Man and His Actions
2nd Edition
by
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It is impossible to find in every man some universal essence, which would be human nature, yet there does exist a universal human condition. It’s not by chance that I speak of man’s condition than of his nature. By condition I mean, more or less definitely, the a priori limits which outline man’s fundamental situation in the universe. Historical situations vary: a man may be a slave in a pagan society or a feudal lord or a proletarian, a racist, a sexist, a child abuser etc.. what does not vary is the necessity for him to exist in the world, to be at work there, to be there in the midst of other people, and to be mortal there. The limits are neither subjective nor objective, or, rather, they have an objective and a subjective side. Objective because they are to be found everywhere and are recognizable everywhere; subjective because they are lived and are nothing if man does not live them, that is, freely determine his existence with reference to them. In this sense we may say that there is a universality of man; but it is not given, it is perpetually being made. I build the universal in choosing myself; I build it in understanding the configuration of every other man, whatever age he might have lived in. This absoluteness of choice does not do away with the relativeness of each epoch.
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About the Book
This is a great book. I strongly believe that all men should be exemplary figures for every man. Our attitudes, actions should be able to be remembered by every living human being. When that happens racism, slavery, sexism, child-abuse, anti-Semitism, prejudice and abuse of any kind will no longer be part of our brave new world.
About the Author
Jude Jacques was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Growing up, he attended College Freres Gabriel, College Juvenat, and College Canado. His father, a colonel in the Haitian Army, and his mother, a businesswoman, sent him to live in the United States of America, a move that marked an exodus to save the family from persecution once Jean-Claude Duvalier, the country’s former dictator, was exiled. In New York City, the author attended Erasmus Hall High School. He then enrolled in York College and later as an exchange student at the Sorbonne. Four years later, he earned a bachelor degree in French literature and education. Later, he received a master’s degree from Hofstra University and a P.D from St. John’s University. Dr. Jacques has taught college and secondary level education for many years, and he is currently teaching French and ESL (English as a second language) at the prestigious Hempstead High School in Nassau, Long Island.