Philosophical Library would like to wish a happy 108th birthday to Simone de Beauvoir! Born January 9, 1908 in Paris, France, Simone de Beauvoir is remembered as a writer, activist, feminist and theorist. In her younger years, Simone was raised in the Catholic faith and attended a distinguished convent school despite her family’s monetary struggles that arose after WWI had taken a toll on their finances. Regardless of her religious upbringing, Simone decided, at the age of fourteen, to become an atheist and lived as one for the duration of her life.
Praised and encouraged by her father, Simone’s intellectualism flourished as she grew into adulthood. She first studied mathematics and then proceeded to study philosophy at the Sorbonne from where she was the ninth woman to earn a degree. This feat was quite the accomplishment as, at that time in history, there weren’t many women able to pursue an education. Though she was known to have been involved in various, and sometimes scandalous, relationships, her long-time romance with French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre stands out as one that had shaped her philosophical views and influenced her fictional and nonfictional works. She began a career as an educator in 1931, though was discharged from her duties after accusations of harassment from her students. Simone never married or had any children, resisting the conformity to societal norms. She passed away in Paris, France on April 14, 1986.
Simone de Beauvoir is a noted writer and philosopher who gained popularity for her 1949 published book The Second Sex in which she detailed her views on gender roles in society. In addition to this title, Simone delves deeply into the roots of her beliefs on the ethics of Existentialism, freedom and human values in her second-major nonfiction piece, The Ethics of Ambiguity. This three-part composition examines the philosophy that influences Simone’s own ethical understandings and explores the fundamentals of freedom. She declares that we, as humans, have the inherent freedom to choose for ourselves as we please, though often are constrained and oppressed by societal norms and expectations. To learn more about this piece, click here.