Red Sea-Red Square-Red Thread: A Philosophical Detective Story

Red Sea-Red Square-Red Thread is a philosophical detective story that explores the surprising history of a short anecdote, tracing its influence across centuries of traditions, disciplines, and ideas. It follows the story of a painter who commissioned to depict the biblical passage through the Red Sea, but who covered over a surface with red paint, explaining that the Israelites had already crossed over and the Egyptians were drowned. The book explores the ways in which the anecdote has been used by philosophers, artists, and writers to make philosophical, theological, political, and artistic points, and questions the connections between different narratives of emancipation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 744 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Red Sea-Red Square-Red Thread is a captivating philosophical detective story that delves into the surprising history of an anecdote spanning centuries of traditions, disciplines, and ideas. This remarkable work comprises passages taken, written, painted, and sung, offering a genealogy of liberty through a micrology of wit. It follows the long history of a short anecdote, commissioned to depict the biblical passage through the Red Sea. However, the painter's interpretation reveals a deeper truth: the Israelites had already crossed over, leaving the Egyptians drowned.

This enigmatic anecdote has captivated the minds of countless thinkers and artists, who have used it to make much more than a mere anecdotal point. Among the prominent figures who contribute to this philosophical investigation are philosophers Arthur Danto and Søren Kierkegaard, poet and playwright Henri Murger, opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and painter and print-maker William Hogarth. These strange companions may seem unexpected, but their use of the anecdote reveals its extraordinary power to transcend boundaries and connect diverse artistic and philosophical traditions.

The book explores narratives of emancipation across philosophy, theology, politics, and the arts. It questions the connections between the Israelites' passage to the Egyptians, who were often labeled as bohemians upon their arrival in France from the German lands of Bohemia. It also explores the relationship between Moses and monotheism, and its impact on the history of monism and the mon.

Through its intricate exploration, Red Sea-Red Square-Red Thread offers a thought-provoking examination of the complexities of human existence and the enduring power of storytelling. It challenges readers to think critically and explore the rich tapestry of ideas that have been woven into this anecdote over the centuries. This captivating work is a testament to the enduring relevance of philosophy and the arts in shaping our understanding of the world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197572443