Marquis de Sade’s Moral Philosophy

This video outlines the Marquis de Sade’s defense of immoralism, the view that morality is groundless, and that it is in our self-interest to act contrary to accepted norms: in particular, that we benefit from inflicting suffering and death on others. I have drawn from arguments given by various characters in Juliette, Justine, and Philosophy in the Bedroom. There is not a great deal of secondary literature on Sade in the analytic tradition; however, Roche’s article “Much Sense the Starkest Madness: Sade’s Moral Scepticism“ was useful, particularly for the first half the video. My Patreon: 0:00 - Brutality and bloodshed for all 2:15 - Mechanical man 16:36 - The sadistic contract 30:25 - Savage ecstasies 42:29 - Nature, red in tooth and claw