What is Wrong with Conforming to Social Norms? A Sartrean perspective

Abstract

This paper examines Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist critique of social conformity, Sartre’s critique reveals the cost of societal conformity: it exchanges our most precious freedom and the possibility of authentic selfcreation for fleeting comfort and a sense of belonging. This philosophical analysis invites us to examine moments of “self-deception” in our daily lives and encourages us to courageously exercise our freedom, shaping a unique life through sincere choices.The paper engages with recent scholarship, including Anderson’s work on Sartre’s two ethics and contemporary applications to digital identity performance. Through examination of Sartre’s waiter example and the concept of “the look,” the analysis reveals how social conformity operates through both external enforcement and internalized objectification. The paper addresses key objections, distinguishing between necessary social coordination and rigid conformity, while clarifying how Sartre’s later ethics incorporates collective responsibility alongside individual authenticity. Ultimately, the paper argues that authentic existence requires critical reflection on inherited social patterns and the courage to resist norms that limit human flourishing, demonstrating increasing relevance for contemporary challenges including digital alienation and systemic inequality.