Alain Badiou: Between Theology and Anti-Theology

193 Pages·2014·3.57 MB·English

by  Hollis Phelps

ALAIN BADIOU

ALAIN BADIOU
BETWEEN THEOLOGY AND ANTI- THEOLOGY
Hollis Phelps
acumen
© Hollis Phelps, 2013
Th is book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
All rights reserved.
First published in 2013 by Acumen
Acumen Publishing Limited
4 Saddler Street
Durham
DH1 3NP
ISD, 70 Enterprise Drive
Bristol, CT 06010, USA
www.acumenpublishing.com
isbn: 978- 1- 84465- 553- 3 (hardcover)
isbn: 978- 1- 84465- 554- 0 (paperback)
British Library Cataloguing- in- Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Typeset in Warnock Pro and Myriad Pro.
Printed and bound in the UK by MPG Books Group.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements vii
Abbreviations ix
Introduction 1
1. Badiou’s anti- theology 13
2. Event, truth and the subject 51
3. Philosophy and its conditions 87
4. Badiou’s theology 121
Notes 169
Bibliography 175
Index 181
v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’d like to thank Tristan Palmer at Acumen for taking this project on.
Th anks also goes to Ellen Ott Marshall, Marc Redfi eld, Henry Krips, and
Justin Clemens, all of whom read and commented on this project at various
stages of its production. Roland Faber deserves special mention. His guid-
ance, criticism and, most importantly, friendship, have been indispensible.
I’ve benefi ted immensely from discussions with numerous friends and col-
leagues, too many to mention here. Although we have quite diff erent inter-
ests, Will Schanbacher and Katy Scrogin, in particular, have been invaluable
partners in dialogue and a constant source of encouragement. My colleagues
at Mount Olive College, especially David Hines, Tyanna Yonkers, Neal Cox,
Carla Williamson and Christopher Skinner, have provided me with the fl ex-
ibility and resources necessary to fi nish this project in a timely manner.
Christopher Skinner, especially, has consistently motivated me to become
better at what I do. I could not ask for a better colleague and friend. My par-
ents, Hollis and Susan, have given me their unwavering support, and for that
I am most thankful. My son Alden is young enough to not really understand
what I do, but his simple presence provides me with all the joy I need to
continue doing what I do. Last, but certainly not least, is my wife Catherine.
She has been with me from this project’s inception to its conclusion. It’s
hard to express how much her patience, confi dence and love mean to me,
but for her I am eternally grateful.
vii

ABBREVIATIONS
BE Being and Event (2005a)
C Th e Communist Hypothesis (2010a)
CH continuum hypothesis
D Deleuze: Th e Clamor of Being (2000)
E Ethics (2001)
HI Handbook of Inaesthetics (2005b)
IT Infi nite Th ought: Truth and the Return of Philosophy (2004a)
LW Logics of Worlds (2009c)
M Metapolitics (2005c)
MP Manifesto for Philosophy (1999c)
MS Th e Meaning of Sarkozy (2008b)
NN Number and Numbers (2008c)
OB On Beckett (2003c)
P Polemics (2006d)
PP Pocket Pantheon (2009d)
SP Saint Paul: Th e Foundation of Universalism (2003a)
TC Th e Century (2007a)
TO Briefi ngs on Existence: A Short Treatise on Transitory Ontology
(2006b)
TS Th eory of the Subject (2009e)
TW Th eoretical Writings (2004g)
WA L’antiphilosophie de Wittgenstein (2009b)
WL “What is Love?” (1996)
ix