Name: Irrational man
ISBN: 9780385031387

Irrational man

Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy by William Christopher Barrett (1913-92) introduced existentialism to the English speaking world. He defines terms & gives the background on philosophical terms & concepts, aiming at general readers. The need for a native English speaker to write a text on existentialist philosophy was paramount for its understanding, since most primary philosophers in this movement weren't native English speakers. While Kierkegaard's works had been translated decades earlier, the full impact of existential philosophy hadn't yet been felt in the English speaking world when this book was produced. Being & Nothingness had been available in English for only a couple of years, Kaufmann's Thus Spoke Zarathustra translation had been out only a few more & Being & Time hadn't yet been translated. In the four parts of the book, Barrett briefly explains the philosophical tradition to which existentialism reacted & then its main concepts. Part 1: The Present Age--shows the impact that existentialism has had on culture even without being a widely known philosophical school of thought. Part 2: Sources of Existentialism--traces the development of philosophy as it pertains to being, ontology & metaphysics. This serves to show the contrast between existentialist thought & other forms of philosophy. Part 3: The Existentialists--Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger & Sartre are introduced along with their thinking & terminology.

What Hacker News says

nwhnwhMar 2026

If you wanted the core of all of this... Check this book "Irrational Man" by William Barrett.

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cateblanchettDec 2022

Anything by Douglas Rushkoff. I particularly enjoyed Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires.

Another good one is Irrational Man by William Barrett. The only truly comprehensive look at existentialism I've read.

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woodandsteelSep 2016

William Barrett, in his classic book on existentialism, Irrational Man, says that existentialism is the attempt to respond to the loss of universal religious faith in the modern era.

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huxleySep 2012

Depending on your temperament his fiction can be either very insightful or a total downer. I've found his non-fiction like "The Rebel" to be very accessible especially as philosophical works go (Heidegger and Kant being the epitome of inaccessible to the non-scholar and even then ... ugh). Camus also worked as a journalist so that had an impact on his writing.

It is very intense to read Camus straight, so I usually alternate it with something more optimistic or at least humorous. If I'm going to face the absurdity of existence as a mortal human being, I at least need a laugh or two on the way.

I remember William Barret's "Irrational Man" being a pretty good overview of existentialist thought.

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jashmennJul 2010

Irrational Man is a good introduction to existentialism and he has a very readable overview of philosophy from the Greeks until now.

This is will largely be ignored on this tread, but The Bible is a source of philosophical thought for millions of people. You can get a clear picture of the central theme by reading the book of John.

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