Description
Book SynopsisThe Bloomsbury Companion to Existentialism is the definitive guide to this key area of modern European philosophy. Now available in paperback, the book covers the fundamental questions asked by existentialism, providing valuable guidance for students and researchers to some of the many important and enduring contributions of existentialist thinkers. Chapters from an international team of experts explore existentialism''s relationship to philosophical method; ontology; politics; psychoanalysis; ethics; religion; literature; emotion; feminism and sexuality; emotions; authenticity and the self; its significance in Latin American culture; and its contribution to the development of post-structuralism and cognitive science. In addition, five short chapters summarize the status of canonical figures Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre and de Beauvoir, delineating the historical approach to their work, while pointing to new directions contemporary research is now taking. Featuring
Trade ReviewAn exceptionally fruitful addition to the Continuum Companions, this volume on Existentialism gathers together an impressive range of scholars on a wide variety of research areas ranging through the philosophical, the psychoanalytic, the historical, the religious, and the literary to contemporary cognitive science and politics. Highly recommended for students and academics alike. -- Christina Howells, Professor of French, University of Oxford, UK
...this book is a clear achievement and stands out as a key reference and guide for all with an interest in existentialism as a whole or in individual existentialist thinkers. Its depth is encyclopaedic and impressive and its perspective is all at once retrospective, current and forward-looking. -- Sartre Studies International
This is a welcome addition to the set of philosophy "companion" books dominated by Oxford, Cambridge, and Wiley-Blackwell. Besides the main section by contemporary scholars on current research and issues in existentialism, the editors provide sections on new directions in existentialism and recent developments in scholarship on Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Also included are a glossary of terms; a chronology of key events in the history of existentialism; research resources including websites, institutions, journals and societies; and an annotated guide to further readings for each of the main existential philosophers. These features add scope and depth that set this book apart from others written for novices. Readers get a comprehensive introduction to existentialism. * CHOICE Magazine *
This volume is an important addition to research on existentialism and it provides a comprehensive overview of its history, its impact, and the likely areas for its continuing influence. It is a very useful collection for researchers in existentialism, as well as for undergraduate students. -- Simon Lumsden, University of New South Wales, Australia * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *
The spirit of this Companion is that of advocate, teacher and muse, to those drawn to existentialism but unable to fully formulate the continuing relevance and importance of this school of thought. Pierre Hadot's
What is Ancient Philosophy? strove to make ancient philosophy a wise and fruitful field around which to build a career and life; so, too, this Companion makes the case for the wisdom of existentialism. -- Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
Table of ContentsContributors 1. Introduction
Felicity Joseph, Jack Reynolds and Ashley Woodward (University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy, Australia) 2. Existentialism, Phenomenology and Philosophical Method
Felicity Joseph and Jack Reynolds (University of Melbourne and La Trobe University, Australia) Part I: Current Research and Issues 3. Existentialism, Metaphysics and Ontology
Christian Onof (Birkbeck College, University of London, UK) 4. Existentialism and Politics
David Sherman (University of Montana, USA) 5. Existentialism, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
Douglas Kirsner (Deakin University, Australia) 6. Existentialism and Ethics
Debra Bergoffen (George Mason University, USA) 7. Existentialism and Religion
George Pattison (University of Oxford, UK) 8. Existentialism and Literature
Colin Davis (Royal Holloway College, University of London, UK) 9. Existentialism, Feminism and Sexuality
Marguerite La Caze (University of Queensland, Australia) 10. Existentialism and the Emotions
Suzanne L. Cataldi (Southern Illinois University, USA) 11. Existentialism, Authenticity and the Self
Christopher Macann 12. Existentialism and Latin America
Roberto Domingo Toledo (Stony Brook University, USA) Part II: New Directions 13. Existentialism and Cognitive Science
Michael Wheeler and Ezequiel Di Paolo (University of Stirling, UK and University of the Basque Country, Spain) 14. Existentialism and Poststructuralism: Some Unfashionable Observations
Jack Reynolds and Ashley Woodward (La Trobe University and Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy, Australia) 15. Recent Developments in Scholarship on Key Existentialists I. Kierkegaard
William McDonald (University of New England, USA) II. Nietzsche
Keith Ansell-Pearson (University of Warwick, UK) III. Heidegger
Andrew J. Mitchell (Emory University, USA) IV. Sartre
Peter Gratton (University of San Diego, USA) V. De Beauvoir
Laura Hengehold (Case Western Reserve University, USA) Part III: Resources 16. A–Z Glossary 17. A Chronology of Key Events, Texts and Thinkers 18. Research Resources in Existentialism 19. Annotated Guide to Further Reading Index
