Existentialism From Dostoevsky To SartreWhat 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. |
Contents
NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND 37 | |
ON HIMSELF 59 | |
LIVE DANGEROUSLY 71 | |
THE NOTES OF MALTE LAURIDS BRIGGE 81 | |
THREE PARABLES 87 | |
EXISTENZPHILOSOPHIE 94 | |
THE WAY BACK INTO | |
EXISTENTIALISM 162 | |
THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS 227 | |
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action answer anti-Semite appears attempt become beginning believe called choose Christian communication completely conception concerned condition consciousness considered continually course crowd death decision desire determined doorkeeper empirical Encompassing everything example existence existentialism existentialist Existenz experience expression eyes face fact faith feel final freedom give hand happen Heidegger human idea important individual interpretation Jaspers Kierkegaard kind knowledge later laws least less limits live longer look matter means merely metaphysics mode moral nature never Nietzsche object once oneself original particular passion perhaps person philosophy position possible present question reality reason reflection relation remains Sartre seems self-deception sense simply situation speak spirit stand sure thing thinking thought Transcendence true truth turned understand understood universal whole write