How to Live an Authentic Life?

Rebel Like Simone de Beauvoir

Philosopher, award-winning, author, existentialist, feminist icon–Simone de Beauvoir was one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century. Her famous novel The Second Sex transformed our understanding of sex and gender. In her work, she develops an existentialism that differs from her male contemporaries’ theories. What does it mean to choose our own paths in life, in a world filled with people simultaneously striving to choose theirs?

This programme is in English and will be held in the Aula, Oude Lutherse Kerk.

Get your ticket here.

Rebel Like Simone de Beauvoir: How to Live an Authentic Life? is dedicated to De Beauvoir’s thinking and way of life. Together with moderator Hasna El Maroudi, De Beauvoir experts Kate Kirkpatrick and Skye C. Cleary will explore what De Beauvoir meant when she wrote about striving towards authenticity in a world where systemic oppression obstructs our freedom to choose what we want out of life. How do we become our true selves and what does it mean to rebel creatively?

Skye Cleary’s Wat zou Simone de Beauvoir doen? (original: How to be authentic: Simone de Beauvoir & the Quest for Fulfillment) is an appeal to live authentically and rebel creatively, inspired by De Beauvoir herself. Author Skye Cleary discusses important life themes such as friendship, romantic love, marriage, children and death and applies De Beauvoir’s thinking to the challenges we face in the 21st century. She offers insight into the struggles De Beauvoir experienced in her pursuit to live an authentic life in a time of chaos and insecurity. Vital perspectives which could help us navigate through our modern world.

This program is a collaboration between Paradiso Amsterdam, SPUI25 and Uitgeverij Ten Have.

About the speakers

Kate Kirkpatrick is professor and author of Becoming Beauvoir: A Life (2019). She wrote several books and papers on De Beauvoir, Sartre and existentialism. Since 2020 she has been Fellow in Philosophy at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.

Skye C. Cleary is a philosopher, writer and public speaker. She has dedicated her life to popularizing Simone de Beauvoir’s work. Wat zou Simone de Beauvoir doen? (Ten Have 2022) will be available from the 20th of September.

Hasna El Maroudi (moderator) is a journalist, program maker and columnist for NRC Handelsblad. She is the co-founder of the intersectional feminist platform Lilith Mag.