You don't have access to Wikipedia?

This is not a Wikipedia type answer , please if you like provide reference from books like "Must we burn Sade" like this

You don't have access to Wikipedia? — Banno

:lol: On a more serious note, Wikipedia, according to many, is unreliable.

pedophilia, rape, infanticide and murder — Pallab Behari Chaklanabis

All these allegedly severe moral transgressions occur, are commonplace, in non-human animal communities. Draw your own conclusions.

Are we animals?
I guess so.

Are we animals? — A Realist

That, my friend, is the right question — Dr. Lanning (I, Robot)

Are we?

The writings of the Marquis de Sade would certainly support the claim that he advocated for pedophilia, rape, infanticide, and murder. He also covered torture, and immolation. See "Justine" and "Juliette" for not-so-light reading.

yes we are. Likely the worst of all animals.

yes we are. Likely the worst of all animals. — Book273

Then Marquis de Sade is not too far from the truth then. Perhaps, he might've inadvertently hit the nail on its head. Right?

To the OP: no, Sade didn't condone these crimes. But in an era which cancels Woody Allen, you can safely consider Sade as cancelled too.

His writings shine a light on some of the darkest aspects of human nature; the things that we tell ourselves are fundamentally wrong, regardless of religion or upbringing, and yet, his works are widely read and reread. That we are unable to extricate ourselves from his works, instead electing to roll around in it, suggests that, despite what we tell ourselves, the dark and nasty animal is never far below the surface. We pretend we are better, more evolved, advanced, but are unable to rise above ourselves.

How did Michael Jackson say it :"tell them it's human nature".

His writings shine a light on some of the darkest aspects of human nature; the things that we tell ourselves are fundamentally wrong, regardless of religion or upbringing, and yet, his works are widely read and reread. That we are unable to extricate ourselves from his works, instead electing to roll around in it, suggests that, despite what we tell ourselves, the dark and nasty animal is never far below the surface. We pretend we are better, more evolved, advanced, but are unable to rise above ourselves. — Book273

Abolishment of slavery and indentured labor, the decalogue, the eight-fold path, PETA, RSPCA, etc. ? We've covered some ground, no? If you ask me, humans should get an award for how much we've achieved. Despite the innate savegery that's, as you said, "...never far below the surface" we've managed to lend an ear to what's essentially the voice of compassion, reason. A stupendous feat by your reckoning. Not all, I agree, have been able to make the transition from sinner to saint and by the way the world is currently operating, humanity's transformation from beast to best is not going to be anytime soon. However, there are some who've managed to do it and well at that and, my feelings, for what they're worth, inform me that if X can do it, so can Y.

Too optimistic for your taste?

You bring up valid points, however, each of those improvements were only required due to the baseness of humanity initially. The rapist that stops raping should perhaps not be selling himself as saintly because he stopped doing something he should never have been doing in the first place. The stopping is worthwhile, but still, no hero cookie for that guy.

You bring up valid points, however, each of those improvements were only required due to the baseness of humanity initially. The rapist that stops raping should perhaps not be selling himself as saintly because he stopped doing something he should never have been doing in the first place. The stopping is worthwhile, but still, no hero cookie for that guy. — Book273

:ok: but...

humanity's "baseness" is a rather harsh verdict to be given for actions that have their roots in primeval instincts and proclivities that humans have yet to grow out of, no? Think of humans as alcoholics and drug addicts who, despite their addictions, manage to go a day or two without a swig or fix. Commendable, no?

Il meglio è nemico del bene — Voltaire

In a sense, there's greater virtue in a sinner who refuses to sin than a saint who refuses to sin for the intensity and ferocity of the battle between good and evil is greater in the sinner than in the saint.

There are no saints.
people will rape and kill if they weren't afraid of what would happen after they have done those deeds.

There are no saints. — A Realist

Exactly! Imagine you went to a drug cartel meeting and one of the things they discuss is how to make the drugs less addictive. Whether it makes sense or not, I feel the same way about people, humanity. Please note, I'm known for my optimism and that's usually backfired on me.

:-) I guess this is why you are called:"TheMadFool"...

I guess this is why you are called:"TheMadFool". — A Realist

:rofl:

His writings shine a light on some of the darkest aspects of human nature; the things that we tell ourselves are fundamentally wrong, regardless of religion or upbringing, — Book273

I think you're right, but DeSade is way too much for me. I can never get through more than a couple of pages. Hurting children....I can't do it. On the other hand, I love comedians who open their black crusty souls to show what goes on inside men - e.g. Louis CK and Bill Burr. As a man, I find their comedy funny, but also moving. R. Crumb; a cartoonist who wrote and drew beautiful, funny, moving, and completely vile and unjustifiable stories about men, women, and sex; is another good example.

It's probably clear, but if your name is the reason for the word "sadism", you must have been a unpleasant person to be around. I've read a few pages from his novels and I've heard a few lectures about him and I'd say that he was cruel, sick person. Some people may enjoy looking into the very dark aspects of human nature, if they do, Sade is excellent. I've had my fill of dark stuff, so it's a skip for me.

Sade was more than just the author of a few porn novels, by the way. He wrote a full philosophical travelogue, titled Aline et Valcour, complete with a utopian kingdom somewhere around Tahiti.