- Esprit (magazine)
"Esprit" is a French
literary magazine . Founded in October 1932 byEmmanuel Mounier , it was thepersonalist review . From 1957 to 1976, it was directed byJean-Marie Domenach . Paul Thibaud directed it for some time. The philosopherPaul Ricoeur often collaborated with it. "Esprit" is a member of theEurozine network.Personalism and non-conformists of the 1930s
In the 1930s, "Esprit" was the main mouthpiece of the personalists and of the
Non-Conformist Movement . A presentation of the magazine by its authors in 1933 stated that it opposed the "compromission" of spiritual values with the established order (which Mounier called "established disorder") and aimed at denouncing their "exploitation by the powers ofMoney , in the social regime, in the government, in the press, etc. [http://www.supportscoursenligne.sciences-po.fr/2006_2007/ag_slama/seance_10.pdf Prospectus de présentation de la revue "Esprit"] , presented byAlain-Gérard Slama , on-line course ofSciences-Po , 18 May 2007 fr icon ] " "Esprit" opposed partial reforms and aimed at a global rebuilding of the basis of the social edifice. It targeted as opponents "individualistmaterialism ", claiming that the "capitalist jungle was its ultimate product"; "collectivist materialism", which linked bothCommunism andCapitalism , despite their oppositions, in the "same metaphysics"; and the "falseFascist spiritualism ," which seemed to share the same opponents, but in reality turned towards the "tyrannic idolatry of inferior spiritualities: racist exaltation, national passion, anonymous discipline, devotion to the state or the leader" or plain "safeguard of economic interests. " The magazine posited itself for the "rebirth" of a "community of personalities," opposing both liberal individualism and collectivism, in one word,mass society :"Tout homme, sans exception, a le droit et le devoir de développer sa personalité." (Any man, without exception, has the right and the duty to develop his personality.)
Post-War
"Esprit" broke with part of its legacy following the
Liberation of France , and involved itself inNew Left movements. The review criticized the systemic use oftorture during the Algerian War , publishing for examples articles byPierre Vidal-Naquet . It would also influence in the 1970s the "Second Left ," gathered around the Unified Socialist Party (PSU).References
See also
*
Non-conformists of the 1930s External links
* [http://www.esprit.presse.fr/ "Esprit" home page]
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