Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre (Meridian) Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.16 You Save: $8.84 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.48 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre (Meridian)
Book Review: One of my favorite books
Summary: 5 Stars
Looking for a textbook? A scholarly exegesis of Being and Nothingness? The final answers to all of life's questions? Then you've come to the wrong place. Looking for a thought-provoking anthology of existentialist (and quasi-existentialist) authors, which flows effortlessly from one section to the next, and brings a smile (or a furrowed brow) to all who read it? Then I can think of no better book.The selections in this book were chosen for their readability, not their weight, so academic philosophers may find this book lacking. But were it not for books like this, which enchant the layman and force him (or her) to examine primary sources, would there be any philosophy majors?
From Camus' notion of a sustaining inward rebellion, to Sartre's brilliant reevaluation of ethics (prose in "Self-deception", poetry in "The Wall"), to the great battle over Christianity between Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, there is certainly something of vital importance to most people contained in these pages. As an individual's right is sovereign, I will not urge you to like this book, or even to read it - this, like all things, you must decide for yourself.
Book Review: This Book Has No Index
Summary: 4 Stars
I had to read portions of this book for a college course that was expected to cover the topic: literature and modern thought. This made it easy for me to pick Walter Kaufmann as a professor and editor who would be widely recognized as being a leader in this field. In turn, it may have been his feeling, at some point, that I was less philosophical than he was. If that was a game, like chess, I might easily concede, and stop playing a game which depended on such mastery of obscure possibilities. When I was in high school, I had to read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, who is also represented in this volume. More than I am interested in philosophy, I would like to understand Dostoevsky's comment on page 76 of this book: "Gentlemen, I am joking, and I know myself that my jokes are not brilliant, but you know one can't take everything as a joke. I am, perhaps, jesting against the grain." I had expected philosophy to be an attempted rationalization of existence, as my previous training in religious thought had emphasized acceptance of whatever is expected to be accepted above all else.I would expect this book to appeal mainly to those who have an interest in philosophy. The class that I was in didn't attempt to read or discuss those selections which the professor considered too difficult (we were not a group that was expected to argue, just understand), but this book seemed to be pointing us in a reasonable direction when we left it and took a better look at the philosophy of Camus, contained in a book which concluded with the chapter which also concludes this volume, "The Myth of Sisyphus." The final sentence there, "One must imagine Sisyphus happy," (p. 315) suggested that perhaps Sisyphus had discovered the best joke for describing what this field is all about. My vote would be for the idea on page 312, "To begin with, he is accused of a certain levity in regard to the gods. He stole their secrets."
Book Review: enjoyable excursion
Summary: 5 Stars
I really liked this superb collection of some of the finest existential writings, especially because Kaufmann focuses on those excerpts which highlight traditionally misunderstood concepts. Well worth having.Book Review: Good, but Surprisingly Misunderstood
Summary: 5 Stars
I've thoroughly enjoyed rereading Kaufmann's collection of existential readings. It was originally my first glimpse of the school of thought and it remains my favorite. But reading the other reviews posted here, I am shocked that they attack Kaufmann so singularly and, in my mind, myopically. They're missing the forest for the trees; this is a wonderful overview, an honest and enlightening taste of a variety of existential ideas and, perhaps more importantly, styles. I truly appreciate Kaufmann's insights, and if nothing else, the excerpts are still excellent in themselves.This is a good choice for anyone interested in an intelligent introduction to existentialism.
Book Review: Kaufmann lives up to his name
Summary: 1 Stars
The selections are excellent, but the book is ruined by Kaufmann's philistine misunderstanding of Sartre, Nietzsche, and (especially) Kierkegaard. On this last point, see previous reviewers for details on WK's ludicrous misunderstanding. Read the authors included, but they are all available in affordable English translations apart from this atrociously-edited anthology.