Being and Nothingness: A Phenomenological Essay on Ontology - Softcover

Jean Paul Sartre

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671824333 ISBN 13: 9780671824334

Publisher: Pocket Books, 1978

Synopsis

Ninth printing January 1977, mass market paperback edition, and book contain 811 pages.

About this title

Review

Jean-Paul Sartre, the seminal smarty-pants of mid-century thinking, launched the existentialist fleet with the publication of Being and Nothingness in 1943. Though the book is thick, dense, and unfriendly to careless readers, it is indispensable to those interested in the philosophy of consciousness and free will. Some of his arguments are fallacious, others are unclear, but for the most part Sartre's thoughts penetrate deeply into fundamental philosophical territory. Basing his conception of self-consciousness loosely on Heidegger's "being," Sartre proceeds to sharply delineate between conscious actions ("for themselves") and unconscious ("in themselves"). It is a conscious choice, he claims, to live one's life "authentically" and in a unified fashion, or not--this is the fundamental freedom of our lives.

Drawing on history and his own rich imagination for examples, Sartre offers compelling supplements to his more formal arguments. The waiter who detaches himself from his job-role sticks in the reader's memory with greater tenacity than the lengthy discussion of inauthentic life and serves to bring the full force of the argument to life. Even if you're not an angst-addicted poet from North Beach, Being and Nothingness offers you a deep conversation with a brilliant mind--unfortunately, a rare find these days. --Rob Lightner

About the Author

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80). The foremost French thinker and writer of the early post-war years. His books have exerted enormous influence in philosophy, literature, art and politics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Publication date: 1978
• ISBN 10: 0671824333
• ISBN 13: 9780671824334
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 811