In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Dominic and Tom delve into the life and works of the Marquis de Sade, warning listeners about the explicit content. They explore Sade's biography, from his aristocratic upbringing and scandalous behavior to his imprisonment and involvement in the French Revolution. The discussion covers Sade's philosophical ideas, including his atheism, materialism, and rejection of Christian values, and how these ideas prefigured later thinkers like Darwin, Nietzsche, and Freud. They analyze Sade's novels, such as "120 Days of Sodom" and "Justine," and discuss his influence on later cultural and intellectual movements, including fascism, communism, psychoanalysis, and feminism, ultimately debating whether his progressive ideas are overshadowed by his disturbing justifications for violence and genocide.
