Conversations in Philosophy: 'Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions' by Jean-Paul Sartre

Aug 17, 2025

Dive into Sartre's intriguing take on emotions as actions of consciousness, rather than mere reactions. The discussion highlights his challenge to Freud's theories and explores the concept of self-invention within existentialism. The speakers also unpack the interplay of freedom, identity, and narrative in literature, revealing how emotive experiences shape our perceptions. With a twist on traditional psychology, they argue for conscious responsibility in our emotional responses, making you rethink how you engage with your feelings.

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INSIGHT

Self As Narrated Construction

Sartre pioneered ideas of the self as a narrated, non‑natural construction that literary theory later absorbed.
James Wood links Sartre's philosophical psychology to modernist literary experiments with consciousness.

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INSIGHT

Existence As Self-Invention

Jonathan Rée summarizes existentialism as the moral lesson that each person is responsible for inventing their own life.
He stresses freedom to reinterpret constraints as the defining human condition.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Teenage Existential Reading

James Wood recalls being a teenage reader of Existentialism Is a Humanism and The Myth of Sisyphus.
He describes how those texts gave him a simplified bundle of ideas about freedom, bad faith and the absurd.

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Exploring Sartre's Influence on Literature and Existentialism

02:44 • 3min

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Exploring Existentialism and Self-Invention

05:15 • 4min

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Sartre's Insight on Emotions: Responsibility and Normatives

09:02 • 2min

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Conscious Choices: Sartre's Perspective on Emotions and the Unconscious

10:53 • 4min

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Sketch for a theory of the emotions

The Words is Jean-Paul Sartre's 1963 autobiography, which delves into his childhood and the formative years of his life. The book is structured into two main parts: 'Reading' and 'Writing'. Sartre recounts his early experiences, his relationship with his family, particularly his grandfather Charles Schweitzer, and his development as a writer. The autobiography is not a straightforward account but rather a reflective and philosophical exploration of his past, blending fact and fiction. Sartre examines his own identity, the roles he played in his childhood, and the influences that shaped his existentialist philosophy. The work is characterized by its philosophical romanticism and classical craftsmanship, offering a unique insight into Sartre's life and thought.

#972

• Mentioned in 24 episodes

Being and Nothingness

Jean-Paul Sartre

In 'Being and Nothingness,' Jean-Paul Sartre delves into the fundamental categories of being and nothingness. He distinguishes between 'being-in-itself' (objects that simply exist and are unaware of themselves) and 'being-for-itself' (human consciousness, which is self-aware and free). Sartre argues that human beings are characterized by their freedom and responsibility, and that they must create their own being through their actions in the world. The book also introduces the concept of 'being-for-others,' highlighting the impact of others on our self-perception. Sartre rejects traditional notions of a transcendent reality and instead emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and authenticity in human existence.

#6167

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Existentialism Is a Humanism

Jean-Paul Sartre

In this work, Sartre argues that existentialism is an optimistic and action-oriented philosophy that centers on moral responsibility and human interconnections. He posits that 'existence precedes essence,' meaning humans are not defined by a pre-existing essence but by their choices and actions. Sartre addresses criticisms of existentialism, arguing that it is not pessimistic but rather liberating, as it grounds human values and moral aims in human subjectivity itself. He differentiates his existential humanism from other forms of humanism, emphasizing that humans are constantly in the process of creating their own values and purposes without relying on divine or external mandates.

#461

• Mentioned in 40 episodes

The Myth of Sisyphus

Albert Camus

In 'The Myth of Sisyphus', Albert Camus delves into the concept of the absurd, which arises from the conflict between humanity's desire for meaning and the apparent indifference of the universe. Camus argues that this absurdity does not justify suicide but rather requires a revolt against it. He introduces Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology condemned to eternally push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down, as the ideal absurd hero. Camus suggests that Sisyphus's acceptance of his fate and his continued effort to push the boulder up the mountain, despite its futility, exemplify the human condition and the possibility of finding happiness in the face of absurdity. The essay also discusses other examples of absurd lives and includes an appendix on the works of Franz Kafka.

#3262

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

Nausea

Jean-Paul Sartre

Published in 1938, 'Nausea' is Jean-Paul Sartre's first novel and a seminal work in existentialist literature. The story follows Antoine Roquentin, a solitary historian living in the fictional town of Bouville, as he experiences intense feelings of nausea and existential crisis. Through Roquentin's diary entries, Sartre delves into themes such as the contingency of existence, the distinction between 'being-in-itself' and 'being-for-itself,' and the idea that 'existence precedes essence. ' Roquentin's struggles with his research on the Marquis de Rollebon and his interactions with people around him highlight the absurdity and randomness of the world, leading him to confront the bare existence of things and the meaninglessness of human existence. The novel is a profound exploration of existential angst, freedom, and responsibility.

What is an emotion? In his Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions (1939), Sartre picks up what William James, Martin Heidegger and others had written about this question to suggest what he believed to be a new thought on human emotion and its relation to consciousness. For Sartre, the emotions are not external forces acting upon consciousness but an action of consciousness as it tries to rearrange the world to suit itself, or as he puts it at the end of his book: a sudden fall of consciousness into magic. In this episode Jonathan and James discuss why Sartre’s rejection of the idea of the subconscious is not as much a departure from Freud’s theories as he thought they were, and the ways in which his attempt to establish a ‘phenomenological psychology’ manifested in other works, including Nausea, Being and Nothingness and The Words.

Note: Readers should use the translation by Philip Mairet. The earlier one by Bernard Frechtman, as Jonathan explains in the episode, contains numerous (often amusing) errors.

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