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Existentialism From Dostoevsky To Sartre
Existentialism From Dostoevsky To Sartre | Walter Kaufmann
2 posts | 2 read | 3 to read
What is Existentialism? It is perhaps the most misunderstood of modern philosophic positions—misunderstood by reason of its broad popularity and general unfamiliarity with its origins, representatives, and principles. Existential thinking does not originate with Jean Paul Sartre. It has prior religious, literary, and philosophic origins. In its narrowest formulation it is a metaphysical doctrine, arguing as it does that any definition of man’s essence must follow, not precede, an estimation of his existence. In Heidegger, it affords a view of Being in its totality; in Kierkegaard an approach to that inwardness indispensable to authentic religious experience; for Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Rilke the existential situation bears the stamp of modern man’s alienation, uprootedness, and absurdity; to Sartre it has vast ethical and political implications. Walter Kaufmann, author of Nietzsche, is eminently qualified to present and interpret the insights of existentialism as they occur and are deepened by the major thinkers who express them. In every case complete selections or entire works have been employed: The Wall, Existentialism, and the complete chapter on “Self-Deception” from L’être et le Néant by Sartre; two lectures from Jaspers’ book Reason and Existenz; original translations of On My Philosophy by Jaspers and The Way Back into the Ground of Metaphysics by Heidegger. There is, as well, material from Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Rilke, and Camus.
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BC_Dittemore
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Whew 😅…

I think philosophy is so tough for me because I‘m a consumptive reader; I‘m used to moving at a steady pace and when I dive into philosophy I‘m forced to slow down, to remind myself that these essays are not to be read once, but multiple times, to be discussed and dissected.

Anyway, despite its density, I‘m glad I read it. I‘ve had it for FOREVER having come across it in a library sale. It literally fell apart while reading it.

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BetweenThesePages
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Right in the existential feels! Have to admit, I thought this was going to be a dry read but this is from The Notes from the Underground by Dostoevsky and it's pretty good so far. Hopefully Satre's Being and Nothingness won't be as dry as some people say!