Impossible Objects

By: Simon Critchley, Todd Kesselman, Carl Cederström

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eBook | 27 August 2013 | Edition Number 1

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Impossible objects are those about which the philosopher, narrowly conceived, can hardly speak: poetry, film, music, humor. Such "objects" do not rely on philosophy for interpretation and understanding; they are already independent practices and sites of sensuous meaning production. As Elvis Costello has said, "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." We don't need literary theory in order to be riveted by the poem, nor a critic's analysis to enjoy a film. How then can philosophy speak about anything outside of itself, namely all of those things which actually matter to us in this world?

In Impossible Objects, Simon Critchley - one of the most influential and insightful philosophers writing today - extends his philosophical investigation into non-philosophical territories, including discussions on tragedy, poetry, humor, and music. In a series of engaging and enlightening conversations, Critchley reflects on his early work on the ethics of deconstruction; the recurring themes of mortality and nihilism; his defense of neo-anarchism; and his recent investigation into secular faith, or "a faith of the faithless". Essential reading for artists, academics, and general readers alike, this book explores the relationship between the philosophical world and those complex and fascinating "impossible objects" which give life meaning.

Industry Reviews

"It's hard not to be swept up in the sense of hope and possibility that he brings to his discipline as he turns his eyes outward upon the world, refusing to wallow in the stultifying confines of academic discourse ... at his best, Critchley is a truly inspiring voice."
PopMatters

"Critchley makes for a generous and fluent interlocutor."
Steve Poole, The Guardian

"A frank encounter with the philosophical mind; an encounter which, although brief, gives us a beautiful sense of how things work at the sharp end of the intellectual spectrum."
Kelvingrove Review

"Critchley is remarkably adept at clearly explaining quite difficult ideas."
Nina Power, Philosophers' Magazine

"An inspiring and thought-provoking collection of interviews with one of the finest minds of my generation, which serves to genuinely illuminate his impressive body of work. Critchley educates and unsettles the reader with his sharp wit and tremendous intelligence, offering fresh and arresting insights into a dazzling array of vital topics from the death of God to contemporary politics and the origins of tragedy."
Keith Ansell-Pearson, University of Warwick