The conflict between existentialism and metaphysics

The Conflict Between Existentialism and Metaphysics: Would Socrates Ban Sartre's Nausea? Name Institution Course Instructor Due Date The Conflict Between Existentialism and Metaphysics: Would Socrates Ban Sartre's Nausea? Existentialism and metaphysics represent two fundamentally divergent approaches to understanding reality and the self. As championed by Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialism centers on subjectivity, freedom, and the absurdity of existence. Metaphysics, especially in the Platonic tradition, concerns eternal truths, rational order, and the Forms. In Book X of Plato's Republic, Socrates defends the censorship of certain types of literature that mislead the soul and destabilize society. This essay explores whether Socrates would ban Sartre's Nausea, a canonical existentialist text, by comparing its philosophical themes to Plato's metaphysical ideals. Through close analysis of Republic and Nausea and Iris Murdoch's insights on literature and philosophy, this essay argues that Socrates would indeed advocate for banning Nausea. The novel's embrace of absurdity, rejection of universal truth, and portrayal of moral ambiguity directly contradict the foundational metaphysical principles Plato associates with a just and well-ordered society. Plato's Philosophy and Literary Censorship In Book X of Republic, Socrates thoroughly critiques literature and its influence on the soul and society. The theory of the Forms is central to his metaphysics—immutable, eternal truths that represent the highest reality. The material world is a shadow of these Forms, and art, including literature, is a copy of a copy, thus thrice removed from truth (Plato, 2007, 596a-c). Socrates argues that literature appeals to the irrational part of the soul by stirring emotions rather than reason, thereby corrupting the moral compass of individuals and undermining the rational structure of the soul. Art, in Socrates' view, must serve a pedagogical function. He critiques the tragic poets, especially Homer, for glorifying irrational passions like grief, fear, and desire. These emotional stimulations, while pleasurable, distract from the cultivation of reason and virtue. A just society depends on a hierarchy where reason governs spirit and appetite. Literature that disrupts this balance threatens individual morality and civic harmony. Socrates is particularly wary of characters that display moral ambiguity or act contrary to reason without punishment Plato (2007, 605b-607a), as these depictions can serve as dangerous models. Consequently, Socrates recommends that literature in the ideal polis be carefully curated. Only works that support truth, virtue, and rationality should be permitted. Poets who fail to align with these values must be excluded for the greater good. This censorship is not rooted in authoritarianism but in a belief that the soul must be guided toward truth and that art has the power to shape character and belief. Sartre's Existentialism in Nausea Jean-Paul Sartre's Nausea stands in radical opposition to the Platonic framework. The novel follows Antoine Roquentin, a historian who experiences a growing sense of alienation and disorientation as he confronts the sheer contingency of existence. Unlike Plato, Sartre rejects the idea of eternal truths or fixed essences. According to Sartre ( 2013), in existentialist thought, existence precedes essence: individuals are not born with predetermined purposes but must create meaning in a world devoid of inherent order. Roquentin's "nausea" is a visceral response to recognizing the absurdity and superfluity of being. Objects, people, and even his body lose coherence as he realizes they exist without justification. This moment of existential clarity does not lead to despair alone but to an awakening: freedom is terrifying, yet it is the only authentic foundation upon which one can act. Sartre uses the crisis in Roquentin’s life to show that metaphysical beliefs, such as those of Plato, are only comforting ideas that hide the fact that people are genuinely free and responsible for their choices. Instead of chasing rational or ethical order, Roquentin decides to live freely. Searle understands that values are crafted by people, not found naturally. By the end, the novel hints that creation can help people find meaning and continue their lives. However, the belief comes from people’s subjective experiences rather than from something objective. Sartre's literary style furthers his philosophical aims. The novel is structured as a diary, allowing the reader to feel Roquentin's emotional crisis. No one leads the story, and it is up to the reader to make sense of the events and feelings. Such language underlines existentialism's key belief in ambiguity, freedom, and individual life. Conflict Between Existentialism and Metaphysics Both existentialism and metaphysics clash philosophically because Sartre and Plato see reality, the self, and literature differently. Plato outlines two worlds: one of change and perception (becoming) and the other where eternal, unchangea...