Existentialism

A practical approach rooted in existential philosophy

Hughes Mohlie leads a non-clinical intellectual discussion of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialism. The conversation begins with the human being thrown into a world not of their choosing, then examines Sartre’s claim that existence precedes essence: we appear before we possess any fixed nature or purpose. From there, the Method explores freedom, determinism, bad faith, responsibility, the gaze of others, and the influence of institutions such as church and state.

This Method uses structured conversation, explanation, and live exercises. It is educational and practice-based—not psychotherapy, medical care, or a clinical service.

An intellectual discussion in seven movements

1. 1THROWN INTO EXISTENCE — we enter a world, body, history, family, language, and social order we did not choose; these are the conditions within which freedom begins
2. 2EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE — unlike a manufactured object, the human being has no predetermined design or finished nature; we exist first and define ourselves afterward
3. 3FREEDOM AND CHOICE — circumstances constrain us, but for Sartre they do not completely determine the meaning of our response; even refusal, submission, and inaction involve a position
4. 4DETERMINISM AND INSTITUTIONS — biology, psychology, class, church, state, culture, and history exert real power; the discussion asks whether influence becomes destiny and where responsibility remains
5. 5BAD FAITH — we evade freedom by treating a role, diagnosis, past, command, or social identity as if it completely settles who we are and what we must do
6. 6THE OTHER AND THE LOOK — other people can turn us into an object through judgment and labels; we examine the struggle between living as a subject and accepting an identity imposed from outside
7. 7RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTION — without a ready-made essence or guaranteed moral authority, values acquire meaning through choices and concrete acts; responsibility is the unavoidable weight of authorship