Apocalypse without God : Apocalyptic Thought, Ideal Politics, and the Limits of Utopian Hope

Despite often being dismissed as bizarre, apocalyptic thought has persistent appeal in political life. This book explains apocalyptic thought's political appeal by examining it through the eyes of secular thinkers and makes original contributions to both the history of political thought and contemporary political philosophy.

Apocalypse, it seems, is everywhere. Preachers with vast followings proclaim the world''s end. Apocalyptic fears grip even the nonreligious amid climate change, pandemics, and threats of nuclear war. As these ideas pervade popular discourse, grasping their logic remains elusive. Ben Jones argues that we can gain insight into apocalyptic thought through secular thinkers. He starts with a puzzle: Why would secular thinkers draw on Christian apocalyptic beliefs – often dismissed as bizarre – to interpret politics? The apocalyptic tradition proves appealing in part because it theorizes a relation between crisis and utopia. Apocalyptic thought points to crisis as the vehicle to bring the previously impossible within reach, offering resources for navigating challenges in ideal theory, which involves imagining the best, most just society. By examining apocalyptic thought''s appeal and risks, this study arrives at new insights on the limits of utopian hope. This title is available as open access on Cambridge Core.