Jean Paul Sartre

Easton Press Jean Paul Sartre books

Being and nothingness: an essay on Phenomenological Ontology - 1995

Franklin Library Jean Paul Sartre books

Five Plays - signed limited edition - 1978
The Wall and other stories - Collected Stories of the World's Greatest Writers - 1981

 

 

Jean-Paul Sartre biography

Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century, was born on June 21, 1905, in Paris, France. Raised by his widowed mother and grandfather, Sartre grew up in a bourgeois household marked by a sense of intellectual curiosity and a strong emphasis on education. From an early age, Sartre displayed a remarkable intellect and a passion for literature and philosophy. After excelling in his studies, he attended the prestigious École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he encountered fellow intellectuals such as Simone de Beauvoir, who would become his lifelong companion and intellectual collaborator.

Sartre's philosophical journey took a significant turn with the publication of his seminal work, Being and Nothingness, in 1943. In this groundbreaking treatise, Sartre introduced his philosophy of existentialism, which posited that existence precedes essence and that individuals are fundamentally responsible for creating meaning in their lives. This existentialist framework would become the cornerstone of Sartre's philosophical oeuvre and exert a profound influence on subsequent generations of thinkers. In addition to his philosophical pursuits, Sartre was also a prolific writer and playwright. His plays, including No Exit and The Flies, explore themes of freedom, identity, and the human condition, echoing the existentialist themes present in his philosophical works. Sartre's literary achievements earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964, although he controversially declined the award, citing his refusal to align himself with any institutionalized honor.

Throughout his life, Sartre remained deeply engaged with political and social issues, aligning himself with leftist causes and advocating for individual freedom and social justice. He was an outspoken critic of colonialism and imperialism, and his political activism often found expression in his writings, essays, and public speeches. Despite his immense intellectual stature, Sartre was not without his personal struggles. He grappled with periods of depression and existential angst, experiences that would inform his philosophical inquiries into the nature of human existence.

Jean-Paul Sartre passed away on April 15, 1980, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape contemporary discourse in philosophy, literature, and politics. His profound insights into the human condition, coupled with his unwavering commitment to individual freedom and authenticity, ensure that his ideas will endure as long as humanity grapples with the fundamental questions of existence.