Existentialism: A Reconstruction

First published in 1990, Existentialism is widely regarded as a classic introductory survey of the topic, and has helped to renew interest in existentialist philosophy. Utilizing recently published primary sources, David E. Cooper provides a sympathetic, original account of a mainstream movement of philosophical thought, reconstructed from the best writing of Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau–Ponty and others. Existentialism is viewed as the attempt to"overcome" various forms of alienation: from the world, one another and oneself. The early chapters describe the existential phenomenology, on the basis of which the dualisms of Cartesian metaphysics are "dissolved". Discussions of the self and others, and of "Angst" and absurdity, lead into chapters on existential freedom and the prospects for an existentialist ethics. Writers discussed include Husserl, Jaspers, Buber, Marcel, and Ortega. The author places existentialism within the great traditions of philosophy, and argues that it deserves as much attention from analytic philosophers as it has always received on the continent.

Preface to Second Edition. Part I: Preliminaries: . 1. The Sources of a Name. 2. Existentialists and ′The Existentialist′. 3. Some Misconceptions. Part II: Philosophy and Alienation: . 4. Battling against Bewitchment. 5. Hegel and Marx. 6. Existentialist and Alienation. Part III: From Phenomenology to Existentialism: . 7.′Pure′ Phenomenology. 8. The Existentialist Critique. Part IV: ′Being–in–the–World′: . 9. World. 10. Human Existence. Part V: Dualisms Dissolved: . 11. Subject versus Object. 12. Mind versus Body. 13. Reason versus Passion. 14. Fact versus Value. Part VI: Self and Others: . 15. Some False Starts. 16.′Being–with′ and ′Being–for′. Part VII: Modes of Self–estrangement: . 17. Public, Herd and the ′They′. 18. Bad Faith and ′the Predominance of the Other′. 19. A Problem. Part VIII: Angst, Death and Absurdity: . 20. Angst. 21. Death. 22. Absurdity. 23. Religious Intimations. Part IX: Existential Freedom: . 24. Freedom and Constraint. 25. Choice and Refusal. 26. Individuals and Tribes. Part X: Existentialism and Ethics: . 27. Existentialism versus Ethics?. 28. Commitment and Availability. 29. Reciprocal Freedom. Part XI: Appendix: . 30. Heidegger and Sartre: An ′Erroneous Conflation′?. Bibliography. Index.

David E. Cooper is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Durham. His many books include Epistemology: The Classic Readings (Blackwell 1999); Ethics: The Classic Readings (Blackwell 1997); A Companion to Aesthetics (Blackwell 1992); World Philosophies: An Historical Introduction (Blackwell 1995); Metaphor (1986); Heidegger (1996). He is currently editing the series Philosophy: The Classic Readings (Blackwell Publishers).

‘This revision and update of David Cooper’s clear and careful reconstructive introduction to existentialist philosophy can only strengthen the impression the original gave that questions raised by existential thinkers are those on which all the larger philosophical debates converge. With its supplements on religion, politics and art, and a closer look at the Heidegger–Sartre link, the book is now an even more formidable challenge to those who still doubt this philosophy’s credentials.’ – Alastair Hannay , University of Oslo ‘In this clear and superbly written book, David Cooper provides a thematic presentation of the central ideas of existentialism. He has produced an invaluable work for students and general readers who can appreciate a well–argued, straightforward account of existentialism that does not sacrifice the richness of the ideas that make the philosophy of existentialism so engaging.’ – James Risser , Seattle University