Freedom exists only by being conquered from original spontaneous existence

Evidence

This objection would mean something only if freedom were a thing or a quality naturally attached to a thing. Then, in effect, one would either have it or not have it. But the fact is that it merges with the very movement of this ambiguous reality which is called existence and which is only by making itself be; to such an extent that it is precisely only by having to be conquered that it gives itself. To will oneself free is to effect the transition from nature to morality by establishing a genuine freedom on the original upsurge of our existence. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity, 22

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The paradox-resolution at the heart of Beauvoir’s ethics: freedom is given and yet only becomes real by being won. This is the concept that distinguishes the genuinely free person from the bad-faith types — the free person enacts the conquest.
• DEFINE: Defines the crucial distinction between natural spontaneity (given but not yet freedom) and moral freedom (conquered and self-founded) — essential for sorting people into the typology later.
• XREF: connects to: The for-itself’s free spontaneity makes the Other’s existence possible — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 781; Freedom is the original upsurge that posits one’s ultimate ends.; Freedom exists only as engaged, self-choosing action, never as undetermined potential — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1145 (+3 more)