Barbarism

by Michel Henry, Scott Davidson (Translator)

Overview

Barbarism represents a
critique, from the perspective of Michel Henry's unique philosophy of life, of
the increasing potential of science and technology to destroy the roots of
culture and the value of the individual human being. For Henry, barbarism
is the result of a devaluation of human life and culture that can be
traced back to the spread of quantification, the scientific method and
technology over all aspects of modern life. The book develops a compelling
critique of capitalism, technology and education and provides a powerful
insight into the political implications of Henry's work. It also opens up a new
dialogue with other influential cultural critics, such as Marx, Husserl, and Heidegger.
 First published in French in 1987, Barbarism
aroused great interest as well as virulent criticism. Today the book
reveals what for Henry is a cruel reality: the tragic feeling of powerlessness
experienced by the cultured person. Above all he argues for the importance
of returning to philosophy in order to analyse the root causes of
barbarism in our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441132086
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	06/28/2012
Series:	Continuum Impacts
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	399 KB

About the Author

Michel Henry (1922-2002) was a leading French philosopher and novelist. He was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Montpellier, France and author of five novels and numerous philosophical works.
Scott
Davidson is
Associate Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City
University. He is the translator of Michel Henry's works: Material
Phenomenology (Fordham, 2008) and Seeing the Invisible
(Continuum, 2009).
Scott Davidson is Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City University, USA. He is the translator of Michel Henry's works: Material Phenomenology (2008), Seeing the Invisible (2009), and Barbarism (2012).

Table of Contents

Translator's Introduction\Preface to the Second Edition\Introduction:
What Was Never Seen\1. Culture and Barbarism\2.
Science Judged by the Criterion of Art\3. Science Alone: Technology\4. The
Sickness of Life\5. The Ideologies of Barbarism\6. The Practices of
Barbarism\7. The Destruction of the University\Conclusion: Underground\Index

Editorial Reviews

'Henry is one of the most exciting and radical thinkers of the last half-century. In this excellent translation of Barbarism, we get a sense of this radicalism is his critique of the "Galilean" principle - especially with regard to politics but also in his approach to art, ideology, technology, and education. It will be an invaluable addition to his other works already in English.'

'Scott Davidson delivers a much welcome translation of Michel Henry's provocative work on culture and critique. Barbarism is Henry's subtle radicalization of E. Husserl's analysis of the lifeworld and the crisis of the sciences. For Henry, the crisis is nothing short of barbarism: a reversal of culture which is revealed in the social, political, and epistemic practices that inhibit the self-movement of absolute Life. Yet the work itself, Barbarism, functions as a timely call to reverse this reversal, and to renew the dynamic intimacy of Self-knowledge.'

From the Publisher