What do you think?
Sex and Philosophy: Rethinking de Beauvoir and Sartre
From the author's
As the Sartre-Beauvoir story developed and became part of contemporary mythology, it was increasingly filtered through two presumptions regarding the nature of the partnership. One concerned sex, the other philosophy. The classic view of Beauvoir, encouraged by her own writing and by Sartre's acquiescence, has been one of Sartre as womanizer and Beauvoir as the patient, loyal female victim. The legend also consistently portrayed Beauvoir as the midwife of Sartre's philosophy rather than a thinker in her own right, encouraging the view that her philosophical writings were mere echoes of the thoughts of her man. But over the past 25 years big chunks of documentary evidence have become public which show that both of these traditional interpretations of the Sartre-Beauvoir story are profoundly false. It is now clear, as this book explains, that it was Beauvoir's demand for sexual freedom that dictated the open terms of their relationship and that it fell to Sartre at least as often as to Beauvoir to perform the role of midwife for the other's philosophy.
Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were two of the most brilliant, influential, and scandalous intellectuals of the 20th century. They are remembered as much for the lives they led as for their influence on the way we think. Their committed but notoriously open union created huge controversy in their lifetime. And even before their deaths they had become one of history's legendary couples, renowned for the passion, daring, humor and intellectual intensity of their relationship.
This fascinating book presents a biography of Sartre and de Beauvoir's relationship and offers some highly original theories relating to the extent of de Beauvoir's contribution to their shared ideas. Through a thorough examination of Sartre and de Beauvoir's major works, the authors present a compelling story of their romantic and intellectual relationships.
As the Sartre-Beauvoir story developed and became part of contemporary mythology, it was increasingly filtered through two presumptions regarding the nature of the partnership. One concerned sex, the other philosophy. The classic view of Beauvoir, encouraged by her own writing and by Sartre's acquiescence, has been one of Sartre as womanizer and Beauvoir as the patient, loyal female victim. The legend also consistently portrayed Beauvoir as the midwife of Sartre's philosophy rather than a thinker in her own right, encouraging the view that her philosophical writings were mere echoes of the thoughts of her man. But over the past 25 years big chunks of documentary evidence have become public which show that both of these traditional interpretations of the Sartre-Beauvoir story are profoundly false. It is now clear, as this book explains, that it was Beauvoir's demand for sexual freedom that dictated the open terms of their relationship and that it fell to Sartre at least as often as to Beauvoir to perform the role of midwife for the other's philosophy.
Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were two of the most brilliant, influential, and scandalous intellectuals of the 20th century. They are remembered as much for the lives they led as for their influence on the way we think. Their committed but notoriously open union created huge controversy in their lifetime. And even before their deaths they had become one of history's legendary couples, renowned for the passion, daring, humor and intellectual intensity of their relationship.
This fascinating book presents a biography of Sartre and de Beauvoir's relationship and offers some highly original theories relating to the extent of de Beauvoir's contribution to their shared ideas. Through a thorough examination of Sartre and de Beauvoir's major works, the authors present a compelling story of their romantic and intellectual relationships.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 20, 2025
it was a little bit hard for me personally to finish it but it was very educational!
June 24, 2012
Maybe I misunderstood the first few chapters or perhaps I had such a romanticized view of Sartre and Beauvoir but this book was disappointing. Not in the literary sense (although I've read books that were a bit clearer in their writing) but both Beauvoir and Sartre seem like two unstable, self-indulgent, privileged brats.
More obsessed with achieving fame and philosophical recognition, Sartre seemed like...well...a jerk. Isn't the point of creating an original idea or developing a theory more the theory in itself rather than the fame and acclaim that usually follows? Sarte seemed desperate to prove himself (almost to the point of neurotic self-denial) and Beauvoir seemed more obsessed with creating her own melodrama than developing a theory and establishing herself as an innovative thinker and distinguished novelist.
In the beginning of this book, Beauvoir just seems intellectually lazy (but inherently gifted with the talent for philosophical insight) and even, in a way, ambivalent, about her goals as novelist and philosopher.
So, basically, this books attempts to dispel much of what is believed in the "Sartre-Beauvoir Legend", namely that:
The innovative ideas originated from Sartre.
Beauvoir was his "sidekick" who basically had to deal with Sartre's promiscuity and also just repeated his ideas.
Focusing on Sartre's "War Diaries" and "Being and Nothingness" and Beauvoir's "She Came to Stay", this book claims that Sartre more or less stole ideas from Beauvoir (partly because he was seeking revenge because she violated the "essential relationship" clause and out of desperation for notoriety) and Beauvoir...just kind of let it all happen. She even went to great pains to make it seem that it originated from Sartre and to avoid being named a "philosopher"(hiding letters, lying to her biographer, lying in interviews, changing publication dates, etc)
The Fullbrooks give their reasons as to why Beauvoir would let this happen---women were not allowed to be "creators" and she was not interested in fame...but why then all this big "feminist" talk? Was Beauvoir only seeking sexual equality, then? If she didn't want fame, why publish books---why even write a biography?
Incriminating evidence seems to support the Fullbrooks' claim that, in fact, Beauvoir was the master mind behind the brilliant French branch of Existentialism. But what was the point of all the lying, then?
Sigh. You win again, Beauvoir. Darn you.
