Journal of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics ›› 2021, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (3): 112-120.

• Literature, History and Philosophy • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Sartre “the Father of Action”and Camus“the Husband of Literature”: Sontag and Existentialism

CHEN Wen-gang   

  1. Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China
  • Received:2020-10-28 Revised:2021-03-20 Online:2021-05-25 Published:2021-06-09

Abstract: Existentialism in the 20th century is actually a return to the pre-Socrates tradition that combines philosophy and lifestyle into one. The intertwined problem of politics, technology and economics means adding nihility and absurdity to the sense of homelessness to the bourgeoisie that have left the churches. This is the biggest context of the times for the“new left”as Susan Sontag, and the subject of Existentialism as well. Sontag shares strong similarities with Sartre in her many “words”and“deeds”, so Sartre is her father of action, but the“ideal husband”of her aesthetic sensibility is Camus. Sontag’s ambivalent attitude towards the two shows some of her own characteristics. Moreover, the Existentialism still has its constant value towards the self- condition of human freedom and the sense of duty resulting from it, especially at the present time that is under the new media ecology.

Key words: Sontag, existentialism, Sartre, Camus, intellectuals

CLC Number: