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Existentialism Is a Humanism

By Jean-Paul Sartre, Arlette Elkaim-Sartre, Annie Cohen-Solal, Carol Macomber (Translator)

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| Paperback | 9780300115468

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Book Description

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 “existentialContinue

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.
This edition of Existentialism Is a Humanism is a translation of the 1996 French edition, which includes Arlette Elkaïm-Sartre’s introduction and a Q&A with Sartre about his lecture. Paired with “Existentialism Is a Humanism” is another seminal Sartre text, his commentary on Camus’s The Stranger. In her foreword, intended for an American audience, acclaimed Sartre biographer Annie Cohen-Solal offers an assessment of both works.

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  • A brief essay about the main theme of Sartre's Existentialism: a concrete meditation about humanity and its Existence, (not its Essence)!

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    Wax said on Feb 15, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

    Paper Knife

    The cover of this book "Existentialism Is a Humanism" is way cool -- reminding me of Satre's example of human's "existence precedes essence". Human is blessed by that characteristic, as opposed to a paper knife or a chair in a park -- which are made by craftsmen with a purpose/function before the p ... (continue)

    The cover of this book "Existentialism Is a Humanism" is way cool -- reminding me of Satre's example of human's "existence precedes essence". Human is blessed by that characteristic, as opposed to a paper knife or a chair in a park -- which are made by craftsmen with a purpose/function before the production -- "essence precedes existence" in this case. Yet, with this special gift of free will, "men are doomed to be free", and have to make choices for themselves. Simultaneously, each of these individual choice casts its impact onto the human-kind, so a man is also interconnected with the humanity in the choices that each makes. With this freedom, people would feel angst -- which is the uncertainty and insecurity with the results of these choices bring forth and each man has to be responsive to each and single choice he makes without blaming on an unfortunate or less than desirable outcome on his downtrodden luck.

    In short, the main purpose of this book is Satre's defense on the three main bad raps on existentialism, such as atheistic and debasing the value of the mass/humanity of advancing by collective action. Satre also expound what is his idea of existential humanism means -- the concept of God and its set of a priori moral codes does not need to be the center of an existentialists moral code to achieve a humanist/non-anarchic-selfish outcome excluding of the other.

    P.S. -- The example of God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son is brilliant -- how can Abraham be certain that the voice of angel is that of God and not feigned by the devil -- particularly when the test is so abhorrent?

    Is this helpful?

    Search Serg said on Jul 2, 2008 | Add your feedback

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