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This book is one of a series of Socratic explorations of some of the Great Books. The books in this series are intended to be short, clear, and non-technical, thus fully understandable by beginners. Through such Socratic dialogues, Peter Kreeft introduces (or reviews) the basic questions in the fundamental divisions of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, anthropology, ethics, logic, and method.

In Socrates Meets Sartre, Kreeft takes the reader through the world of existentialist philosophy, posing questions that challenge the concepts that Sartre proposed. Based on an imaginary dialogue between Socrates and Sartre that takes place in the afterlife, this profound and witty book makes an entertaining and informative exploration of modern philosophy.

"Peter Kreeft’s work is: (1) unfailingly brilliant, (2) intellectually agile, (3) astonishingly perspicacious, (4) gloriously orthodox, (5) Chestertonianly aphoristic."

— Thomas Howard

Author, On Being Catholic

Other titles in this Series* Philosophy 101 by Socrates Socrates Meets Marx Socrates Meets Machiavelli ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Wild Emphasis on Responsibility Betrays a Fear of Gratitude
Too many harsh reviews on here in my opinion: I have read them all, and this is my second favorite in the "Socrates Meets" series, second only to Socrates Meets Hume, which is stellar.

We find Socrates here psychologizing almost as much as we find him philosophizing, leading Sartre to more than once or twice label him 'Dr. Fraud.' It is all in good fun and entirely within the existentialist tradition of melding psychology and philosophy.There is simply no other way to analyze a philosopher who takes a conclusion for a premise, and then claims that nearly all pre-modern philosophers are simply avoidant and fearful of his manly premise.

E.g. Sartre's stubborn emphasis on responsibility is seriously undercut here, when Kreeft has his Socrates suggest that what Sartre really suffers from, is a fear of gratitude.Especially divine gratitude.This makes a lot of sense, and makes me want to read Gabriel Marcel, who pointed this out apparently. It makes a lot of sense for a philosopher to say that everyone is irresponsible if they accept any higher ontological grounding for morals or existence outside themselves, if that philosopher is wildly concerned with avoiding gratitude. Otherwise, there is no way of understanding the emphasis on the premise, other than the fact that it is more "manly" or "tough-minded." Just because a notion is more dark or depressing does not make it more true. The fact that I fear that cockroaches will rain out of the sky does not make it likely.Nor are cockroaches more reliable because they do not engage in wishful thinking... the proposition "there is a tunnel beneath this prison" may be true or not, but the fact that it is wishful, or relies on outside sources for hope and truth, does not make it less likely to be true.Those prisoners that doubt it's truth, because of its wishful quality, may themselves be psycho-analyzed as fearful of disappointment in the event that it turns out to be untrue. Their fear drives their disbelief, instead of facts, and reason, driving it.

Christopher Hitchens says that the doctrine of the atonement is immoral. This reflects a lot of Sartre's thought.But receiving a gift from another person, whether from a friend or as a grace from God, does not lessen responsibility but increases it.It is precisely by allowing oneself to receive such gifts that one entwines oneself in increasing responsibility (debt) to others. Sartre himself sees this, but in a twisted way: "by giving to others I destroy by appropriating."The whole point of the Brother's Karamazov, as Kreeft points out, is that by sharing responsibility collectively, (whether that of original sin, or that of redemption) we increase our individual responsibility exponentially.Thus Dostoevsky not only pre-figured Sartre, but surpassed him.

The logical conclusions of atheism are absurd
Great introduction to the philosophy of existentialism. Kreeft argues via Sartre and Socrates that an acceptance of atheism leads logically to many conclusions that almost everyone will find reprehensible, and hence existentialism serves as a proof by contradiction for the existence of God.

Only for Kreeft fans
First, this work is not meant to explore or to refute existentialism as a whole. Nor is it meant to critique Sartre's philosophy as a whole. Rather, it is simply a Christian introduction to one of Sartre's essays, namely, 'Existentialism and Human Emotion' under the guide of a Socratic dialogue.

Second, this is not one of Kreeft's best works. If you are familiar with Kreeft's other Socratic dialogues you will be disapointed with this one. The Socratic wit, logic, and refutations of non-Christian thought are simply not here. In this dialogue, Socrates is portrayed as being rather subdued, not willing to engage in the socratic method as much, allowing Sartre to dig his own grave, as it were.

