The starting point for man then is subjectivity,
in that he defines his essence on his own terms and has the freedom to choose
whatever he wants. This knowledge that we are free from any objective
morality places a great responsibility on man. The anguish that Sartre
says comes from knowledge of how free we actually are is most important because
it forces us to make decisions for ourselves. Sartre rejects that notion
that it is possible not to choose because, in not choosing, you are making a
choice. He says that we cannot escape our freedom and cannot blame
deterministic excuses, but must take responsibility for our actions. There are
no general ethics to guide man in making the right decision but only man’s
interpretation of what he does. This means that the emotions ascribed to
a particular action are preceded by the action itself. Therefore, it is
the subjective interpretation of actions that gives them value.
