Sartre's No Exit: More in-depth analysis?
February 25, 2010 12:30 PM Subscribe
I just read Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit. Can you recommend essays/theses/podcasts, etc. that further analyzes the play? Bonus: any suggestions of writings that critically analyzes Existentialism.
Seconding more Sartre rather than N.E. commentary. "Nausea" is another good next step that's less of a project than Being and Nothingness.
posted by pete_22 at 2:02 PM on February 25, 2010
posted by pete_22 at 2:02 PM on February 25, 2010
I did a senior project on Existentialism and found the two class notes PDFs on this page invaluable in understanding Being and Nothingness. Reading the book itself is extremely difficult (convoluted language was one of the points of honor among French intellectuals) but the 200 pages or so of this outline is explained in clear English and in a way that's easier for a non-philosopher to understand.
I also agree with Lutoslawski in that each Existentialist/Absurdist is unique in their outlook. Understanding their differences between them was very valuable to me. For instance, Kierkegaard is unique among the group for arriving at the philosophy from a Christian perspective, while most of the others are fiercely anti-religious. Camus tends to be the most optimistic and earnest about the human condition. Sartre the most fatalist and cynical, etc.
I also recommend exploring the theme of the anti-hero, such as that of Dostoevski's Notes from Underground, for a practical and less-abstract exploration of many Existential ideas.
posted by cowbellemoo at 3:18 PM on February 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
I also agree with Lutoslawski in that each Existentialist/Absurdist is unique in their outlook. Understanding their differences between them was very valuable to me. For instance, Kierkegaard is unique among the group for arriving at the philosophy from a Christian perspective, while most of the others are fiercely anti-religious. Camus tends to be the most optimistic and earnest about the human condition. Sartre the most fatalist and cynical, etc.
I also recommend exploring the theme of the anti-hero, such as that of Dostoevski's Notes from Underground, for a practical and less-abstract exploration of many Existential ideas.
posted by cowbellemoo at 3:18 PM on February 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
While not strictly answering your question, I would recommend Sartre's short novel The Age of Reason, because I found it interesting. As mentioned, Being and Nothingness is kinda tough to dive right into.
As you might know, Albert Camus is other essential existential protagonist. Aside from L'Etranger, The Myth of Sisyphus is worth a look.
For commentary on existentialism, Walter Kaufmann rocks.
posted by ovvl at 5:15 PM on February 25, 2010
As you might know, Albert Camus is other essential existential protagonist. Aside from L'Etranger, The Myth of Sisyphus is worth a look.
For commentary on existentialism, Walter Kaufmann rocks.
posted by ovvl at 5:15 PM on February 25, 2010
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Every existential philosopher has a different idea of what it is. The other main dudes in this realm are Merleau-Ponty (a friend of Sartre's, but later stranged), Camus, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche. Read them - they are as much a critique on Sartre (or, in the case of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, Sartre is a critique of them) as they are proponents of existentialism themselves.
The world of academic philosophy is ripe with critique's of existentialism from a variety of perspectives. No Exit doesn't do much justice to the philosophy in general, so I recommend digging in a bit more and then reading the critics. A lot of criticism against existentialism is criticism by omission, i.e. the work of the Vienna Circle and the logical positivists, analytic philosophy in general, etc.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:15 PM on February 25, 2010