ongoing pursuit for personal and collective freedom.
Sources:
https://philosophynow.org/issues/69/The_Ethics_of_Ambiguity
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-meaning-of-life-according-to-simone-de-beauvoir-iseult-gillespie