European University Institute Library

Apocalyptic political theology, Hegel, Taubes and Malabou, Thomas Lynch

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [181]-196) and index

index present

non fiction

Apocalyptic political theology

bibliography

1030381184

Thomas Lynch

Political theologies

Hegel, Taubes and Malabou

Hegel's philosophy of religion contains an implicit political theology. When viewed in connection with his wider work on subjectivity, history and politics, this political theology is a resource for apocalyptic thinking. In a world of climate change, inequality, oppressive gender roles and racism, Hegel can be used to theorise the hope found in the end of that world. Histories of apocalyptic thinking draw a line connecting the medieval prophet Joachim of Fiore and Marx. This line passes through Hegel, who transforms the relationship between philosophy and theology by philosophically employing theological concepts to critique the world. Jacob Taubes provides an example of this Hegelian political theology, weaving Christianity, Judaism and philosophy to develop an apocalypticism that is not invested in the world. Taubes awaits the end of the world knowing that apocalyptic destruction is also a form of creation. Catherine Malabou discusses this relationship between destruction and creation in terms of plasticity. Using plasticity to reformulate apocalypticism allows for a form of apocalyptic thinking that is immanent and materialist. Together Hegel, Taubes and Malabou provide the resources for thinking about why the world should end. The resulting apocalyptic pessimism is not passive, but requires an active refusal of the world. --, Provided by publisher

1. Philosophy, political theology and the end of the world. What is political theology? What is this world that ends? Conflicts and antagonisms. Imagining the end. Questioning the apocalypse. 2. Implicit Political Theology: Reading Hegel's Philosophy of Religion. Joachim, Hegel and the end of the world. Representational thought: An outline of Hegel's philosophy of religion. Hegel's implicit political theology. Philosophy and the return to representation. Conclusion. 3. Spiritual disinvestment: Taubes, Hegel and apocalypticism. An introduction to Taubes. Taubes and the apocalyptic Hegel. The problem of apocalypticism and history. Taubes and Bloch. Anti-liberal tendencies in Hegel, Taubes and Schmitt. Transcendental materialist readings of Hegel: From Taubes to Malabou. 4. Plastic Apocalypticism. Malabou, Hegel and plasticity. Plastic apocalypticism: Taubes and Malabou. The problem of alterity and the rejection of the transcendent. A Blochian supplement. Contingency and plastic apocalypticism. Conclusion. 5. Pessimism and hope in apocalyptic living. Living with the absence of alternatives. Pessimism and surrender. Living towards the end of the world. The end. Bibliography. Index