. . . 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
Product Description
The Marquis de Sade's books have been censored in many countries. He is notorious for his forbidden novels like The 120 Days of Sodom and Justine, Juliette. The Marquis de Sade has long been considered the archetypal pornographer. The Philosophy of the Marquis de Sade challenges these traditional interpretations by reading de Sade and his books philosophically.
Airaksinen examines de Sade's claim that in order to be truly happy and free we must perform evil acts. The Sadeian hero leads a life filled with perverted and extreme pleasures such as rape, murder, stealing and blasphemy. This Sadeian hero creates impossible situations and contradictions which lead to the tearing apart of reality. Through this gap he or she can discharge and experience the ultimate pleasures of disappearing into a void. Thus, Airaksinen argues that Sade is a philosopher on a performative level of evil, pain and perversion.
Secondary sources on de Sade such as Hobbes, Erasmus and Brillat-Savarin are analyzed as are contemporary studies on de Sade's life and work. This book is of immense value to all those interested in de Sade and his work and who may not have been able to complete readings of his long, violent and repetitive texts.
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