Third, the point of the book seems to be that Sartre's atheism, along with his conclusion that life is meaningless, is entirely consistent. If God does not exist, then life is meaningless. God does not exist, so life is meaningless. Not even Socrates can find a 'chink' in Sartre's armour. However, since most people will find Sartre's conclusion (that life is meaningless, or that life is hell) odious and unacceptable, they will be forced to conclude that God must exist. So: if God does not exist then everything is morally permissible. But obviously not everything is morally permissible. Therefore God exists. And so Socrates wonders whether Sartre is really a Christian prophet in disguise meant to scare atheists into the arms of their local priest.

I am not an expert in existentialist philosophy, let alone Sartre's philosophy, so I cannot judge whether or not Kreeft has accurately represented his views, or whether this book serves as a good introduction to the topic. I suspect that people looking to understand Sartre will want to turn elsewhere. People wanting an introduction to Kreeft will also want to turn elsewhere. And fans of Kreeft will only want this book for completeness' sake,

Good philosophy, bad rhetoric
Sartre is an interesting fellow in that while his philosophy as a philosophy is coherent and consistent, he himself is thoroughly inconsistent.Kreeft does an amazing job, praising Sartre at the proper points while pointing out his inconsistencies.This book is based off of Sartre's book "Existentialism and Human Emotions."

One glaring inconsistency of Sartre's (which Sartre probably didn't miss) is that he says that an atheist existentialist is deeply disturbed at there being no God, yet later on he says that God's existence is irrelevant.The latter comment came at the end of his speech "Existentialism and Human Emotions" and (I think) it was probably more of a rhetorical device.

Not only does Kreeft expose these flaws, but he makes a point at how frightening such a philosophy would be if true.But this leads me to my criticisms and the reason why I gave the book only 3 stars:

-too often he resorts to personal and needless attacks on Sartre.
-he is unfair to Sartre in the section regarding collective responsibility and war
-there are a few typos that can create significant confusion (this is probably due to an inadequate copy editor)
-And finally, Socrates often appeals "ad populum" and seems to value happiness over truth.By that I mean that it seems as if Socrates would rather believe a false philosophy of objectivity even if it means believing a falsehood.This is not the Socrates of Plato, or for that matter, of Kreeft's other books.It doesn't even seem like the Kreeft of the classroom who advocates being "tough-minded," that is, believing the truth even if it makes us absolutely miserable.

I enjoyed the book, but I felt too much of it was unnecessary and irrelevant to the discussion of Sartre's work to give it more than 3 stars.

As for the comment in another review about "Existentialism and Human Emotions" being a work Sartre rejected, Sartre did his best to live the philosophy presented in that book.He said too many things to take them all seriously.

Not Kreeft's Best
Sartre is the father of existentialism. Sartre's ideas follow from his atheism. He admits that if there is no god than there is no law giver and no absolute law. People are, therefor, free to choose their own values and people are the results of the choices they make. He does not prove that god does not exist but chooses to believe that there is no god.
However, unlike Plato's Socrates's which relies on almost entirely on logic Kreeft's Socrates often relies on popular opinion and personal attacks. ... Read more

Product Description
A personal book that presents its mode of argument as a"memo from author to friend!" Much has happened in the modern world sincethis book was first published, but Existentialism still survives and flourishesas a viable philosophy of life and education. Its message is still as fresh andstraightforward and commanding as it was in the past: (1) The American ethichas always been grounded in self-determination and self-affirmation. This bookshows how this ethic can be advanced to its next level of application toAmerican life. (2) The American school has for decades turned its face to thesubject-matter curriculum and the problem-solving method, relieving thestudent of decision making. This book shows how to bring students to theforefront of learning, enjoining them to take charge of their own growth anddevelopment. (3) American life is saturated with blaming others for ourtroubles. This book shows the way back to a world of radical freedom, but eachperson taking personal responsibility for how he or she lives a human life.Schooling, and Educational Policies (ISBN 0881335231). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

not great
the book does a good job of outlining what existentialism is a as a philosophy, however, i do not think that it is able to connect the ideas to education in a meaningful way.i think that this topic has a lot of room for growth and imo should be the foundation of education.for people interested in the topic, you can just read any books about existentialism to understand it, and should look into books about different types of alternative education-which is where you'd be most likely to find similar ideas that are actually being put to practice.

