Philosophy

doi:10.1017/9781108617208.030

Chapter 28 - Philosophy

from Part III - Historical and Cultural Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 December 2019

James Wharton Leonard

Edited by

John Bird

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John Bird: Affiliation:
Winthrop University

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Summary

Twain was interested in philosophy from an early age, from his introduction to the political and philosophical writings of Thomas Paine. He read widely in ancient and current philosophy, and critics have noted parallels between Twain and philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. He allied himself to the freethinker movement, especially the writings of his contemporary Robert Ingersoll. Many of Twain’s ideas prefigure the existentialist movement of the twentieth century.

Keywords

Mark Twain Samuel Clemens philosophy

Type: Chapter
Information: Mark Twain in Context , pp. 283 - 292

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108617208.030 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

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References

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