Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir 1908-1986

According to Professor DJ Wiz and IEP article

Simone de Beauvoir was a French existentialist philosopher who was inspired by philosophers such as Hegel, Sartre and Camus before creating her own distinct philosophies.

Most important points of her philosophies:

1) The 'absurd' or reality of the world crushes the human soul, humans must accept it:
"Human existence is an ambiguous mixture of internal drive to transcend and escape the oppressive and absurd world"
2) Each person has their own autonomy that others must recognize to form identity (mutual recognition)
3) The creation of goals, expectations destroys human freedom

Ethics "Ethics of Ambiguity'
4) Acting alone or only considering yourself in a situation is immoral. Everybody must be taken into account.
5) Inaction/being a bystander is useless and unethical

Feminism "Second Sex"
6) Women have been in oppression to men for much of history. Despite this, they still have freedom
7) Immanence- woman's sphere concerned with monotony of life/jobs v Transcendence- man's sphere of work with higher ideas/complexities less monotony in life
8) Biological differences have no effect on woman's differences and oppression. The differences between man and woman come from social constructs:
"One is not born, but becomes a woman"

Man in bad faith:
-Sub man- in constant compliance
-Serious man- in constant desire/recognition of another
-Nihilist- constant denial and rejection

Woman living (all lead to one dimensional living)
-Narcissist- loves/obsessed with oneself
-love- focused on another's happiness
-mystic- devoted to something else (god, Absurd etc.)