A marvelous help in creating a teaching philosophy
This short book is a lucid explanation of what existentialism is and howExistentialism As A Philosophy has four chapters clearly explaining thechapters showing what learning would be like for students who had a teacherusing an existentialist educational philosophy. Any teacher-probably grades5 through college-either using or planning to use a participatoryclassroom, will find reading this book a useful, exhilarating experience. Iknow I did. I read it in fall 1969 and found that it helped shape my final19 years teaching during my 33-year career teaching high school AmericanStudies (American literature and American history). If I ever meet theauthor, I'll give him a huge hug and a sincere "Thank you!" ... Read more

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Existentialist Background: Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Jaspers, HeideggerThese essays explore the relationship to existentialism of some of Sartre's 19th-century predecessors and near-contemporaries. For example, Kierkegaard was never told that he was an existentialist, and Heidegger rejected the label. Nevertheless, they, along with the others discussed in this volume, are frequently identified as such. Some of the contributors clarify these issues through their disagreements with one another, while others analyze major affinities and differences between Sartre and other existentialists on such basic subjects as freedom, transcendence, and the connection between human beings and Being. ... Read more

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This is a collection of Davis' works that contains selections from his principle writings from 1977-2008.Included are his postmodern epics, Aspects of Actuality and Order and Chaos, as well as his essays that address contemporary philosophical issues, including Humanistic Salvation, Toward Human Perfection, The Purpose Paradox Unraveled and On the Possibility of Revelation.

Also included in this volume are other works by Davis, including Egress and The Fugues in their entirety, and a selection of his plays written for dancers and voice which includes; The Preludes to the Five Acts of Prometheus: One Now There Is and the complete plays, Dream Of The Last Romantic and Sabrina's Fantasy. A selection of his poems from the same period are also included. ... Read more

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William L. McBride Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University, is co-founder of the North American Sartre Society, and the first chairperson of its executive board. His most recent publications include Social and Political Philosophy and Sartre's Political Theory. He was recently named Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques by the French Government, and has served as Chairperson of the Committee on International Cooperation of the American Philosophical Association and as President of the Societe Americaine de Philosophie de Langue Francaise.

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This text provides an accessible, student-centred guide to both the set text "Existentialism and Humanism" and to the broader existentialist philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre. It is suitable for both A Level and HE philosophy students. The book features a biographical introduction setting Sartre in his historical context; a section by section guide to "Existentialism and Humanism" including key quotes; tasks and activities to help you understand and evaluate Sartre's philosophy; and a critical analysis of the philosophical implications of Sartre's ideas. It also offers summaries of key points needed for exam questions about Sartre and existentialism plus an extensive glossary of key words and ideas This title is part of the Philosophy in focus series which provides clear and focused coverage of AS and A2 Philosophy ... Read more

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What is the relationship between the phenomena of being asleep and being awake and Heidegger's formulation of the question of the meaning of Being as presented in Sein und Zeit? Careful and meticulous thought and research must precede even an initial answer to such a question. Two major difficulties stand in the way of anyone who wishes to become involved in such a query. First, the paucity and neglect of both information and research on the phenomena of being asleep and being awake, in general, leaves one bereft of an initial direction(s) to follow, let alone to compare another method of investigation with Heidegger's own. Second, internal to Heidegger's own work, there is little reference to the phenomena of being asleep and being awake. Indeed, as will be found, there is direct evidence that shows that a phenomenology of being asleep (and thus indirect evidence of a phenomenology of being awake) has never been done. Consequently, although these two major difficulties present themselves, there must also be a recognition of the rich potential analysis of the phenomena of being asleep and being awake as well as the undoubted acknowledgement of the originality of such research.If our present thesis is seen in this light, we must understand such a thesis is but a prolegomenon to future work. A detailed study must be instigated that will enable us to lay a firm basis from which other Heideggerian texts will be analysed. Such an approach will hopefully also open investigations into other disciplines of thought. More specifically, the present thesis, in attempting to lay such a foundation, not only will endeavour to define the relationship between asleep and being awake with Heidegger's thought, but also will begin to bring to light major questions with which to confront Heidegger by way of asking whether Heidegger has defined those basic phenomena which go into the making of Dasein's structural wholeness and overall unity. This will allow us, in future work, to discern if Heidegger had indeed been able to ask the question of the meaning of Being to the degree that he deemed possible. "A fundamental reawakening of thinking to a surprisingly under-investigated area within phenomenology, the nature of sleep and wakefulness." ... Read more

