The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade [Paperback]

Timo Airaksinen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 041511229X | ISBN-13: 978-0415112291 | Publication Date: April 13, 1995 | Edition: 1

The Marquis de Sade is famous for his forbidden novels like Justine, Juliette, and the 120 Days of Sodom. Yet, despite Sade's immense influence on philosophy and literature, his work remains relatively unknown. His novels are too long, repetitive, and violent. At last in The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade, a distinguished philosopher provides a theoretical reading of Sade.
Airaksinen examines Sade's claim that in order to be happy and free we must do evil things. He discusses the motivations of the typical Sadean hero, who leads a life filled with perverted and extreme pleasures, such as stealing, murder, rape, and blasphemy. Secondary sources on Sade, such as Hobbes, Erasmusm, and Brillat-Savarin are analyzed, and modern studies are evaluated. The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade greatly enhances our understanding of Sade and his philosophy of pain and perversion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . a very intelligent reading of Sade, which succeeds both in conducting a rigorous philosophical enquiry and capturing the base `wickedness' of Sade's work. . .It makes no attempt to squeeze Sade into inappropriate philosophical categories, and the extent to which it allows Sade's work itself to guide the book is most refreshing.
–Sadie Plant, Author of The Most Radical Gesture

About the Author

Timo Airaksinen is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, Finland. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (April 13, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041511229X
• ISBN-13: 978-0415112291
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,728,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual and captivatingly argued study, March 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade (Paperback)

That a professor of philosophy should write a book on de Sade, an author decried by the prudish and dismissed as tedious and twisted by those who fail to engage themselves with his philosophical concerns, is without doubt a step forward for the arts. Airaksinen argues in particular detail concerning such matters as anti-ethics, the meaning of perversion, political implications and literary style, and in so doing makes de Sade's concepts accessible to those of us who have never been able to read an entire volume. The mixture of informal, Americanised English and highly technical philosophical terminology can wrong-foot the reader on occasions, but Airaksinen's own theories and the source material he has assembled make for a very valuable read. W.Hoban