Welcome to Litsy!

This little book is the translation of a famous speech Sartre gave (Paris, 1946) to further expound on his philosophy. I think it‘s perfect for anyone wanting an explanation of existentialism. I do not agree with this philosophy primarily because I think it underestimates the importance of the situation a person is born into. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read.

Everyone knows “I think, therefore I am” but after a full read-through of Descartes‘s Meditations in philosophy class, I wanted to know more about his work and life. I am fascinated by his emphasis that we should doubt our sensory views of the world for they are only a semblance of what he believes is the “true form” of the universe: a mathematical one, invisible initially, but eventually graspable by the rational human mind.

The first line of Maurice Blanchot‘s The Writing of the Disaster reads, ‘The disaster ruins everything, all the while leaving everything intact.‘ Teju Cole writes about art in troubled times and he quotes this phrase. And, yes, that‘s it exactly. Incredibly astute commentary puts into text what I‘ve been feeling about the pandemic. https://www.artbasel.com/news/a-defense-of-art-in-troubled-times

What were you hoping when you removed the gags that stopped up these black mouths? That they would sing your praises? Did you think when the heads our fathers had ground into the dust had raised themselves up again you would see adoration in their eyes? Here are black men standing, men looking at us & I want you to feel as I do the shock of being seen. For the white man has, for 3 thousand years, enjoyed the privilege of seeing without being seen.

I'm not sure I know much more than I did before, but that may be my fault rather than the author's

#coffeeandabook

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I love the absolute responsibility Sartre demands of humankind. But I also can revel in the indulgences such freedoms allowed.