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Existentialist Literature and Aesthetics
Most of Sartre's extensive works of and about literature-his fiction, his drama, his never-produced film script on Freud, and his extensive biographical studies of Genet and Flaubert-as well as theoretical questions about these genres and their relationship to philosophy, are here subjected to critical scrutiny by leading experts from both literature and philosophy. The essays illuminate Sartrean existentialism's contribution to bridging the gap between the two disciplines as well as that between existentialism and other recent approaches to literary criticism. ... Read more

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Sartre's French Contemporaries and Enduring Influences
This final volume examines Sartre's best-known philosophical contemporaries in France-Albert Camus, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Simone de Beauvoir-in terms of both their own philosophical insights and their relationship to Sartre's thought.The articles also offer some suggestive connections between Sartre's thought and subsequent developments in European philosophy, notably structuralism, poststructuralism, and postmodernism. The comparatively recent nature of much of this scholarship is solid testimony to the enduring influence of Sartrean existentialism. ... Read more

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Existentialist Ontology and Human Consciousness
The majority of the distinguished scholarly articles in this volume focus on Sartre's early philosophical work, which dealt first with imagination and the emotions, then with the critique of Husserl's notion of a transcendental ego, and finally with systematic ontology presented in his best-known book, Being and Nothingness. In addition, since his preoccupation with ontological questions and especially with the meanings of ego, self, and consciousness endured throughout his career, other essays discuss these themes in light of later developments both in Sartre's own thought and in the phenomenological, hermeneutic, and analytic traditions. ... Read more

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This concise text presents the core of existentialism as a systematic analysis of the essential structure of individual existence. The work is designed to be a basic introduction to the field. ... Read more

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The Development and Meaning of Twentieth-Century Existentialism
This volume recaptures, through the writings of figures already well-known in the mid-1940s, the coming-to-consciousness of the existentialist movement, along with early disagreements concerning its significance.The articles present various critics' shifting views of that significance and the movement's standing over subsequent decades.Despite the centrality of Sartre's thought to existentialism, these selections offer interestingly diverse perceptions of his place within the existentialist pantheon, along with varied interpretations of both the historical origins and the future importance of existential philosophy. ... Read more

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Captures the full range of existentialismFor the quarter-century following World War II, existentialism was a pervasive current of thought worldwide, not only in philosophy, but also in literature and in much of psychological and social theory. Jean-Paul Sartre was the towering, controversial figure who gave impetus to the movement and with whom existentialism was identified. Sartre's philosophy, which evolved considerably over more than three decades, continues to generate attention today.

Scholarship on all of Sartre's writingsThe collection begins with contemporary articles that recapture the atmosphere in which the idea of existentialism crystallized.It presents important comparative and background studies that establish connections between Sartre and existentialist writers who preceded him, and offers some of the best scholarship on his writings, including posthumous publications.The articles also connect Sartre's philosophy with the work of his best-known French contemporaries and associates, notably Camus, de Beauvoir, and Merleau-Ponty, and with major post-existentialist intellectual currents.

Interdisciplinary and balanced coverageWhile presenting Sartre as a philosopher, as he saw himself, this interdisciplinary collection of articles includes both comprehensive overviews of his philosophy and in-depth analyses of it, some highly sympathetic and some highly critical.Because of its interdisciplinary character and its chronological range over more than half a century, this series is an exceptionally valuable resource for scholars in the humanities and social sciences.

A multidisciplinary resourceThis collection of outstanding articles brings multiple perspectives to bear on existentialism and draws on a wider range of periodicals than even the largest library usually holds.Even if all the articles were available on campus, chances are that a student would have to track them down in several libraries and microfilm collections. Providing, of course, that no journals were reserved for graduate students, out for binding, or simply missing.This convenient set saves students substantial time and effort by making available all the key articles in one reliable source.

