[spectre] Being & Event, & Poetry

[Séamas Cain]

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“Being And Event,” by Alain Badiou, was published in 2007 by Continuum
in London.  It is, indeed, a monumental book.  In my opinion, it
restores the dignity and elegance of mathematics to continental
philosophy.

Although “Being And Event” is a challenging read, the rewards of the
book greatly outweigh the difficulties encountered. And as far as
philosophy is concerned, this book presents a fresh approach to
ontology, one which goes considerably beyond the limitations of the
Heideggerian edifice.

Based largely on the achievements of set theory, “Being And Event”
argues for an open ontology, one wherein truth can rupture seemingly
static conceptual and social situations ... thus bringing about
changes of universal significance.

But nevertheless, what has drawn me most inescapably to “Being And
Event” is that Badiou has included in the very interstices of the book
chapters on poets, from Parmenides to Mallarmé and beyond, their
poetries, and perceptive anyalyses of poetic works, and ALL combined
in the very processes of mathematics and philosophy.

The poetry chapters are not mere fluff, as with most mathematicians,
scientists, and philosophers, but are integrated within the very
structure and the fundamental arguments of the book.

Badiou, like Herodotus, seems to remember a time when poetry had not
yet divided itself out from mathematics.

Indeed, if there is a philosopher/mathematician for poets today, and a
philosopher poet for the day, surely it would be Alain Badiou.

Regards,

Séamas Cain
http://www.freewebs.com/seamascain

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