The One: Descartes, Plato, Kant

The earliest of Alain Badious' seminars, "The One," explores the philosophical concept of oneness in the works of Descartes, Plato, and Kant. It argues that being is inherently multiple and that there is no fundamental unit of being. Badious' reliance on mathematics, particularly set theory, is novel in his view of multiplicity. The seminar distinguishes between "the One" and "counting as one," which is essential to Badious' ontological project. It features singular readings, breathtaking theorizations, and frequently astonishing offhand remarks.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The "The One" lecture series by Alain Badiou, delivered from 1983 to 1984, stands as one of the earliest seminars he has chosen to publish. This series delves into the philosophical concept of oneness, drawing upon the works of Descartes, Plato, and Kant. Badiou's central metaphysical concept, the multiple, finds its foil in the exploration of oneness. He asserts that there is no singular "One," as there is no fundamental unit of being. Instead, being is inherently multiple.

What sets Badiou's perspective on multiplicity apart is his reliance on mathematics, particularly set theory. He observes that sets, which are collections of things, are often taken to "count as one" operationally for purposes of mathematical transformations. In this seminar, the distinction between "the One" and "counting as one" becomes crucial to Badiou's ontological project. His analysis of reflections on oneness in Descartes, Plato, and Kant lays the foundation for core arguments in his defining work, Being and Event.

The "The One" features singular readings, breathtaking theorizations, and frequently astonishing offhand remarks. These lectures showcase the seeds of Badiou's key ideas and later thought, providing a profound insight into his philosophical framework. By examining the concept of oneness through the lens of Descartes, Plato, and Kant, Badiou offers a unique perspective on the nature of being and the complexities of existence. Through his meticulous analysis and innovative thinking, Badiou's "The One" lecture series remains a seminal contribution to the field of philosophy.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 147 x 226 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231194129