How Did the early Jean Paul Sartre know that we are absolutely free?

Question

What led Sartre to the conclusion that we are absolutely free to make choices?

Answer 1

He obviously never met a delusional person.

Answer 2

inasmuch as Sartre stated that man must take responsibility for his behavior AND "existentialism is a humanism" (in his early work, a lecture...actually) it would appear, therefore, that one is bound to make choices appropriate to what we might expect from a 'humanist' (as opposed to an inhumane) point of view.

if we accept this argument it would then be reasonable to state that one is not absolutely free to make choices but is bound by humanist values, if humanism is, indeed, a value system.

ifyouknowhatimean...

Answer 3

Existence precedes essence, or, putting it into his own words, "Not only is man what he conceives himself to be, he is also only what he wills himself to be." Carrying this to its logical conclusion; man, individually and collectively, is responsible for his own choices and actions. No excuses accepted.