Universität Wien
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180112 SE Alain Badiou and current new metaphysical approaches (Brassier, Harman, Meillassoux) (2012W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 35 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 12.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 19.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 09.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 16.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 23.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 23.11. 16:00 - 17:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 30.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 30.11. 16:00 - 17:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 07.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 07.12. 16:00 - 17:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 14.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 14.12. 16:00 - 17:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 11.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 18.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 25.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The first part of the seminar will deal with the central theorems which Alain Badiou developed to date in his philosophical writings. Here, three relevant theory areas can be distinguished: 1. the mathematical ontology that Badiou proposes, 2. Badiou philosophy of the event that points to a possible surplus or excess in mathematically comprehensible being, 3. the so-called "truth procedures" that are connected to the event, making it consistent in being, yet, without dissolving it into being. Based on these thematic areas, Badiou creates a complex theoretical model that succeeds in bringing together highly formal issues with questions of concrete action, for example, in political praxis, so that they illuminate each other.

The second part of the seminar is to deal with current philosophical works which have arisen in part under the direct influence of Badiou, or at least are related to his thinking, namely, Quentin Meillassoux: "After Finitude," Graham Harman: "Guerrilla Metaphysics," and Ray Brasssier: "Nihil Unbound."

These works are characterized by the fact that they pick up the ontological ball thrown by Badiou and come up with new metaphysical approaches. This means that they develop the basic structures of being, without equating them with the structures of experience. The new metaphysical approaches differ from the classical metaphysical models in that they do not establish a definitive ontological grounding. At the same time, however, they find the matrix of being independent of the conditions of human understanding and thinking. In the course of the seminar, we have to comprehend the specific movement of thought they propose. We also have to examine whether they involuntarily amount to a new dogmatism, that is, to a thinking that prefers definition to demonstration.

Assessment and permitted materials

Prerequisite for the completion of the seminar is, in addition to regular participation and a careful preparation of the relevant texts, a final written paper (10 pages).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The first goal of the seminar is to provide a solid understanding of the philosophy of Badiou. This will include the introduction into its theoretical backgrounds, to its general problems and, finally, to its present reception, which is not wholly positive. Regarding the new metaphysical approaches, the goal is to convey what metaphysics can mean today. It is important to understand that neither classical substance metaphysics nor all too common criticism of metaphysics can sufficiently capture what metaphysical thinking may be.

Examination topics

The seminar will be designed as a pure reading seminar, which means that it will do without oral presentations. The reading will draw on selected texts from the primary literature listed below. Since the works of Brassier and Harman have not yet been translated into German and also most of the secondary literature is written in English, participation in the seminar will require good knowledge of English. Some knowledge of the critical philosophy of Kant and phenomenology (Husserl, Heidegger) would be an advantage; yet, this is not an absolute requirement.

Reading list

Primary Texts:

Badiou, Alain: Das Sein und das Ereignis, diaphanes, Berlin 2005

-, Gott ist tot. Kurze Abhandlung über eine Ontologie des Übergangs, Turia + Kant, Wien 2002

-, Manifest für die Philosophie, Turia + Kant, Wien 2009

-, Zweites Manifest für die Philosophie, Turia + Kant, Wien 2009

-, Paulus: Die Begründung des Universalismus, diaphanes, Berlin 2009

-, Ethik: Versuch über das Bewusstsein des Bösen, Turia + Kant, Wien 2002

Brassier, Ray: Nihil Unbound: Enlightenment and Extinction, Palgrave Macmillan, London 2007; zudem als Open Access Dokument unter: http://rosswolfe.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ray-brassier-nihil-unbound-enlightenment-and-extinction.pdf

Harman, Graham: Guerilla Metaphysics. Phenomenology and the Carpentry of Things, Open Court, Chicago and La Salle 2005

Meillassoux, Quentin: Nach der Endlichkeit. Versuch über die Notwendigkeit der Kontingenz, diaphanes, Berlin 2009

Secondary Texts:

Ashton, John; Bartlett, A.J.; Clemens, Justin: The Praxis of Alain Badiou, re:press, Melbourne 2006; zudem als Open Access Dokument unter:
http://www.re-press.org/book-files/OA_Version_9780980305203_Praxis_of_Alain_Badiou.pdf

Barker, Jason: Alain Badiou. A Critical Introduction, Pluto Press, London 2002

Bosteels, Bruno: Alain Badiou. Werdegang eines Streitbaren, Laika Verlag, Berlin 2012

Bryant, Levi; Harman, Graham; Srnicek, Nick: The Speculative Turn. Continental Materialism and Realism, re:press, Melbourne 2011; zudem als Open Access Dokument unter:
http://www.re-press.org/book-files/OA_Version_Speculative_Turn_9780980668346.pdf

Harman, Graham: Quentin Meillassoux. Philosophy in the Making, Edinburgh University Press 2011

Rabouin, David; Lincoln, Lissa; Feltham, Oliver: Autour de Logiques des mondes d'Alain Badiou, Édition des archives contemporaines, Paris 2012

Riera, Gabriel: Philosophy and its Conditions, State University of New York Press, Albany 2005

Rosskamm, Wilhelm: Alain Badiou und die Philosophie, Grin Verlag, München 2008

-, Das Böse in Alain Badious Ethiken der Wahrheit, in: episteme. Online-Magazin für eine Philosophie der Praxis, No. 4, siehe: http://www.episteme.de/htmls/Roskamm-Ethik-Badiou.html

3. Web Links (as initial orientation):

http://speculativeheresy.wordpress.com/resources/

http://courseweb.lis.illinois.edu/~phettep1/SRPathfinder.html

Association in the course directory

BA M 11, § 57.3.7

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36