Indifference and Repetition; or, Modern Freedom and Its Discontents

Capitalism reduces individuals and society to mere animals, leading to a problem of misunderstanding freedom. This problem is explored in Indifference and Repetition, which argues that modern philosophical rationalism assigns a name to this form of domination by means of freedom: indifference. This assumption that freedom is natural or a possession leads to the loss of freedom, and modern philosophy takes its shape through repeated attacks on freedom as indifference.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Fordham University Press

In the realm of capitalism, human beings often behave as if they are mere animals, a notion that has been echoed throughout the history of modern philosophy. This reductionist perspective, closely linked to the rise of capitalism, highlights the regressive tendencies that capitalism exerts on individuals and society. In his book, Indifference and Repetition, Rudolf Ruda delves into the issue of misunderstanding freedom, which has silently influenced the trajectory of modern, particularly rationalist philosophical thought.

Philosophers such as Descartes, Kant, Hegel, and Marx argue that certain conceptions and interpretations of freedom lead individuals to lose their freedom of action and thought. They are unwittingly confined to a state of unfreedom. It is thus conceivable that even the concept of "freedom" can become a form of enslavement.

Modern philosophical rationalism, with its roots traced and unfolded in the book, assigns a name to this peculiar form of domination through freedom: indifference. Indifference refers to the belief that freedom is something that human beings possess, a given, a natural possession. However, when we perceive freedom as natural or a possession, we inadvertently relinquish our freedom.

Ruda's book reveals that modern philosophy takes shape through repeated attacks on freedom as indifference. It serves as the catalyst that initiates the transition from days of unfreedom to the twilight of dusk. Through his insightful analysis, Ruda challenges the dominant narratives and offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of freedom and its relationship with capitalism.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531505325