Existentialism and Humanism

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Compelling . . . but an ultimately flawed philosophy of freedom - Rated
The best place to start with Sartrean existentialism. He presents his ideas and his defense of them against several reproaches clearly. Although in the few months that I have been studying him, his philosophy of absolute freedom is rather flawed. The key to this freedom he calls 'nothingness' - a kind of 'gap' or 'space' between us and our futures and paths. How does he know this exactly?

At Last - A Graphic Novel Version - Rated
"Existentialism and Humanism" has always been been a challenge to translate into English, so this latest version sidesteps the problem in a novel way by converting it onto a cartoon strip. With very few speech bubble / thought bubbles, the concepts and insights are now available to a world wide audience. The downside to this approach has been the time it took to convert the medium, and the product was released as a weekly series of 3-panel cartoon strips (a demeaning description for such a masterwork) in the popular Belgian Satirical Publication "Les Actualities de Parp-Parp"

The choice of artists was Sartre's, and Philip Mairet has an impressive canon of work before Existentialism and Humanism. He was Marcel Marceau script-writer, and head background artist on "Roobarb" (where he also convinced the studio that Custard teh cat would be funnier if he was pink, rather than yellow.) He does however suffer for a tendency to slip into his old ways, often including a confused squirrel in the background of teh strip. Perhaps this is at Sartre's instigation (in whose mind the squirrel represented death.)

Sartre Defends Existentialism - Rated
This book will either make you want to read more about existentialism or it will lead you into making quite the opposite choice by leaving existentialism to others possibly more patient than yourself though not necessarily more intelligent.

Whatever your choice you will nonetheless be making a choice even if that choice is not to make a choice.

Or as Sartre would put it, in a far more philosophical manner, you can always choose but you must know that even if you do not choose that would still be a choice. For what is not possible is not to choose.

This is the first book I have read about existentialism so I cannot judge whether it is a good introduction to this philosophical movement yet the very fact that the purpose of the lecture delivered by Sartre is to offer a defence of existentialism against certain reproaches laid against it, seems by itself to shape the content of the lecture into an attempt by necessity to capture the essence of existentialism. In particular, in relation to the reactions existentialism has provoked.

There are certain key ideas that are very plainly put across to the reader which may well capture one's attention and actually lead to a further exploration of other books about existentialism.

For example, Sartre after referring to the two kinds of existentialists that there are and declaring that he is a representative of atheistic existentialism explains that if God does not exist there is at least one being whose existence comes before its essence, that is to say a being which exists before it can be defined by any conception of it.

That being, of course, is man.

Thus, existence precedes essence. Man first exists and then defines himself.

Basically, in conclusion to his reference to atheistic existentialism, Sartre adds that the first principle of existentialism is that man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. Not as what he conceives himself to be after already existing but that which he wills himself to be subsequent to a necessary leap towards existence. Basically, man only attains existence when he is what he purposes to be. Whereas, before that projection of the self, nothing exists.

Doubtless this first principle of existentialism gave rise to a reproach against the subjectivity of existentialism. Other ideas and terms used are also examined always with reference made to the particular reproaches Sartre has to answer in relation to such ideas and terms.

All in all, he makes out quite a solid and intelligible defence of existentialism as he explains that the first effect of existentialism is to put every man in possession of himself with the entire responsibility of his existence being placed on his shoulders.

The emphasis in the doctrine presented by Sartre is that there is no reality except in action. Man is described as nothing else but what he purposes with his existence being attained only in so far as he realizes himself. Man is therefore, nothing else but the sum of his actions.

He clarifies further this basic idea by stating - rather poetically in fact - that for the existentialist (though also in reality) there is no love apart from the deeds of love, no potentiality of love other than that which is manifested in loving and no genius other than that which is expressed in works of art.

Throughout the lecture the basic theme delivered by Sartre is that reality alone is reliable and dreams, expectations and hopes serve only to define man negatively and not positively since man is nothing else but what he lives.

One can easily understand how a basic idea such as this could give rise to a reproach for the pessimism of existentialism. Yet, Sartre manages to turn around this reproach and to declare that what people reproach existentialists with is not their pessimism but the sternness of their optimism.

As to the structure of the book, this is divided into three parts each of which can be enjoyed in its own right even though the parts are actually interrelated. First, there is a rather helpful introduction, then the lecture itself and finally the actual discussion that followed the lecture.

An additional benefit to the newcomer to the study of existentialism is the slimness of the book. This means the entire book or any part of it can easily be read time and time again. No doubt each fresh reading will be to the advantage of the reader as it will add to his understanding of the ideas expressed while simultaneously increasing his appreciation of the manner of their expression.

a good exposition 20th century existentialsm - Rated
Here, Sartre explores the concept that God does not exist, thus we must face the consequences. He appears to paint a bleak picture, God's non existence means we must take full responibility for our actions. We are on our own in the world, we must comprehend what this fully means. Though, he does not advocate the school of thought which claims that God is dead so everything is permitted. We must always act and consider our values, quieitism is never a valid option. We must always act and from this freedom of action, Sartre claims his doctrine is one of optimism. This book is not very well written, largely due to the fat it was a lecture transcript though all his prevailent ideas are there. All in all, it is a very thought provoking read which advocates the value and worthiness of human beings.