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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.
Indeed, if there is a philosopher/mathematician for poets today, and a
philosopher poet for the day, surely it would be Alain Badiou.
Séamas Cain
http://www.mnartists.org/Seamas_Cain
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On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 7:44 PM, Chris Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> While said to be innovative and new, which is to say novel, Badiou's claim
> that mathematics is ontology and the basis of modern mathematics is set
> theory; this ontological claim is incorrect. The ontogical problem of set
> theory is posed by the problem of dx and differential calculus on which
> modern set theory establishes itself.
>
> This undoes or could it be said, deconstructs Badiou's basic ontological
> claim to a novel ontology.
>
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