Description
Revolutionary critic of the philosophy of progress, nostalgic of the past yet dreaming of the future, romantic partisan of materialism - Walter Benjamin is in every sense of the word an "unclassifiable" philosopher. His essay "On the Concept of History" was written in a state of urgency, as he attempted to escape the Gestapo in 1940, before finally committing suicide.
In this scrupulous, clear and fascinating examination of this essay, Michael Loewy argues that it remains one of the most important philosophical and political writings of the twentieth century. Looking in detail at Benjamin's celebrated but often mysterious text, and restoring the philosophical, theological and political context, Loewy highlights the complex relationship between redemption and revolution in Benjamin's philosophy of history.
This illuminating study of Benjamin's final essay helps unlock the mystery of this great philosopher
About the Author
Michael Loewy isResearch Director of Sociology at the Centre National de la RechercheScientifique, Paris. His previous books include Redemption and Utopia: Liberation Judaism in Central Europe, Marxism in Latin America and The War of the Gods: Religion and Politics in Latin America.
Reviews
"Lowy's close reading.follows Benjamin's text thesis-by-thesis, bringing out the salient criticisms of orthodox Marxist discourse and highlighting the interruptions of this discourse, the interruption of the concept of time that is at tis foundation, through Benjamin's insertion of messianic time into the banality of progress" * Jewish Quarterly *
Sensitive to Benjamin's profound anxiety and the tragic vision of the world, Loewy traces the unfurling of this 'revolutionary melancholia,' which is haunted by the recurrence of disasters ... It is unusual to explore the depths of a text in this manner, but it is true that we have here the text of an exceptional thinker. * Le Monde *
Book Information
ISBN 9781784786410
Author Michael Loewy
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 214g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 13mm
In this scrupulous, clear and fascinating examination of this essay, Michael Loewy argues that it remains one of the most important philosophical and political writings of the twentieth century. Looking in detail at Benjamin's celebrated but often mysterious text, and restoring the philosophical, theological and political context, Loewy highlights the complex relationship between redemption and revolution in Benjamin's philosophy of history.
This illuminating study of Benjamin's final essay helps unlock the mystery of this great philosopher
About the Author
Michael Loewy isResearch Director of Sociology at the Centre National de la RechercheScientifique, Paris. His previous books include Redemption and Utopia: Liberation Judaism in Central Europe, Marxism in Latin America and The War of the Gods: Religion and Politics in Latin America.
Reviews
"Lowy's close reading.follows Benjamin's text thesis-by-thesis, bringing out the salient criticisms of orthodox Marxist discourse and highlighting the interruptions of this discourse, the interruption of the concept of time that is at tis foundation, through Benjamin's insertion of messianic time into the banality of progress" * Jewish Quarterly *
Sensitive to Benjamin's profound anxiety and the tragic vision of the world, Loewy traces the unfurling of this 'revolutionary melancholia,' which is haunted by the recurrence of disasters ... It is unusual to explore the depths of a text in this manner, but it is true that we have here the text of an exceptional thinker. * Le Monde *
Book Information
ISBN 9781784786410
Author Michael Loewy
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 214g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 13mm
