Introducing Alain Badiou: A Graphic Guide

Introducing Graphic Guides

by Michael J. Kelly, Piero (Illustrations)

After Slavoj Zizek, Frenchman Alain Badiou—whose work ranges from novels, poems, "romanopéras," and political treatises to math theory—is probably the world's best-known living philosopher. Featuring the brilliantly idiosyncratic illustrations of Piero, this incisive graphic guide is written by Michael Kelly—editor of the International Journal for Badiou Studies.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Graphic Novels, Comics, Theory

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2014

Reviews

[Steven]

One of those rare breed of modern philosophers who still believes in some notion of objective truth, it seems to me that he's like a French Hegel, dedicated to the neo-Platonist project of finding the spirit of truth in an increasingly troubled world (Hegel through his Geist and Badiou through his 'truth-event'), and fails due to the incurable weakness that has befallen the human race. It surprises me how he still supports communism as an alternative against the evils of capitalism, although understandable considering the promise communism presents to intellectuals from his generation. Another lesson in how hard it is to figure out the right from the wrong when you are fully committed to an ideology. In politics as in love, distance is key to objectivity.

[Todd Decker]

A very good introduction and overview of Badiou’s thought. My only complaint is that it doesn’t get into Badiou’s curious use of set theory, which I think is fairly significant to his thought. Still the substance and upshot of his major ideas are all here and clearly presented. Most important to me is that it is a sympathetic summary of his thought, which is what I was looking for. While not an evaluation of the book my own take on Badiou is that he has some very interesting ideas that have or had potential to act as a useful counterpoint to some of the dominant trends in continental philosophy in the 20th century, such as the "linguistic turn", but that his philosophy is compromised by his fixation on revolutionary communism. Granted, revolutionary communism is his entire motive so it’s hard to say that it compromises other aspects of his philosophy. Still I find his ontology, a kind of 20th century Neo-Platonism, much more interesting than his revolutionary communism, into which he awkwardly crams it.

[Kirk Johnson]

While I'm not impressed with Badiou, this book is a coherent introduction to him that is remarkably painless to read and doesn't write to idiots (or dummies, depending on your publisher). The book feels great in the hand and the illustrations are, in their way, ingenious - coming up with over 160 illustrations for Badiou seems like a fool's errand, but here they are, and well done.

[Daniel Mehus]

Enjoyable read. It is difficult to appreciate Badiou's break from the masters of suspicion who championed the France's intellectual atmosphere in the 20th century (Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, Lacan, Lyotard, etc.). Reading this work felt like riding on a rollercoaster, speeding past monumental thoughts and concepts which I would have liked to sit with longer, but perhaps that is the job of another text and not this one. As an overall work I felt that it covered most of the bases fairly well. I only wish the book had been a bit longer. As an introductory text, however, one cannot ask for much more than what is provided here.

[Anna loves books]

Enjoyable introduction to one of France’s famous structuralists, philosophers, and political commentators.

Gives an overview of Badiou’s philosophy on politics, religion, and love and provides an outline of his major works, including his literary ones.

As someone who didn’t know who Badiou was before this (I was reading this as a supplement to reading Zizek), I finished this book with a good basic outline of his life and legacy.

[Andrew Noselli]

Seems more like a political position in relation to Sartre than a true, distinct "philosophy", but what the hell, at least he has written a number of books !

[C. Varn]

A good way to see the system that Badiou's fifty years of philosophizing creates. Badiou's volunteerism and formalism are hard to square with the Marxist politics he espouses, but as this explication makes clear, they are self-consistent. Going through interrelations of ideas in Badiou's work and using graphics as clarifying, more than entertaining, this book is helpful in getting Badiou's big picture.

[Gabriel]

clearly explained, funny and very cool pictures!

[Meg]

Thoughts are well-structured, an easy read, and a great introductory read for Badiou's philosophy.