Modern French Philosophy: From Existentialism to Postmodernism

From Dadaisk to May'68 and beyond, this indispensable companion provides not only an overview of one of the most intellectually fertile periods of European history, but also a substantial insight into the diverse minds behind modern French philosophy. From Dadaisk to May'68 and beyond, this indispensable companion provides not only an overview of one of the most intellectually fertile periods of European history, but also a substantial insight into the diverse minds behind modern French philosophy. In a carefully strutured and accessible manner, Robert Wicks presents concise accounts of individual philosophers both famous and less well-known, past and present, introducing their major works and explaining their impact on their peers and the wider world. Covering the movements which define the last 100 years of French thought, from Surrealism to Struturalism and the intricacies of Psotmodernism, this handbook features such key French thinkers as: Henri Bergson, Teilhard de Chardin, Saussure, Sartre, Camus, Cioran, Levi- Strauss, Lacan, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard, Irigaray, Deleuze, Baudrillard. Lucid, authoritative and detailed, this is an essential resource not only for students of philosophy , but also for all those interested in the fascinating intellectual landscape that characterises twentieth and twenty-first century France. This is a thorough and balanced guide to modern French philosophical thought, providing lucid, authoritative accounts of famous philosophers whilst also highlighting lesser-known figures. Author Robert Wicks introduces the major works of each philosopher, explaining their impact on their peers and on the wider world. Covering such major movements as Existentialism, Surrealism, Structuralism and Postmodernism, this handbook is a useful resource for Francophiles, students of philosophy and all those interested in the intellectual landscape of 20th- and 21st-century France. The book includes detailed coverage of such philosophers as Henri Bergson, Beauvoir, Sarte, Camus, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze and Levi-Strauss, among others.