Anti-Badiou : The Introduction of Maoism into Philosophy

In a new paperback edition, this compelling and highly original book represents a confrontation between two of the most radical thinkers at work in France today: Alain Badiou and the author, François Laruelle.

At face value, the two have much in common: both espouse a position of absolute immanence; both argue that philosophy is conditioned by science; and both command a pluralism of thought. Anti-Badiou relates the parallel stories of Badiou''s Maoist ''ontology of the void'' and Laruelle''s own performative practice of ''non-philosophy'' and explains why the two are in fact radically different. Badiou''s entire project aims to re-educate philosophy through one science: mathematics. Laruelle carefully examines Badiou''s Being and Event and shows how Badiou has created a new aristocracy that crowns his own philosophy as the master of an entire theoretical universe. In turn, Laruelle explains the contrast with his own non-philosophy as a true democracy of thought that breaks philosophy''s continual enthrall with mathematics and instead opens up a myriad of ''non-standard'' places where thinking can be found and practised.