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Loading... Existentialism is a Humanism (1946)by Jean-Paul Sartre
None.  IvanaG. | May 18, 2013 |  An interesting defense of existentialism. I didn't come away despair filled at all. Probably won't remember a bloody word of it in two months :D (  ) h_d | Mar 31, 2013 | If you've read anything by Sartre or Camus you may have came away with a feeling that Existentialism is a philosophy of nihilism or despair. That, indeed, was one of the main criticisms of Sartre's philosophy in his day. In this lecture he speaks frankly about Existentialism and defends it against such criticisms, explaining that it is nothing of the sort, but rather a humanistic philosophy. If you're interested in learning about Existentialism, this is an excellent short lecture to start with. It will leave you with many questions which can then be answered by a good intro such as Robert G. Olson's _Introduction to Existentialism_. The real gem, however, of this particular edition is the inclusion of Sartre's literary review of Camus's _The Stranger_. I read The Stranger when I was 19 years old and didn't really think much of it. After reading this review I've started reading The Stranger again and I'm amazed at how much of an influence this little book had on my life. (  ) FluidMindOrg | Jul 15, 2008 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0300115466, Paperback)This book presents a new English translation of two seminal works by Jean-Paul Sartre, the most dominant European intellectual of the post-World War II decades. The volume includes Sartre’s 1945 lecture “Existentialism Is a Humanism” and his analysis of Camus’s The Stranger, along with a discussion of these works by acclaimed Sartre biographer Annie Cohen-Solal. This edition is a translation of the 1996 French edition, which includes Arlette Elkaïm-Sartre’s introduction and a Q&A with Sartre about his lecture. In her foreword, intended for an American audience, acclaimed Sartre biographer Annie Cohen-Solal offers an assessment of both works. It was to correct common misconceptions about his thought that Sartre accepted an invitation to speak on October 29, 1945, at the Club Maintenant in Paris. The unstated objective of his lecture (“Existentialism Is a Humanism”) was to expound his philosophy as a form of “existentialism,” a term much bandied about at the time. Sartre asserted that existentialism was essentially a doctrine for philosophers, though, ironically, he was about to make it accessible to a general audience. The published text of his lecture quickly became one of the bibles of existentialism and made Sartre an international celebrity. The idea of freedom occupies the center of Sartre’s doctrine. Man, born into an empty, godless universe, is nothing to begin with. He creates his essence—his self, his being—through the choices he freely makes (“existence precedes essence”). Were it not for the contingency of his death, he would never end. Choosing to be this or that is to affirm the value of what we choose. In choosing, therefore, we commit not only ourselves but all of mankind. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:06:54 -0500) No library descriptions found. |
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Wikipedia in English (1)
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But: existentialism is too optimistic about human nature and freedom. If you know a little bit about contemporary psychology, you know that what Sartre said in this book is probably just an illusion. But may be this illusion is necessary for human life. (