Sartre: A Guide for the Perplexed

Continuum's "Guides for the Perplexed" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to fathom, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material. Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the most widely read and important of twentieth-century philosophers, an iconic figure, whose ideas and writings continue to resonate. As the major exponent of Existentialism he is the author of some of the seminal works in the canon of modern European philosophy, including Being and Nothingness. A confident understanding of Sartre is essential for students of Continental philosophy. "Sartre: A Guide for the Perplexed" is an illuminating and comprehensive introduction to the work of this major twentieth-century thinker. It identifies the four key themes that run through Sartre's writings - consciousness, freedom, bad faith and authenticity. It explores each theme in detail, building up a clear and thorough overview of Sartre's philosophy in its entirety. The book examines the core concepts that recur throughout Sartre's work, most notably 'being-in-itself' and 'being-for-itself'. It pays particularly close attention to the relationship between these two phenomena - a relationship that underpins Sartre's entire philosophy. Anyone required to read Sartre will find this thematic account of his work an invaluable companion to study.