Bad faith or bad faith is a philosophical concept popularized by the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre to describe the propensity of human beings to oppose absurdism in order to justify the circumstances in which they live. . As an existentialist, Sartre believed that existence is a function of the meaning and values ​​that the individual gives to the world. If this is the case, there is no valid excuse why a person cannot change their situation. The idea that individuals who do not believe this to be the case and believe that their lives are dictated primarily by external forces is what Sarte calls bad faith. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay If existence depends on the actions of the individual, then that individual possesses the power to change his or her circumstances. The absence of this belief is what Sartre called bad faith and considered it one of the greatest problems plaguing modern civilization. He used the example of the cafe waiter who sacrificed all his authenticity to serve customers. Speaking in a tone and moving in a way that objectively transformed him into what is in essence a waiter. There is a point of realization in which the waiter understands that being a waiter is not the ideal career choice, but he must persist because it is his only choice in life. This type of existence is the exact opposite of what Sartre believed human beings to be. Sartre believed that essence results from existence. In the modern world, the concept of bad faith is visible all around us. We are expected to go to college to pursue a career path that we will follow for decades. Buying a big house, getting married and starting a family is the norm. We accept these ideals because they are considered normal and because of the illusion of choice dispersed within these ideals. We can choose which career path we want to follow, but ultimately, they are different paths that take the same path. Once you get on these roads, it's hard to get away from them. It is difficult for someone who has spent twenty years in a job to change jobs and learn a new job. The difficulty of these choices lies in the fallacy that Sartre highlights in the concept of bad faith. Although some of these choices are very difficult, they can and should be made with the goal of maximizing freedom, which in turn will give us more satisfaction in our lives. The problem of bad faith can be solved by starting with honesty. Simply recognizing the mutability of your own existence is a good start. It is often perfectly justified to discuss the difficulties an individual might face due to a change in circumstances, but recognizing their capacity to change is important. Sartre observed that we are often aware of the mutability of our circumstances through our own will, but we suppress these thoughts in exchange for the comfort of the status quo. The mistake here is that the status quo represents a discomfort that has led us to consider the possibility of changing our situation. Whether the change in circumstances leads to a better or worse situation, the right choice is to act because the incentive to potentially improve the current situation is strong. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay It is very easy to blame external factors for the problems we face. Even when we recognize that we have the capacity to.