His point of view was quite different from that of artists and thinkers in the liberal tradition, like Octavio Paz and Isaiah Berlin. For Sartre (and for many of his contemporaries), intellectuals must not only express political stances, but must also be actively engaged in politics, fighting for the right causes (whatever that meant).
不过最能为知识分子参政传统做出榜样的也许莫过于让·保罗·萨特。他的观点与奥克塔维奥·帕斯和以赛亚·柏林等遵循自由主义传统的艺术和思想家有很大不同。对于萨特（及很多同龄人）来说，知识分子不仅应该表达政治立场，还应该积极参政，为正确的事业而努力奋斗（不管这意味着什么）。