Fire Alarm
Reading Walter Benjamin's "On the Concept of History"
Published on 11. October 2016
160 pages
978-1-78478-642-7 (ISBN)
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 L¿wy 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, L¿wy highlights the complex relationship between redemption and revolution in Benjamin's philosophy of history.
In this scrupulous, clear and fascinating examination of this essay, Michael L¿wy 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, L¿wy highlights the complex relationship between redemption and revolution in Benjamin's philosophy of history.
More details
Edition
Ebook UK & RoW
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Reflowable
ISBN-13
978-1-78478-642-7 (9781784786427)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2016
Verso Books
€16.50
Available immediately
Persons
Michael L¿wy 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.
Content
- Intro
- Halftitle Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Introduction: Romanticism, Messianism and Marxism in Walter Benjamin's Philosophy of History
- 1. A Reading of Walter Benjamin's 'Theses "On the Concept of History"'
- 2. The Opening-up of History
- Notes
- Index
