Sartre's Barrel

Author's name: Ali Hussein

Thousands of young readers found in the writings of Sartre, Camus, Heidegger, Simone de Beauvoir, and Merleau-Ponty an echo of their discontent with society. They began to speak of boredom, anxiety, freedom, and commitment. Everyone was captivated by the image of Sartre with his pipe and dark jacket, Camus with his movie-star good looks, de Beauvoir with her distinctive turban, and Heidegger in peasant clothes. Existentialist ideas about freedom and rebellion became a significant part of popular culture. Luc Ferry asks: Why did philosophy, and especially existentialism, become a "fashion"? Why this fascination with it? And, more importantly, what do we want when we talk about philosophy? Is it enough to look at a picture of Sartre and follow his life and positions to make you an existentialist? In this book, I discuss my readings on existentialism from the time the Sophist philosopher Protagoras famously said, "Man is the measure of all things," up to the moment when Colin Wilson transitioned from outsiderism to neo-existentialism. It is the culmination of my passion for this philosophy, its most prominent figures, and its intellectual battles. Ultimately, it is a series of portraits through which I do not seek to convince you, as a reader, that existential philosophy is the most suitable for your life. You are responsible for your choices, and even your attempt to read this book is, in the view of Sartre and his companions, an existential act that reflects a decision you have made on your own. You are responsible for this choice.