Badiou's Being and Event and the Mathematics of Set Theory

by Burhanuddin Baki

Alain Badiou's Being and Event continues to impact philosophical investigations into the question of Being. By exploring the central role set theory plays in this influential work, Burhanuddin Baki presents the first extended study of Badiou's use of mathematics in Being and Event .

Adopting a clear, straightforward approach, Baki gathers together and explains the technical details of the relevant high-level mathematics in Being and Event. He examines Badiou's philosophical framework in close detail, showing exactly how it is 'conditioned' by the technical mathematics. Clarifying the relevant details of Badiou's mathematics, Baki looks at the four core topics Badiou employs from set the formal axiomatic system of ZFC; cardinal and ordinal numbers; Kurt Gödel's concept of constructability; and Cohen's technique of forcing. Baki then rebuilds Badiou's philosophical meditations in relation to their conditioning by the mathematics, paying particular attention to Cohen's forcing, which informs Badiou's analysis of the event.

Providing valuable insights into Badiou's philosophy of mathematics, Badiou's Being and Event and the Mathematics of Set Theory offers an excellent commentary and a new reading of Badiou's most complex and important work.

Genres: Philosophy

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 2014

Reviews

[isaac smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many clarifying points! Though I had only glimpses of clarity in chapter 8. May re-read that chapter even. Otherwise, fun, and generous, relatively mathematical interpretation or exposition of Badiou's "Being and Event". Worth it even if you know quite a bit of set theory, as you can sort of skim those parts and focus on how Baki interprets them in Badiou's system. Gave me false hope for the less mathematical exposition in "Logic of Worlds" though. Might try "Mathematics of the Transcendental".