A Preface to Sartre

If the only thing you read in this book is the first chapter, it will have been worth every penny you spent on it. Dominick LaCapra is merciless in his approach to Sartre's philosophy from the point of view of post-modern textual analysis. The book might also be described as "the student (LaCapra) of the student (Derrida) takes on the professor (Sartre)." But, if that in any way minimizes LaCapra, I would be wrong to suggest it. This generation of French philosophy is out to do nothing less than rewrite all of intellectual history. And LaCapra is one of their foremost spokesmen. This is no small task, the results of which have yet to be seen. LaCapra, in this and other works, makes a formidable argument as to why this needs to be done. And Sartre, of course, is one of the icons that needs to be dealt with. In some ways, this particular book is somewhat unsatisfying. But, it serves to make its point. The battle lines have been drawn. Even Michel Foucault is seen as "the older generation" from this vantage point. Quite interesting, as intellectual works go.