Sartre and Marxism

[Le People]

I don't know if this should be in Philosophy or theory, but I guess somebody will move it if it fits better in Philosophy. I am currently reading a Search for a Method by Jean-Paul Sartre, which is the introduction to his bigger work A Critque of Dialectical Reason. His ideas seem very vague, though through his lumberous text I've determined some key ideas. (1) A Man is thrown into a historical situation, and though he has the freedom to chose as he pleases, he only knows his historical situation. (2) Stalinism fails as a Marxist idea because of its ability to bend ie: Five Year Plans. (3) The individual, like Napoleoan, can not be seen as a historical neccesity, nor a product of chance, but the only choice for the situation. Is there any points I am missing? Is there anything anyone can tell me about it? What school of Marxism is most influenced by Sartre? Is he a Lenninst, or Anti-Lenninst?

[Post-Something]

I've heard him get called everything from Stalinist to Anarchist to be perfectly honest. I'm not too sure what he is, but I personally have a bit of trouble with his subjectivity and view of free will.

[gilhyle]

He was, in the end, closest to Maoism - Maoists organised his funeral. Yea you are missing a lot

[Reclaimed Dasein]

I would not recommend Sartre. His best ideas are a fusion of Heidegger and Hegel. I've not read A Critique of Dialectical Reason so I can't make any strong claims either way. However, I have read several other essays and Being and Nothingness along with Heidegger so I think I might have some insight into possible problems.

For Sartre, the situation and the falleness of man (both of these are modified Heideggerian concepts) are the core of any materialism. We don't magically appear out of nowhere and any notion of free will that thinks we do is wrong for Sartre. Also, it's important to know that the situation (material conditions for Marxists) restrain all action. Consciousness has an infinite ability to interpret its choices, past, and situation. This is the essence of its freedom. However, it does not have an infinite ability to make those choices concrete. I may have the freedom to decide soup or salad. I may have (mostly) the freedom to choose which way capitalism exploits me. But I don't have an infinite choice of freedom to be free of capitalism, travel back in time, or live forever. Any belief in those things constitues "bad faith." Yet, within a situation I may make choices projected towards a desired end. It's bad faith the believe I can be free of capitalism or that old trope "anyone can suceed in capitalism." However, I may choose to take actions to prevent and overthrow capitalism on a step by step basis.

For Sartre, I think the over all point is that we're only as free as our situation allows, but within that space we are free.

[lombas]

The philosophy of Camus is so much more vitalising. And I don't wish to deny Sartre's genious, but people like Kojève and Merleau-Ponty have a lot more "spirit". One can't help but notice Sartre's commerciality, that is, he liked to present himself.

[Le People]

I've finished Search for a Method, and I must say it is rather incoherent at times. I know the jest of his philosophy, and I can see how he does critique marxism, in that he wishes to humanize it. I agree with lombas that Camus is a superior philosopher, and his Rebel probably contributes more to the left than Sartre (though he has his place.)

[Bilan]

I haven't read any of Sartre's contributions to Marxism, except perhaps if you include the play Dirty hands (Which is brilliant, mind you), though, I've always been curious.

[Mersault]

He stole all his ideas from Simone de Beauvoir

[Le People]

He stole all his ideas from Simone de Beauvoir


That's a debateable statement. They probably stole each other's ideas.