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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.
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.
About the Author
Philosopher, playwright, and novelist Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) was the most dominant European intellectual for the three decades following World War II. In 1964, he was awarded but declined the Nobel Prize in Literature. Annie Cohen-Solal is the author of the acclaimed Sartre: A Life, an international best-seller that has been translated into sixteen languages.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Existentially Responsible,
By P.R. Haus (AB, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Existentialism Is a Humanism (Paperback)
Though short, this book - viz. the lecture - contains what is often seen as some of the primary concepts in Sartre's existentialist philosophy: Existence precedes essence, humanism, and responsibility. The commentary on Camus's "The Stranger" provides Sartre's insights and alternative perspectives on Camus's work.The lecture, "Existentialism is a Humanism", give the reader the general ideas of Sartre's philosophy. However, it does more than that, which leads to other considerations both good and bad: In the lecture Sartre is explaining and modifying his philosophical position to the general public. As such, some ideas surface which were not explicitly present in his other major work "Being and Nothingness". The lecture should not be viewed as an introduction to that book; his "Humanism" lecture, rather, should be thought of as a work of transition. In fact, with this lecture Sartre is facing the reality handed to society by a post-war France, and he felt he had to answer his critics who felt he were offering society a nihilistic and narcissistic philosophy that offered no hope whatsoever. With these two thoughts in mind, Sartre is basically thinking out loud with this lecture, using no notes, giving the lecture an unpolished feel. As a result, there are inconsistencies in it that Sartre was later to regret. However, the core ideas, some of which are Kantian in their source, are ones that Sartre felt society needed to confront if it is to be humanistic and responsible - two notions especially significant when considering the context is post-war France of 1945. Nevertheless, the ideas still remain significant to the modern reader, which is why this lecture remains one of the necessary readings in existentialist philosophy. Included in the book is Sartre's "A Commentary on The Stranger", which, in style, stands in sharp contrast to the lecture. In his commentary, Sartre approaches Camus's work with dexterity and skill using literary comparisons, grammatical analysis, and philosophical resemblances. In this commentary, Sartre has time to unfold his ideas clearly and see where one thought leads him - a luxury not afforded to him during his lecture. Nevertheless, don't be misled by the bare-bones lecture and the well-crafted commentary: Both offer significant insights into their respective objects of thought. While the former shows that Sartre is (thankfully) human, all to human; the latter reveals his engaging and insightful literary prowess. After reading this book, you will have an idea why he was called France's conscience.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The usual,
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This review is from: Existentialism Is a Humanism (Paperback)
By now, everyone is aware of the impact of this essay. So my review is concerned solely with the book, which is a typical, laminate-front-and-back paperback which seems to be bound well enough and arrived in due time. I may have looked harder for a version that would fit in a jacket breast pocket, but really, portable Sartre is so 1969.
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4.5 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews) 21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By Mr. Steiner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Existentialism Is a Humanism (Paperback)
Although this is not exactly an introduction to the theory of Existentialism, it is certainly a much more accessible account of it than Sartre's "Being and Nothingness." Sartre addresses the numerous detractors of Existentialism who posit that the theory is essentially pessimistic and anti-humanistic, that it suggests a cynical and amoral view of the world. Sartre argues that man wills what he is (a variant of Heidegger's Being-Becoming), and thus the theory provides for radical freedom. He writes, "when operating on the level of complete authenticity, I have acknowledged that existence precedes essence, and that man is a free being who, under any circumstances, can only ever will his freedom, I have at the same time acknowledged that I must will the freedom of others" (49). Sartre brilliantly links up this conception of radical freedom with the willing of the freedom of others such as communist are Marxist political action. This lecture is a lucid and rich work of philosophy, and it instigated a number of debates around the notion of Humanism, famously refuted by Heidegger.This collection also includes a Q+A between Sartre and a review of Camus' "The Stranger," which he remarkably compares to Hemingway in terms of prose style. For Sartre, "The Stranger" is the great modern work exploring the fact of absurdity; he indicates that its primary strength is the co-existence of clarity and ambiguity. 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is Existentialism a Humanism?,
By R. D. Finch "Robert D. Finch" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Existentialism Is a Humanism (Paperback)
Is Existentialism a Humanism?"Is Existentialism a Humanism?" was the title of Sartre's famous lecture in October 1945 given to an overflow crowd and rapidly to become the talk of the left-bank cafes, then all of Paris and Europe. The talk started by proclaiming "existence precedes essence" which meant, he explained, that individuals create their own values because there is no moral order in the universe. This freedom is the ultimate value. The talk went on by echoing his book "Being and Nothingness". He gave the lecture to answer his critics among the communists and catholics. He needed to present a viable and relevant social philosophy in order to stand comparison with these two groups. He based his appeal on Kant's ethic of universal principles. He continued by arguing that we need a sense of responsibility for other people and society as a whole (which was different from his previous contentions). In asserting that Existentialism is a Humanism Sartre means that it places the human being at the center of its attention and at the apex of its value hierarchy. Our ultimate goal should be to foster the freedom of the individual. To read more about Existentialism see Thomas R. Flynn(2006) "Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction", Oxford University Press. 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brief but refreshing,
By N. Underland - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Existentialism Is a Humanism (Paperback)
With both a preface and an introduction, the text gives fair warning that it is not intended as a comprehensive overview of Sartre's thought (of which I am no judge either). Rather, to quote the preface, it is "a clear but simplistic discourse that reflects the contradictions that Sartre was struggling with in 1945," specifically his attempt to reconcile existentialism with communism. While this main text makes for an enjoyable (albeit brief) evening's read, the real treat here Sartre's commentary on THE STRANGER. After reading the terse Q&A session--the criticisms are, to quote the preface once again, "muddled and hostile"--it is extremely refreshing to find theory put into practice. Here Sartre writes lovingly about Camus's novel as he interprets it via close reading and in light of Camus's THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS. On a whole, the text may be somewhat of a hodgepodge, but it is nevertheless a pleasant one; you may find yourself returning to this text not for reference so much as for inspriation.
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