The Dwarf in the Chess - Machine Benjamin's Hidden Doctrine (Reflect) - Softcover

Cauter, Lieven De

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9462084971 ISBN 13: 9789462084971

Publisher: NAI Publishers, 2018

Synopsis

The Dwarf in the Chess Machine offers a study of the tension between materialism and theology in the work of the German-Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin. Belgian philosopher, art historian, writer and activist Lieven De Cauter takes Benjamin's own metaphor--that there is a "dwarf of theology" hidden inside the seemingly mechanical, seemingly inevitable power of historical materialism--and traces its presence throughout Benjamin's oeuvre, showing how it produced his unique take on historical materialism.

In the course of demonstrating this thesis, De Cauter examines Benjamin's language theory, his art theory, his philosophy of history and his legendary, labyrinthine unfinished magnum opus on Paris, the Arcades Project. The resulting book is a detailed, meticulous and lucid analysis of the structure of Benjamin's texts and an indispensable resource for anyone who admires the work of one of the most influential and prophetic thinkers of the 20th century.

About this title

From the Back Cover

This thorough study on the work of the German-Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin exposes - in Benjamin’s own metaphor - the ‘dwarf of theology’ hidden in the machinery of his work, his own form of ‘historical materialism’. In doing so it unearths and explains his language theory, his art theory, his most cryptic baroque book, his philosophy of history, and, last but not least, his famous labyrinthine unfinished opus magnum on Paris, The Arcades project (the first philosophical book ever on the city). The result is a detailed, meticulous and lucid analysis of the structure of Benjamin's texts and an indispensable book for everyone who admires the work of one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century.

Lieven De Cauter is a Belgian philosopher, art historian, writer and activist. He teaches philosophy at the University of Leuven and RITCS (Royal Institute of Theatre, Cinema & Sound), Brussels. He published some dozen books: on contemporary art, experience and modernity and more recently on architecture, the city and politics. Besides this he has published poems, philosophical columns, statements, pamphlets and opinion pieces.

Edition details

• Publisher: NAI Publishers
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9462084971
• ISBN 13: 9789462084971
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 512