Comprehensive-contemporary to classicNot only does the collection offer the best of contemporary articles, but it also includes important classics and seminal pieces.Thus a student can view in one place the historical evolution and advances in existentialist thought, as well as be informed about the latest developments.

Authoritative introductionsA distinguished authority in the field, the series editor has put together a balanced and well thought-out selection of the most significant works, accompanied by expert commentary. A general introduction gives important background information and outlines fundamental issues, current scholarship, and scholarly controversies.Introductions to individual volumes put the articles in context and draw attention to germinal ideas and major shifts in the field.After reading the material, even a beginning student will have an excellent grasp of the basics of the subject.

Durable and permanentUnlike journals, which cannot withstand the rigors of constant use, the hardbound books in this series have sturdy library-style bindings and are printed on acid-free paper that has a guaranteed shelf life of 300 years.Consequently, the set will still be in excellent condition when the original periodicals are long gone.

An affordable research resourceEven if a library has all of the journals represented in the series, this inexpensive core collection of articles in permanent form saves wear and tear on the fragile journals themselves.The series puts into the hands of undergraduates a selection of the best writings on existentialism that is convenient, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and ideal as a starting point for research.The many articles introduce students in a user-friendly way to a range of important opinions and intellectual discourse that is likely to whet their appetite for pursuing the subject further on their own. Individual volumes available:

Vol. 1: The Development and Meaning of Twentieth-Century Existentialism 400 pages, 0-8153-2491-X

Vol. 2: Existentialist Bvackground: Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Jaspers, Heidegger

Vol. 3: Sartre's Life, Times, and Vision Du Monde392 pages, 0-8153-2493-6

Vol. 4: Existentialist Ontology and Human Consciousness392 pages 0-8153-2492-4

Vol. 5: Existenitalist Ethics400 pages, 0-8153-2495-2

Vol. 6: Existentialist Politics and Political Theory376 pages, 0-8153-2496-0

Vol. 7: Existentialist Literature and Aesthetics376 pages, 0-8153-2497-9

Vol. 8: Sartre's French Contemporaries and Enduring Influences392 pages, 0-8153-2498-7 ... Read more

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Hannah Arendt and the Challenge of Modernity explores the theme of human rights in the work of Hannah Arendt. Parekh argues that Arendt's contribution to this debate has been largely ignored because she does not speak in the same terms as contemporary theoreticians of human rights. Beginning by examining Arendt’s critique of human rights, and the concept of a right to have rights with which she contrasts the traditional understanding of human rights, Parekh goes on to analyze some of the tensions and paradoxes within the modern conception of human rights that Arendt brings to light, arguing that Arendt’s perspective must be understood as phenomenological and grounded in a notion of intersubjectivity that she develops in her readings of Kant and Socrates.

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Collected here for the first time, this series of lectures delivered by Lonergan at Boston College in 1957 illustrates a pivotal time in Lonergan's intellectual history, marking both the transition from the faculty psychology still present in his work Insight to intentionality analysis and his initial differentiation of the existential level of consciousness.

The lectures on logic deal with the general character of mathematical logic and its relation to truth, Scholasticism, and Aristotelian logic. Continuing Lonergan's long-standing interest in the foundations of thought, the lectures on existentialism offer a penetrating account of Husserl and his influence. They also deal with Jaspers, Heidegger, Sartre, and Marcel. They offer reflections on such topics as being oneself, dread, horizon, and the existential gap. Perhaps more dramatically than in any other work these papers reveal Lonergan's dual commitment to the rigor of scientific analysis (in the field of mathematical logic) and to the sensitivity of continental philosophies to existential issues.

Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a professor of theology, taught at Regis College, Harvard University, andBoston College. An established author known for his Insight and Method in Theology, Lonergan received numerous honorary doctorates, was a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971 and was named as an original members ofthe International Theological Commission by Pope Paul VI.

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5 X 7.5 X .75 inches, 160 pages ... Read more

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The definative commentary on Husserl's Ideas I. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very clear
This book is a very clear analysis of an extremely complex and not specially clearly written book: Husserl's Ideas I. This was my first approach to Husserl and I found Dan Zahavi's book Husserl's Phenomenology (Cultural Memory in the Present)to be essential reading to get the basics before tackling the Ideas I with Brainard's valuable commentary ... Read more