Critique of Dialectical Reason
Encyclopedia
Critique of Dialectical Reason, (French
: Critique de la raison dialectique) (1960), (Volume I: Theory of Practical Ensembles) was the last of Jean-Paul Sartre
's major philosophical works. It attempts to use Existentialism
as a foundational contribution to Marxism
as described in Search for a Method
, both of which were written as a common manuscript of some 755 pages with Sartre intending the Critique to logically precede Search. The second volume with an incomplete
treatment of the Stalinization of the Bolshevik
revolution was published in French in 1985 and in English in 1992.
Sartre is quoted as having said this was the principal of his two philosophical works for which he wished to be remembered.
and other historical occasions (including the notion that the endowment by European
s of certain metals with a "precious" value led inexorably to slavery
), Sartre attempted to show how what we call class
is a special instance of a human grouping, or rather several levels of human groupings (seriality
). He preceded this with complex explanations of groupings of increasing sophistication, ranging from a queue at a bus stop to institutions.
Excerpts from Sartre's work:
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Critique de la raison dialectique) (1960), (Volume I: Theory of Practical Ensembles) was the last of Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
's major philosophical works. It attempts to use Existentialism
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
as a foundational contribution to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
as described in Search for a Method
Search for a Method
Jean-Paul Sartre wrote the 1957 essay Search for a Method or The Problem of Method in an attempt to reconcile Marxism with existentialism...
, both of which were written as a common manuscript of some 755 pages with Sartre intending the Critique to logically precede Search. The second volume with an incomplete
De-Stalinization
De-Stalinization refers to the process of eliminating the cult of personality, Stalinist political system and the Gulag labour-camp system created by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Stalin was succeeded by a collective leadership after his death in March 1953...
treatment of the Stalinization of the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
revolution was published in French in 1985 and in English in 1992.
Sartre is quoted as having said this was the principal of his two philosophical works for which he wished to be remembered.
Precis
By using events of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and other historical occasions (including the notion that the endowment by European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s of certain metals with a "precious" value led inexorably to slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
), Sartre attempted to show how what we call class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
is a special instance of a human grouping, or rather several levels of human groupings (seriality
Seriality
A seriality is a social construct which differs from a mere group of individuals. Serialities take the form of labels which are either imposed onto persons or voluntarily adopted by them...
). He preceded this with complex explanations of groupings of increasing sophistication, ranging from a queue at a bus stop to institutions.
External links
- Andy Blunden discusses some terms Sartre uses in the CDR. The 2004 Verso edition contains a larger glossary.
Excerpts from Sartre's work: