The Existentialist Offensive
@rethinkexistent.bsky.social
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy: bit.ly/PBEPBwlPbk
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It is 80 years since Beauvoir and Sartre gave the word 'existentialism' a definition ...
... in a campaign of publications and events that Beauvoir later called 'the existentialist offensive'.
To celebrate, this feed will mark each key moment (including political events) for the next three months.
... in a campaign of publications and events that Beauvoir later called 'the existentialist offensive'.
To celebrate, this feed will mark each key moment (including political events) for the next three months.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
Joyeaux Noël !
December 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Joyeaux Noël !
Joyeaux Noël !
December 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Joyeaux Noël !
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
11 December 1945:
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
December 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
11 December 1945:
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
11 December 1945:
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
December 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
11 December 1945:
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
Beauvoir gave a lecture titled ‘Roman et métaphysique’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Beauvoir argued that novels can provide richer and more nuanced metaphysical visions of human reality than is possible using the skeletal abstractions of philosophical prose.
7 December 1945:
Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles, which had been first performed on 29 October, is published.
An English translation is available as The Useless Mouths.
Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles, which had been first performed on 29 October, is published.
An English translation is available as The Useless Mouths.
December 7, 2025 at 10:05 AM
7 December 1945:
Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles, which had been first performed on 29 October, is published.
An English translation is available as The Useless Mouths.
Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles, which had been first performed on 29 October, is published.
An English translation is available as The Useless Mouths.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
2 December 1945:
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 PM
2 December 1945:
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
2 December 1945:
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 PM
2 December 1945:
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
Sartre publishes the second novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté ––
Le Sursis is set during ‘the phoney war’ of September 1939 to March 1940, after the war was declared but before the fighting had begun.
An English translation is available from Penguin as The Reprieve.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
1 December 1945:
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
December 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
1 December 1945:
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
1 December 1945:
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
December 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
1 December 1945:
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
Les Temps Modernes issue 3 is published.
Beauvoir’s ‘L’existentialisme et la sagesse des nations’ – by far the best short introduction to existentialism ever published – is the lead article.
Sartre’s highly influential ‘Portrait de l’antisémite’ is in the same issue.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
#philsky
30-minute interview with me on Dublin City FM
about The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
::
30-minute interview with me on Dublin City FM
about The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
::
www.mixcloud.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
#philsky
30-minute interview with me on Dublin City FM
about The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
::
30-minute interview with me on Dublin City FM
about The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
::
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
15 November 1945:
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
November 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
15 November 1945:
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
15 November 1945:
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
November 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
15 November 1945:
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
An interview with Camus appears on the front page of Les Nouvelle’s Littéraires headlined:
‘NON, je ne suis pas existentialiste’, nous dit ALBERT CAMUS
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
✨✨
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by me
is published today in the UK!
(Australia and North America publication is next February.)
✨✨
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by me
is published today in the UK!
(Australia and North America publication is next February.)
✨✨
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
'Superb ... I can't imagine a better way of meeting the existentialists in all their variety' - Sarah Bakewell, author of At the Existentialist Café
‘We are thrown into the world at every moment, an...
www.penguin.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
✨✨
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by me
is published today in the UK!
(Australia and North America publication is next February.)
✨✨
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by me
is published today in the UK!
(Australia and North America publication is next February.)
✨✨
1 November 1945:
Issue 2 of Les Temps Modernes is published
Beauvoir’s essay ‘Idéalisme moral et réalisme politique’ addresses a theme of her novel La Sang des Autres and her play Les Bouches Inutiles
– the place of morality in political action and the foundational value of each person’s freedom
Issue 2 of Les Temps Modernes is published
Beauvoir’s essay ‘Idéalisme moral et réalisme politique’ addresses a theme of her novel La Sang des Autres and her play Les Bouches Inutiles
– the place of morality in political action and the foundational value of each person’s freedom
November 1, 2025 at 9:09 AM
1 November 1945:
Issue 2 of Les Temps Modernes is published
Beauvoir’s essay ‘Idéalisme moral et réalisme politique’ addresses a theme of her novel La Sang des Autres and her play Les Bouches Inutiles
– the place of morality in political action and the foundational value of each person’s freedom
Issue 2 of Les Temps Modernes is published
Beauvoir’s essay ‘Idéalisme moral et réalisme politique’ addresses a theme of her novel La Sang des Autres and her play Les Bouches Inutiles
– the place of morality in political action and the foundational value of each person’s freedom
29 October 1945:
Premiere performance of Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles (aka Useless Mouths or Who Shall Die) at Théâtre des Carrefours (now Théâtre des Bouffes-du-Nord) by Gare du Nord in Paris.
Premiere performance of Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles (aka Useless Mouths or Who Shall Die) at Théâtre des Carrefours (now Théâtre des Bouffes-du-Nord) by Gare du Nord in Paris.
October 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
29 October 1945:
Premiere performance of Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles (aka Useless Mouths or Who Shall Die) at Théâtre des Carrefours (now Théâtre des Bouffes-du-Nord) by Gare du Nord in Paris.
Premiere performance of Beauvoir’s play Les Bouches Inutiles (aka Useless Mouths or Who Shall Die) at Théâtre des Carrefours (now Théâtre des Bouffes-du-Nord) by Gare du Nord in Paris.
29 October 1945:
Sartre gives a lecture titled ‘L’existentialisme – est-il un humanisme?’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Far too many people turned up. Sartre had to push his way through to the stage, much to the annoyance of the crowd.
He spoke for about an hour without notes and took questions.
Sartre gives a lecture titled ‘L’existentialisme – est-il un humanisme?’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Far too many people turned up. Sartre had to push his way through to the stage, much to the annoyance of the crowd.
He spoke for about an hour without notes and took questions.
October 29, 2025 at 8:02 AM
29 October 1945:
Sartre gives a lecture titled ‘L’existentialisme – est-il un humanisme?’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Far too many people turned up. Sartre had to push his way through to the stage, much to the annoyance of the crowd.
He spoke for about an hour without notes and took questions.
Sartre gives a lecture titled ‘L’existentialisme – est-il un humanisme?’ at Club Maintenant in Paris.
Far too many people turned up. Sartre had to push his way through to the stage, much to the annoyance of the crowd.
He spoke for about an hour without notes and took questions.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
🎈Book launch!
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by Jonathan Webber
Wednesday 12 November 2025 : 18:00 - 19:30
Oat & Bean, 26 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA
Everyone is welcome! No need to register. Just turn up!
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by Jonathan Webber
Wednesday 12 November 2025 : 18:00 - 19:30
Oat & Bean, 26 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA
Everyone is welcome! No need to register. Just turn up!
October 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
🎈Book launch!
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by Jonathan Webber
Wednesday 12 November 2025 : 18:00 - 19:30
Oat & Bean, 26 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA
Everyone is welcome! No need to register. Just turn up!
The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy
edited by Jonathan Webber
Wednesday 12 November 2025 : 18:00 - 19:30
Oat & Bean, 26 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA
Everyone is welcome! No need to register. Just turn up!
24 October 1945:
The United Nations officially comes into being, as the UN Charter has now been ratified by the majority of its signatories including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.
The United Nations officially comes into being, as the UN Charter has now been ratified by the majority of its signatories including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.
October 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
24 October 1945:
The United Nations officially comes into being, as the UN Charter has now been ratified by the majority of its signatories including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.
The United Nations officially comes into being, as the UN Charter has now been ratified by the majority of its signatories including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.
24 October 1945:
Sartre gives a lecture on existentialism in Brussels and one Iris Murdoch is in the audience.
From her notes, this was clearly a version of the now rather famous lecture he was to give in Paris five days later.
Sartre gives a lecture on existentialism in Brussels and one Iris Murdoch is in the audience.
From her notes, this was clearly a version of the now rather famous lecture he was to give in Paris five days later.
October 24, 2025 at 7:26 AM
24 October 1945:
Sartre gives a lecture on existentialism in Brussels and one Iris Murdoch is in the audience.
From her notes, this was clearly a version of the now rather famous lecture he was to give in Paris five days later.
Sartre gives a lecture on existentialism in Brussels and one Iris Murdoch is in the audience.
From her notes, this was clearly a version of the now rather famous lecture he was to give in Paris five days later.
21 October 1945:
A general election to the legislative assembly is held. This is the first time women can vote in a French national election.
A referendum asks whether the newly elected legislature should draft a new constitution. 96% of the votes cast are in favour.
A general election to the legislative assembly is held. This is the first time women can vote in a French national election.
A referendum asks whether the newly elected legislature should draft a new constitution. 96% of the votes cast are in favour.
October 21, 2025 at 7:22 AM
21 October 1945:
A general election to the legislative assembly is held. This is the first time women can vote in a French national election.
A referendum asks whether the newly elected legislature should draft a new constitution. 96% of the votes cast are in favour.
A general election to the legislative assembly is held. This is the first time women can vote in a French national election.
A referendum asks whether the newly elected legislature should draft a new constitution. 96% of the votes cast are in favour.
Reposted by The Existentialist Offensive
15 October 1945:
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
October 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
15 October 1945:
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
15 October 1945:
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
October 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
15 October 1945:
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
Pierre Laval, who had the official title Prime Minister of France in the collaborationist Vichy government, is executed by firing squad.
2 October 1945:
The day after Les Temps Modernes is launched, Sartre publishes the first novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté:
L’Âge de Raison is set in the summer of 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of war.
The day after Les Temps Modernes is launched, Sartre publishes the first novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté:
L’Âge de Raison is set in the summer of 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of war.
October 2, 2025 at 7:43 AM
2 October 1945:
The day after Les Temps Modernes is launched, Sartre publishes the first novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté:
L’Âge de Raison is set in the summer of 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of war.
The day after Les Temps Modernes is launched, Sartre publishes the first novel in his series Les Chemins de la Liberté:
L’Âge de Raison is set in the summer of 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of war.
1 October 1945:
The first issue of Les Temps Modernes is published –– a monthly cultural and political journal led by Sartre and Beauvoir, with a host of other major figures on the editorial board.
The journal is named after a Charlie Chaplin film. Pablo Picasso designed the cover.
The first issue of Les Temps Modernes is published –– a monthly cultural and political journal led by Sartre and Beauvoir, with a host of other major figures on the editorial board.
The journal is named after a Charlie Chaplin film. Pablo Picasso designed the cover.
October 1, 2025 at 6:26 AM
1 October 1945:
The first issue of Les Temps Modernes is published –– a monthly cultural and political journal led by Sartre and Beauvoir, with a host of other major figures on the editorial board.
The journal is named after a Charlie Chaplin film. Pablo Picasso designed the cover.
The first issue of Les Temps Modernes is published –– a monthly cultural and political journal led by Sartre and Beauvoir, with a host of other major figures on the editorial board.
The journal is named after a Charlie Chaplin film. Pablo Picasso designed the cover.
It is 80 years since Beauvoir and Sartre gave the word 'existentialism' a definition ...
... in a campaign of publications and events that Beauvoir later called 'the existentialist offensive'.
To celebrate, this feed will mark each key moment (including political events) for the next three months.
... in a campaign of publications and events that Beauvoir later called 'the existentialist offensive'.
To celebrate, this feed will mark each key moment (including political events) for the next three months.
September 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM