Intellectuals and Power: The Insurrection of the Victim

Laruelle, François

ISBN 10 : 0745668410 ISBN 13 : 9780745668413

Editeur : Polity Press, 2014

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur :

In this important new book, the leading philosopherFrançois Laruelle examines the role of intellectuals in oursocieties today, specifically with regards to criminal justice. Heargues that, rather than concerning themselves with abstractphilosophical notions like justice, truth and violence,intellectuals should focus on the human victims. Drawing on hisinfluential theory of non–philosophy , he shows how wecan submit the theorizing of intellectuals to the scrutiny of theeveryday suffering of the victims of crime.

In the course of a wide–ranging discussion with Philippe Petit,Laruelle suspends the presumed authority of intellectuals bychallenging the image of the dominant intellectual exemplified by philosophers such as Sartre, Foucault, Lyotard andDebray. In place of domination, he puts forward instead a theory of determination : the determined intellectual is onewhose character is conditioned by his relationship to the victim,rather than one who attempts to dominate the victim sexperience through a process of theorizing. While philosophyconsistently takes the voice away from victims of suffering,non–philosophy is able to construct a theory of violence and crimethat gives voice to the victim.

This highly original book will be essential reading for allthose interested in contemporary French philosophy and all thoseconcerned with justice in the modern world.

Biographie de l'auteur :

François Laruelle is Professor Emeritus of the University ofParis X (Nanterre) and former director of the International Collegeof Philosophy.

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Polity Press
• Date d'édition: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0745668410
• ISBN 13: 9780745668413
• Reliure: Livre broché
• Nombre de pages: 160