Jean-Paul Sartre

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Simone de Beauvoir & Jean-Paul Sartre in Beijing 1955

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Le Général George C. Marshall de visite de journalistes

Beauvoir Sartre - Che Guevara -1960 - Cuba

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Jean Paul Sartre by Gray

2010.05.30.113308 Haus Hélène de Beauvoir Goxwiller FR

Jean-Paul Sartre (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He is one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology, and one of the leading figures in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism. His work has also influenced sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literature. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, which he declined.

Biography

Jean-Paul Sartre was born in Paris, France, to Jean-Baptiste Sartre, an officer of the French Navy, and Anne-Marie Schweitzer. His father died when Sartre was only fifteen months old, and he was raised by his mother and her family, including his influential uncle, Charles Schweitzer. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure, where he became friends with Simone de Beauvoir, who would later become a celebrated philosopher and feminist. The relationship between Sartre and de Beauvoir would become one of the most famous intellectual partnerships in history.

After completing his studies, Sartre served in the French army during the Second World War. He was captured by German troops in 1940 and spent nine months as a prisoner of war. After his release, he became a significant figure in the French resistance, contributing to underground publications and activities.

Philosophical Work

Sartre's philosophical work is characterized by an emphasis on the existential human condition, the absurdity of life, and the freedom of the individual to make choices. His most famous philosophical work is Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant), published in 1943. In this work, Sartre develops a complex analysis of the concept of nothingness, freedom, and existence.

Sartre's philosophy is often associated with the famous phrase "existence precedes essence," which summarizes his view that humans first exist, encounter themselves, and emerge in the world to define their essence. He believed that individuals are condemned to be free and bear the responsibility for their actions without any predetermined essence to guide them.

Literary Work

In addition to his philosophical writings, Sartre was also an accomplished author of novels, plays, and stories. His first novel, Nausea (La Nausée), published in 1938, is considered a seminal work of existentialist literature. In this novel, Sartre explores themes of absurdity, freedom, and alienation through the diary of a fictional character, Antoine Roquentin.

Sartre's plays, such as No Exit (Huis Clos), which introduced the famous line "Hell is other people," and The Flies (Les Mouches), are also critical in understanding his philosophical ideas. These works explore themes of freedom, responsibility, and the existential condition.

Political Engagement

Throughout his life, Sartre was actively engaged in politics. He was a vocal advocate for Marxist principles and aligned himself with the French Communist Party for a time, though he never officially joined. He was also involved in the struggle against French colonialism, particularly in Algeria. Sartre's political commitments are evident in his many essays and public interventions on matters of social justice, anti-colonialism, and human rights.

Legacy

Jean-Paul Sartre's influence extends beyond philosophy and literature. His ideas have had a profound impact on the development of existential thought, critical theory, and post-modern philosophy. Despite his refusal of the Nobel Prize, his works continue to be celebrated and studied for their contributions to philosophy, literature, and political thought.