The Metaphysics of De Sade

This book presents Sade’s core metaphysical commitments as a coherent and logical system. It analyses his central ontological principle of entropy and shows that Sade endorsed neither egoism nor materialism but was a forerunner to 19th Century thermodynamics. It then turns to his philosophy of money and finance, including his critique of phenomenology, his axiology, and his attack on theories of expected utility. It concludes by considering the extent to which a normative ethical theory can be salvaged from his otherwise largely deconstructive opus. The Metaphysics of De Sade is essential reading for all scholars and researchers of early modern philosophy.