Marxism and Existentialism, Part I

Abstract

It can hardly be denied that the sudden "eruption" of existentialist influence has been one of the most curious phenomena in Polish intellectual life in the past few years. To account for the sudden and stormy success of a philosophical trend in a milieu in which it was not only completely unknown but also traditionally alien, it is certainly necessary to examine the situation above all in its socio-psychological context. Above all, but not exclusively. For the problem has its philosophical aspect sensu stricto, and the elucidation of this aspect should help us to understand the issue as a whole.

This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.

Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.