Sartre for Beginners

Sartre For Beginners is an accessible, yet sophisticated introduction to the life and works of the famous French philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre. Sartre was a member the French underground during World War II, a novelist, a playwright, and a major influence in French political and intellectual life. The book opens with a biographical section, introducing the significant events in the life of the man who coined the term, “Existentialism.” Then it examines Sartre’s early philosophical works. Ideas from Sartre’s other fictional and dramatic works are discussed, but the greatest part of the book is the presentation of the main concepts from Sartre’s Being and Nothingness (1943). These ideas include the topics of consciousness, freedom, responsibility, absurdity, “bad faith”, authenticity and the hellish confrontation with other people. Finally, the book deals with Sartre’s modification of his earlier existentialism to compliment his conversion to a kind of “existential” Marxism. Sartre For Beginners summarizes the work of the most renowned philosopher of the 20th century.

Sartre For Beginners is an accessible, yet sophisticated introduction to the life and works of the famous French philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre. Sartre was a member the French underground during World War II, a novelist, a playwright, and a major influence in French political and intellectual life. The book opens with a biographical section, introducing the significant events in the life of the man who coined the term, “Existentialism.” Then it examines Sartre’s early philosophical works. Ideas from Sartre’s other fictional and dramatic works are discussed, but the greatest part of the book is the presentation of the main concepts from Sartre’s Being and Nothingness (1943). These ideas include the topics of consciousness, freedom, responsibility, absurdity, “bad faith”, authenticity and the hellish confrontation with other people. Finally, the book deals with Sartre’s modification of his earlier existentialism to compliment his conversion to a kind of “existential” Marxism. Sartre For Beginners summarizes the work of the most renowned philosopher of the 20th century.

Donald Palmer is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the college of Marin in Kentfield, California. Currently he is visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is also author of: 
Kierkegaard For Beginners Structuralism and Poststructuralism For Beginners Looking at Philosophy, Mayfield Publishing Co.
Does the Center Hold?, Mayfield Publishing Co.