Download PDF Being and Nothingness JeanPaul Sartre Sarah Richmond 9781982105440 Books
Revisit one of the most important pillars in modern philosophy with this new English translation—the first in more than 60 years—of Jean-Paul Sartre’s seminal treatise on existentialism. “This is a philosophy to be reckoned with, both for its own intrinsic power and as a profound symptom of our time” (The New York Times).
In 1943, Jean-Paul Sartre published his masterpiece, Being and Nothingness, and laid the foundation of his legacy as one of the greatest twentieth century philosophers. A brilliant and radical account of the human condition, Being and Nothingness explores what gives our lives significance.
In a new, more accessible translation, this foundational text argues that we alone create our values and our existence is characterized by freedom and the inescapability of choice. Far from being an internal, passive container for our thoughts and experiences, human consciousness is constantly projecting itself into the outside world and imbuing it with meaning.
Now with a new foreword by Harvard professor of philosophy Richard Moran, this clear-eyed translation guarantees that the groundbreaking ideas that Sartre introduced in this resonant work will continue to inspire for generations to come.
Download PDF Being and Nothingness JeanPaul Sartre Sarah Richmond 9781982105440 Books
"A classic for those interested in Existentialism or any form of contemplation about the reality of being.. Some may criticize that Jean-Paul is Atheistic, however, alot of groundwork for theism is laid by those whom do not believe. Good text!"
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Tags : Being and Nothingness [Jean-Paul Sartre, Sarah Richmond] on . <b>Revisit one of the most important pillars in modern philosophy with this new English translation—the first in more than 60 years—of Jean-Paul Sartre’s seminal treatise on existentialism. “This is a philosophy to be reckoned with,Jean-Paul Sartre, Sarah Richmond,Being and Nothingness,Atria Books,1982105445,EXISTENTIALISM,GENERAL,General Adult,NON-CLASSIFIABLE,Non-Fiction,PHILOSOPHY / Criticism,PHILOSOPHY / Free Will Determinism,PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Existentialism,Philosophy,Philosophy/Criticism,Philosophy/Free Will Determinism,Philosophy/Movements - Existentialism,SARTRE, JEAN-PAUL - PROSE CRITICISM,Sarte; Existentialist; modern philosophical thought; existentialism; being and nothingness; phenomenological; phenomology,Sarte; Existentialist; modern philosophical thought; existentialism; being and nothingness; phenomenological; phenomology;,United States
Being and Nothingness JeanPaul Sartre Sarah Richmond 9781982105440 Books Reviews :
Being and Nothingness JeanPaul Sartre Sarah Richmond 9781982105440 Books Reviews
- Had to buy a thirty dollar plus book to tell me what this book said. Still trying to find out.
- It’s a little difficult to know how to review a epochal work like Being and Nothingness. Instead of summarizing the material, a herculean task given its eight hundred pages, I’ll simply provide what to expect and briefly share my opinions on his methods to help decide if this is worth your reading.
As I understand him, Sartre is above all a phenomenologist. Engaging with the tradition of Hegel, Husserl and Heidegger most of the text is devoted to descriptions of how Sartre experienced his humanity. Assertions abound and new and complex terminology is developed, all around a new account of human consciousness and the world.
Sartre reminds you how little philosophy has changed since Aristotle. In the Metaphysics Aristotle summarized his predecessors and laid down a sweeping account of the cosmos all based on his reflections on language, custom and personal experience.
In the hands of a great thinker like Sartre a similar technique does result in some brilliant insights. Moreover, he is undoubtedly one of the primary sources of post-modernism. However, there is also a hard to understand lack of attention to germane material outside of philosophy.
For example, there is a one hundred page description of time without any consideration of the unity of space and time in special relativity. While the human experience of temporality is finely illuminated is it too much to ask that it be informed by other disciplines?
These oversights leads you to think that in an age making such strides towards understanding the physiology of consciousness, Sartre’s phenomenological approach seems rather dated and unnecessary. Those partial to this type of philosophizing may, however, disagree.
Obviously you are in the presence of a great mind but will and should this way of almost solipsistic reasoning about the world endure? It seems to grow increasingly passé as the scientific outlook on humanity advances. In my opinion, for all its genius, Being and Consciousness is more of a relic than a living philosophical text. I wish I had not devoted the time to read it but, again, others will certainly differ. - Jean-Paul Sartre's "Being and Nothingness" is the fundamental text of Existentialism. His examination of ontology constantly reviews previous existential philosophy by building on, and refuting, the work of prior philosophers.
Sartre begins with a framework on nothingness and negations. Nothingness does not have being but is supported by being. It comes into existence through the for-itself and allows consciousness to exist. Negations are acts which contain negativity as part of their structure (ex absence.) He then progresses to an examination of Bad Faith. This is essentially a false consciousness which a person pursues to flee from their own freedom.
The most theoretically important part of the book regarding ontology is Sartre's explanation of Being-for-itself and Being-for-others. Being-for-itself is an examination of the works of Descartes, Husserl, etc, into the nature of the individuals being and consciousness. "The Other" is a concept from Hegel that Sartre alters to explain others around us. For Sartre "The Other" is in a constant battle to deprive the other person of their freedom without extinguishing their being.
The second half of his treatise deals with issues mostly empirical in nature. Sartre has an impeccable knowledge of philosophy and the physical science up to 1943 (philosophy, biology, psychology, pyschics, etc..) He uses the theory of ontology to reexamine empirical issues where he finds scientific fields lacking. In the end Sartre devises a `Existential Psychoanalysis' (Existentialism) to examine psychological phenomenon through an ontological lens.
For Sartre humans are thrown into the world, in a situation, but have absolute freedom over choice. They are responsible for their choice. Whether they chose to actively pursue something or passively submit THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. This responsibility is not meant as an ethical judgment but rather a statement of fact.
Sartre almost completely eschews ethical judgments in "Being and Nothingness." His objective throughout the work is to explain the ontological foundation of being. He reserves 2 pages at the end of the book discussing ethics. His advice is to strive for a synthesis of the being-in-itself with the being-for-itself (a true single consciousness between body and mind.) A person can then strive to attain their values (which are subjective in nature.)
Note Sartre assumes his readers have read essentially every existential philosopher since Plato. He gives brief descriptions of each philosopher's theory but I strongly recommend you read their work before "Being and Nothingness." Sartre also uses incredibly obtuse language (which is made worse through translation.) While not as bad as other philosophers his work forces the person to actively read everything he says. Sartre commands an excellent understanding of science but actively rejects some of its most basic premises because science fails to ask the right questions. While some of the science he talks about has long been disproven for the most part his understanding of science remains valid.
Note #2 I read the Gramercy edition.
I strongly recommend "Being and Nothingness" to anyone interested in ontology with a strong background in philosophy and the psychical sciences. - I had a major breakthrough with Being and Nothingness, open my head.
It took me a while before it sunk into my head, then pow saw how free i can be when i tap into nothingness which in turn is everything. Without the identity and bondage of body rather the freedom of being in- itself for the itself.
Live for life itself! - Wow!
- Depressing. #mustread
- A classic for those interested in Existentialism or any form of contemplation about the reality of being.. Some may criticize that Jean-Paul is Atheistic, however, alot of groundwork for theism is laid by those whom do not believe. Good text!
- This is the book where Sartre gives his first and most thorough explanations of Bad Faith, as well as overtly explains his ontology. If I had to recommend one book to understand the philosophy of Sartre, I would recommend this one. It is where we see Sartre's blueprint to the categorization of his world, and I think it is very beautiful.