Jean-Paul Sartre: L'Existentialisme est un humanisme [Existentialism and Humanism] (3418 words)

Yoann Malinge (Université Paris I)

Ed. by Hugo Azerad, University of Cambridge
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.07: French Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary, 1945-present .
Vol. editors: Kate Averis (Universidad de Antioquia), Hugo Azerad (University of Cambridge), Edward Forman (University of Bristol), Akane Kawakami (Birkbeck, University of London), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Context

Domains

Philosophy (any)

Dates

First Circulation/Publication: 1946

Places

France (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Treatise

Other Resources

Related Groups

Philosophy

Existentialism is a Humanism is the text of a conference given by Jean-Paul Sartre in October 1945. He had already published several philosophical works, including Being and Nothingness, several plays, and the first two volumes of The Roads to Freedom. He was already a famous writer, whose work has been widely read and criticized. Through this conference, Sartre intended to make his philosophy more accessible and to respond to several criticisms addressed to him.

Definition of existentialism

Sartre’s conference begins by defining existentialism through its effects: it is a “doctrine which makes human life possible and also affirms that every truth and every action …

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Citation: Malinge, Yoann. "L'Existentialisme est un humanisme". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 April 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=11104, accessed 29 January 2022.]

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