Jean-Paul Sartre's Anarchist Philosophy

Description

The influence of anarchists such as Proudhon and Bakunin is apparent in Jean-Paul Sartres' political writings, from his early works of the 1920s to Critique of Dialectical Reason, his largest political piece. Yet, scholarly debate overwhelmingly concludes that his political philosophy is a Marxist one. In this landmark study, William L. Remley sheds new light on the crucial role of anarchism in Sartre's writing, arguing that it fundamentally underpins the body of his political work. Sartre's political philosophy has been infrequently studied and neglected in recent years. Introducing newly translated material from his early oeuvre, as well as providing a fresh perspective on his colossal Critique of Dialectical Reason, this book is a timely re-invigoration of this topic. It is only in understanding Sartre's anarchism that one can appreciate the full meaning not only of the Critique, but of Sartre's entire political philosophy. This book sets forth an entirely new approach to Sartre's political philosophy by arguing that it espouses a far more radical anarchist position than has been previously attributed to it. In doing so, Jean-Paul Sartre's Anarchist Philosophy not only fills an important gap in Sartre scholarship but also initiates a much needed revision of twentieth century thought from an anarchist perspective. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 What is Anarchism? Chapter 1 Anarchism: Towards an Understanding Anarchism: An Overview Varieties of Anarchism Philosophical Anarchism Individualist Anarchism Social Anarchism Clark’s Four-Prong Approach Chapter 2 Anarchist Notions of Human Nature William Godwin Max Stirner The Foundation for Sartre’s Notion of Human Nature Part 2 The ‘Golden Age’: Nineteenth-Century Anarchism of Proudhon and Bakunin Introduction The Restoration The ‘July Monarchy’ The Second Republic The Second Empire and Napoleon III Chapter 3 Pierre-Joseph Proudhon: His Life and Political Philosophy Proudhon’s Early Life Proudhon’s Political Philosophy: Anarchy Human Nature Proudhon’s Historical Viewpoint Chapter 4 Proudhon’s Thoughts on Authority and his ‘Solution to the Social Problem’ Proudhon and Authority Proudhon’s Proposed Solution Chapter 5 Mikhail Bakunin and Revolutionary Anarchism The Development of Bakunin’s Political Philosophy Bakunin’s Early Philosophical Positions Bakunin’s Historical Materialism The State Part 3 Jean-Paul Sartre and Twentieth-Century Anarchism: 1914–1960 Introduction French Political and Social Life: 1945–1960 Chapter 6 The Early Development of Sartre’s Political Anarchism The Beginning of an Anarchist Political Philosophy The Dialectics of Nature Chapter 7 The Evolution of Sartre’s Anarchism after the Second World War Sartre’s Relationship with the PCF A More Refined Development of Sartre’s Political Philosophy Part 4 Sartre’s Political Manifesto: The Critique of Dialectical Reason Introduction Overview of the Critique Methodology The Dialectic Need The Third Scarcity (la rareté) Interest Chapter 8 From Collectives to Groups (and Back Again) Collectives Groups Chapter 9 The Institution: Sartre’s Concept of Sovereignty Back to the Practico-Inert Conflict within the Pledged Group The Purge (the second dialectical moment) The Inertia of Institutionalization (first transformation) The Rise of the Leader: Authority and Sovereignty (second transformation) Chapter 10 Institutionalized Soveriegnty: Societies and States Societies States From the Abstract to the Concrete: the Incarnation of Sovereign Praxis Incarnation of Incarnations as Totalization-of-Envelopment Sartre the Anarchist: A Conclusion Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Part Two: Introduction Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Part Three: Introduction Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Part Four: Introduction Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Primary Texts Secondary Material Notes Bibliography Index