Esprit (magazine)
Esprit is a French literary magazine. The magazine also deals with current events.[1] It is based in Paris.
History and profile
Founded in October 1932 by
personalist intellectuals of the time.[2] From 1957 to 1976, it was directed by Jean-Marie Domenach. Paul Thibaud directed it from 1977 to 1989. Since 1989 Oliver Mongin has been the director of the magazine.[1] The philosopher Paul Ricœur often collaborated with it. Esprit is a member of the Eurozine network.[1]
Personalism and the non-conformists
In the 1930s, Esprit was the main mouthpiece of the Personalists and of the
Fascist 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.[2]" The magazine posited itself for the "rebirth" of a "community of personalities," in opposing of both liberal individualism and collectivism, in one word, mass society
:
"Tout homme, sans exception, a le droit et le devoir de développer sa personalité." (Every man, without exception, has the right and the duty to develop his personality.)[2]
Post-War
Esprit broke with part of its legacy following the Liberation of France, and involved itself in New Left movements. The review criticized the systemic use of torture during the Algerian War, publishing for examples articles by Pierre Vidal-Naquet. It would also influence in the 1970s the "Second Left," gathered around the Unified Socialist Party (PSU).
References
- ^ a b c "Members". Eurozine. Archived from the original on 20 November 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Sciences-Po, 18 May 2007 (in French)
External links
- Esprit home page
- Issues from 1932 to 1939 and from 1940 to 1993 in Gallica, the digital library of the Bibliothèque nationale de France