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Philosophy in the Bedroom

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By asdbnmrty
Words 2474
Pages 10
In Philosophy in the Bedroom, Sade seems to go into the extremes to preach his view on libertinism. It’s almost disgusting in how Dolmance and Madame De Saint-Ange educate Eugenie in their views, yet Eugenie takes their teachings as enlightenment. Why? As much as I hate to admit it, it is refreshing to see the other side of things. Coming from the extreme opposite of this ideal, Sade’s characters speak an almost ugly truth. Sade often shuns from religion and authority in favor of a more rational way of thinking. In many instances he replaces God with Nature as a form of measuring ideals. In many ways he focuses a person on self rather than society. I think trying to understand his repressed view can draw us closer to an even richer median of self.
One of the first teaches that Dolmance preaches to Eugenie in her education is the existence of God. He opens by stating that man owes his existence only to Nature’s schemes. He states that we are bound only to reproduce, since reproduction is necessitated by the globe’s existence. Sade criticizes God as a phantom. He even questions then necessity of God. If Nature can create, produce, preserve, maintain, and hold equilibrium, what is the need to seek out a foreign agent? To Sade, God is an illusion and piety to this illusion is foolish.
I find that Sade proposing that God is an illusion is a bold step, yet offers a viable alternative in the purpose of man. Many people today are influenced by their belief in God. They credit their existence and live their lives in the ideals of God. This idea of existence bound to Nature rather than God opens a new perspective on the purpose of one’s life. Rather than focus on the piety of pleasing God, one could take to pleasing Nature. Ironically, Nature’s intentions are those of our own, what is natural to us. It reflects our needs and desires. We essentially take focus and purpose

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