“What do I care about Jupiter? Justice is a human issue, and I do not need a god to teach it to me.”
- June 21, 1905 – April 15, 1980
- Born in France
- Philosopher, novelist, playwright
- He advocated existentialism and had a major influence on 20th century thought through works such as “Being and Nothingness” and “Nausea”
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Quote
“What do I care about Jupiter? Justice is a human issue, and I do not need a god to teach it to me.”
Explanation
In this quote, Sartre rejects the idea that moral and ethical principles, such as justice, should be derived from divine authority or external forces like gods or religious institutions. By saying “What do I care about Jupiter?” Sartre is referencing the ancient Roman god Jupiter, symbolizing divine power or religious authority. He contrasts the traditional belief that moral order comes from higher powers with his existentialist view that justice and other ethical values are inherently human issues. Sartre argues that humans have the capacity and responsibility to define and pursue justice based on reason, empathy, and social consensus, without relying on supernatural guidance.
This perspective aligns with Sartre’s existentialism, which emphasizes individual freedom and personal responsibility. Sartre believed that people are free to create their own values and must confront the burden of responsibility that comes with this freedom. In rejecting divine moral authority, Sartre affirms the idea that human beings must create their own moral frameworks—including concepts like justice—through their actions, choices, and relationships with others. Justice, for Sartre, is a concept that emerges from human experience and the shared responsibility of individuals to live authentically and ethically within society, not from a divine or preordained source.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the ongoing debate about the role of religion and secularism in shaping ethical principles. Sartre’s words encourage individuals to take ownership of their values and moral decisions, asserting that human agency and collective responsibility are sufficient to address complex issues like justice, without the need for external divine or religious intervention. This resonates with the idea that justice is something to be discussed, debated, and created by humans in the context of their societies, rather than imposed by a higher, non-human authority.
