Mai 68 et esprit 68. Histoire d’intellectuels mobilisés
May 68 and Spirit 68. History of Mobilized Intellectuals

Summary/Abstract: We propose to conduct an overview and state of the art analysis ofthe intellectual history of the spirits of May 68 in the fields of literature,political science, philosophy and humanities. According to LeGoff, “in the field of literature and philosophy, the whole conception of man is challenged” (2006: 30). In this context, one can mention the opinion of André Malraux for whom this event is a “crisis of civilization”(1969: 7). We witness death of the hero and that of tragedy. The world is different: “life as it is, psychological conflicts, ‘true’ words, ‘the human thickness’, the intimate duration of conscience,the naturalistic, picturesque description of the world, in short, all that constitutes the usual Romanesque novel has disappeared” (Howlette,1958: 87). Now, it is an impersonal universe. Le Goff argues that “in the field of philosophy and humanities, it is an entire period marked by (...) existentialism that is coming to an end” (2006: 31). Philosophy that has never been separated from literature is now turning towards science, towards structuralism. This new current of thought questions the place left to the thinking and acting man, as well as history as progress. Without being exhaustive, we intend to revisit this history, update and highlight the memory of this important event of the twentieth century, which today holds mythical value.

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