Singularity: Politics and Poetics

Samuel Weber's new book, "Singularity," explores the concept of singularity and its implications on politics, theology, economics, psychoanalysis, and literature. It distinguishes singularity as an "aporetic" notion from individuality, which cannot be perceived directly but experienced through feelings that depend on but also exceed cognition. Weber suggests that the attempt to domesticate singularity by subordinating it to the notion of individuality draws support from "the monotheological identity paradigm," which continues to inform and influence political and economic practices, often displaying self-destructive tendencies. He reads the literary writings of Hölderlin, Nietzsche, and Kafka as exemplary practices that put singularity into play, exposing the self-evidence of established conventions to be responses to challenges and problems.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 512 pages
\n Publication date: 22 June 2021
\n Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
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For readers who are well-versed in critical theory, German and comparative literature, or media studies, a new book by Samuel Weber is a must-read. Singularity is no exception. By bringing together two decades of his essays, it focuses on the surprising implications of the singular and its historical relationship to the individual in politics, theology, economics, psychoanalysis, and literature. Although singularity has long been a keyword in literary studies and philosophy, it has never been explored as in this book, which distinguishes singularity as an "aporetic" notion from individuality, with which it remains historically closely tied. To speak or write of the singular is problematic, Weber argues, since once it is spoken of, it is no longer strictly singular. Walter Benjamin observed that singularity and repetition imply each other. This approach informs the essays in Singularity. Weber notes that what distinguishes the singular from the individual is that it cannot be perceived directly but rather experienced through feelings that depend on but also exceed cognition. This interdependence of cognition and affect plays itself out in politics, economics, and theology as well as in poetics. Political practice as well as its theory have been dominated by the attempt to domesticate singularity by subordinating it to the notion of individuality. Weber suggests that this political tendency draws support from what he calls "the monotheological identity paradigm," derived from the idea of a unique and exclusive Creator-God. Despite the "secular" tendencies usually associated with Western modernity, this paradigm continues today to inform and influence political, economic, and theological discourse.

For readers who are well-versed in critical theory, German and comparative literature, or media studies, a new book by Samuel Weber is a must-read. Singularity is no exception. By bringing together two decades of his essays, it focuses on the surprising implications of the singular and its historical relationship to the individual in politics, theology, economics, psychoanalysis, and literature. Although singularity has long been a keyword in literary studies and philosophy, it has never been explored as in this book, which distinguishes singularity as an "aporetic" notion from individuality, with which it remains historically closely tied. To speak or write of the singular is problematic, Weber argues, since once it is spoken of, it is no longer strictly singular. Walter Benjamin observed that singularity and repetition imply each other. This approach informs the essays in Singularity. Weber notes that what distinguishes the singular from the individual is that it cannot be perceived directly but rather experienced through feelings that depend on but also exceed cognition. This interdependence of cognition and affect plays itself out in politics, economics, and theology as well as in poetics. Political practice as well as its theory have been dominated by the attempt to domesticate singularity by subordinating it to the notion of individuality. Weber suggests that this political tendency draws support from what he calls "the monotheological identity paradigm," derived from the idea of a unique and exclusive Creator-God. Despite the "secular" tendencies usually associated with Western modernity, this paradigm continues today to inform and influence political, economic, and theological discourse.

\n Weight: 704g\n
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781517910389\n \n