Mihin uskovat eksistentialistit

What Do We Believe?

by Richard Appignanesi, Susanna Tuomi-Giddings (Translator)

Existentialism is not a unified doctrine or belief in any conventional sense. It breaks ranks with all previous philosophy, unsettles orthodox religion, and questions the supremacy of science. However, the question it poses is of fundamental importance to us all: What on earth am I to make of my existence?

In this lively and provocative new introduction to Existentialism, Richard Appignanesi challenges the reader to take part in a series of 'thought experiments' in order to illuminate what it means to approach the question of our being human existentially.

He looks at the history of an existential approach to the question of being, and traces it through the thought of major thinkers and writers such as SØren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Throughout, he emphasises our need to face in good faith the consequences of what one is being. He also looks at existentialism's encounters with Islam, Freud, feminism, race and the notion of progress.

Genres: Philosophy

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2006

About the author

Richard Appignanesi is a published adapter and an author of young adult books. Published credits of Richard Appignanesi include Manga Shakespeare: Julius Caesar (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Macbeth (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Manga Shakespeare), and Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Manga Shakespeare).

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who cares?

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is challenging material, presented in as concise terms as it can probably be without over-simplification resulting in a digestive time-scale of several weeks and a definite future re-read.