Specters of God: An Anatomy of the Apophatic Imagination

In Specters of God, John D. Caputo explores the mystical element of things, addressing the nocturnal powers in being and the spectralization and virtualization of the world in the posthuman age. He argues that the name of God is not the master name of a super-being but a placeholder for sources deep in our apophatic imaginary.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In his book "Specters of God," John D. Caputo delves into the original essence of his work, exploring the mystical dimension within things. He refers to this mystical aspect as an anxious apophatics, distinct from the edifying apophatics rooted in unity with God. Caputo engages in a captivating dialogue with Schelling, which serves as a pivotal point in his argument. Through this interaction, he addresses the nocturnal powers that haunt our existence, the specters that challenge our being. The outcome is an erudite and insightful analysis, delivered in Caputo's characteristic lively and masterful style. This analysis spans a range of key spectral figures from medieval angelology, Eckhart's "Gottheit," through Luther's concept of "deus absconditus" and Schelling's Satanology. It also explores the spectralization and virtualization of the world in the posthuman age. Caputo argues that the name of God should not be perceived as the master name of a super-being who will save us but rather as a placeholder for the depths of our apophatic imagination. He questions whether God has transformed into a (holy) ghost of the past, a mere spectral effect of ancient harmonies in the spheres. Caputo further suggests that radical thinking leads to a cosmopoetics that transcends theism and its theology, embracing a doxology that celebrates the transient glory of the world, regardless of its origin or its eventual demise. He ponders whether the world, in its mysterious and eerie end, can exist without a sense of purpose or meaning.

Weight: 776g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253063007