There are lots of philosophers who have made a name for themselves within their academic field, with a few managing to also make an impact in the wider intellectual world. But there are only a handful who have, in their lifetime, reached beyond the university. People who’s work is not just discussed dryly in a lecture hall, but passionately in coffee shops, bars and work places. 

Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the few who can claim this hat trick. He was an incredibly prolific thinker who was equally at home writing philosophy, plays, novels or journalistic articles. He was an intellectual superstar who inspired a generation.

Two years after publishing his most famous work, Being and Nothingness, Sartre gave a lecture called ‘Existentialism is a humanism’ to an overflowing auditorium. This lecture offered a powerful and succinct description of his philosophical approach and remains one of the best starting points for approaching his work. 

In this pop up study, we’ll discuss this essay together. By the end of it, you should,

• Understand Sartre’s meaning of Existentialism

• What he means by being condemned to freedom

• What bad faith is

• What authenticity means for existentialists

• The meaning of both Humanism and Existential Humanism

Existentialism was one of the most important intellectual movements of the 20th century, and influenced so much of what came after it. By reading and discussing this essay together, you should come away with a much richer understanding of its main tenants, and a greater appreciation of its ongoing importance as a movement. 

All reading groups are open to people who are signed up to Blaze Level on Patreon (which also gives you access to hundreds of hours of other material.