Simone de Beauvoir's Philosophy of Individuation

Description

Simone de Beauvoir's Philosophy of Individuation: The Problem of The Second Sex by Laura Hengehold offers a groundbreaking reinterpretation of Beauvoir’s philosophical work, particularly her seminal text The Second Sex. Hengehold moves beyond traditional feminist readings to explore Beauvoir’s contribution to the problem of individuation—how an individual becomes a distinct and self-determined being—within the context of existential philosophy and ethics. In this book, Hengehold argues that The Second Sex is not merely a sociological or feminist critique of women’s oppression but also a profound philosophical investigation into the conditions under which women and men become individuals. Drawing on both Beauvoir’s and Hegel’s philosophies, as well as contemporary thought, Hengehold examines how social structures, embodiment, and freedom intersect in the process of individuation. She emphasizes that Beauvoir’s analysis of women’s situation offers critical insights into the dynamics of selfhood and subjectivity that remain relevant to philosophical debates today. Hengehold’s study repositions Beauvoir as a major thinker in her own right, whose philosophical inquiries extend far beyond feminist theory into metaphysics, ontology, and ethics. Simone de Beauvoir's Philosophy of Individuation challenges readers to rethink the philosophical significance of The Second Sex, offering an original perspective on Beauvoir’s engagement with freedom, ambiguity, and the human condition. This book is essential for scholars of feminist philosophy, existentialism, and anyone interested in the complexities of human identity and becoming.