More obsessed with achieving fame and philosophical recognition, Sartre seemed like...well...a jerk. Isn't the point of creating an original idea or developing a theory more the theory in itself rather than the fame and acclaim that usually follows? Sarte seemed desperate to prove himself (almost to the point of neurotic self-denial) and Beauvoir seemed more obsessed with creating her own melodrama than developing a theory and establishing herself as an innovative thinker and distinguished novelist.
In the beginning of this book, Beauvoir just seems intellectually lazy (but inherently gifted with the talent for philosophical insight) and even, in a way, ambivalent, about her goals as novelist and philosopher.
So, basically, this books attempts to dispel much of what is believed in the "Sartre-Beauvoir Legend", namely that:
The innovative ideas originated from Sartre.
Beauvoir was his "sidekick" who basically had to deal with Sartre's promiscuity and also just repeated his ideas.
Focusing on Sartre's "War Diaries" and "Being and Nothingness" and Beauvoir's "She Came to Stay", this book claims that Sartre more or less stole ideas from Beauvoir (partly because he was seeking revenge because she violated the "essential relationship" clause and out of desperation for notoriety) and Beauvoir...just kind of let it all happen. She even went to great pains to make it seem that it originated from Sartre and to avoid being named a "philosopher"(hiding letters, lying to her biographer, lying in interviews, changing publication dates, etc)
The Fullbrooks give their reasons as to why Beauvoir would let this happen---women were not allowed to be "creators" and she was not interested in fame...but why then all this big "feminist" talk? Was Beauvoir only seeking sexual equality, then? If she didn't want fame, why publish books---why even write a biography?
Incriminating evidence seems to support the Fullbrooks' claim that, in fact, Beauvoir was the master mind behind the brilliant French branch of Existentialism. But what was the point of all the lying, then?
Sigh. You win again, Beauvoir. Darn you.
September 1, 2008
This is about as accessible as a book on existentialism and Continental philosophy can be, without being trite or overly simplistic. It is equally a useful introduction to philosophy as whole for those not engaged in it as an academic discpline.
It escapes being a closely argued tract typical of philosophy books due to the clever way the authors have themselves taken on board the Beauvoir methodology they examine in the book - that of using literary form (as distinct from the philosophical essay) as a means of explicating existential philosophy. Specifically, by interrogating the narrative of the Beauvoir's life - especially her relationship with Sartre - and her output, they weave a compelling story about an important branch of philosophy that is not well addressed in the philosophy departments in the English-speaking world, where Analytical Philosophy holds sway.
With the narrative approach to the Sartre-Beauvoir life-long 'open' relationship as its starting point, the authors (husband and wife British academics, althoug the wife sadly died five years before the book's publication) succeed in holding the attention of a general reader who is neither particularly academic or well-versed in philosophy and its particular style of writing. Nevertheless, as the chapters progress, some very lucid and well structured tracts of philosophical argument unfold, backed up by excellent annotation and references.
The book gives an overview of the various schools that divide the discpline of philosophy, a taxonomy of Continental and Analytical Philosophy and a useful reading list. It can even be taken by philosophy students as a good primer on how to write a good essay! Each chapters starts with a description of what the writers set out to do, followed by a rundown of the arguments that will be deployed in the ensuing pages, and conclude with reference to the objectives identified at the start.
Neither will feminists be disappointed. Although the book wears Beauvoir's position as feminist icon lightly, the issue of her stature as a 'real' philosopher is, almost inevitably, bound up in the fact that she is a woman - but in ways that is far from 'feminist' alone.
This is definitely a good read.
It escapes being a closely argued tract typical of philosophy books due to the clever way the authors have themselves taken on board the Beauvoir methodology they examine in the book - that of using literary form (as distinct from the philosophical essay) as a means of explicating existential philosophy. Specifically, by interrogating the narrative of the Beauvoir's life - especially her relationship with Sartre - and her output, they weave a compelling story about an important branch of philosophy that is not well addressed in the philosophy departments in the English-speaking world, where Analytical Philosophy holds sway.
With the narrative approach to the Sartre-Beauvoir life-long 'open' relationship as its starting point, the authors (husband and wife British academics, althoug the wife sadly died five years before the book's publication) succeed in holding the attention of a general reader who is neither particularly academic or well-versed in philosophy and its particular style of writing. Nevertheless, as the chapters progress, some very lucid and well structured tracts of philosophical argument unfold, backed up by excellent annotation and references.
The book gives an overview of the various schools that divide the discpline of philosophy, a taxonomy of Continental and Analytical Philosophy and a useful reading list. It can even be taken by philosophy students as a good primer on how to write a good essay! Each chapters starts with a description of what the writers set out to do, followed by a rundown of the arguments that will be deployed in the ensuing pages, and conclude with reference to the objectives identified at the start.
Neither will feminists be disappointed. Although the book wears Beauvoir's position as feminist icon lightly, the issue of her stature as a 'real' philosopher is, almost inevitably, bound up in the fact that she is a woman - but in ways that is far from 'feminist' alone.
This is definitely a good read.
February 27, 2010
I'm reading this alongside de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex". A well researched and readable love story so far.
May 28, 2010
Enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. Highly readable and so very interesting to take this kind of historiographic (in addition to biographic) approach to Beauvoir/Sartre.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews