The Paradox of Emotions in the Theatre of Jean-Paul Sartre

The aim of this essay is to illustrate Jean-Paul Sartre's solution to
Diderot's Paradox of the Actor. The first object of the analysis is the explicit
response that Sartre offered to the Paradox: that is, the one provided through
the theory of “unrealization” in L’imaginaire and L’idiot de la famille. In this
case, Sartre shows how the paradox is actually based on a false alternative.
Secondly, the essay examines the problem of emotions in the Esquisse d'une
théorie des émotions and in the Kean drama. Responding to Diderot through
a dramatization of his philosophy, Sartre radicalizes the paradox itself,
including in expressive success – thanks to the “depersonalizing” process of
unrealisation – that very emotion which for Diderot was incompatible with
judgement. Finally, the essay examines the Sartrian theory of “counter-
mystification”, and shows how it was inspired by a comparison with Brecht
and Artaud.
Keywords: Paradox of Acting; Emotions; Theatre; Phenomenological
psychology; counter-mystification