A Hedonist Manifesto: The Power to Exist (Insurrections: Critical Studies in Religion, Politics, and Culture)

Michael Onfray passionately defends the potential of hedonism to resolve the dislocations and disconnections of our melancholy age. In a sweeping survey of history's engagement with and rejection of the body, he exposes the sterile conventions that prevent us from realizing a more immediate, ethical, and embodied life. He then lays the groundwork for both a radical and constructive politics of the body that adds to debates over morality, equality, sexual relations, and social engagement, demonstrating how philosophy, and not just modern scientism, can contribute to a humanistic ethics. Onfray. Read more... Abstract: Michael Onfray passionately defends the potential of hedonism to resolve the dislocations and disconnections of our melancholy age. In a sweeping survey of history's engagement with and rejection of the body, he exposes the sterile conventions that prevent us from realizing a more immediate, ethical, and embodied life. He then lays the groundwork for both a radical and constructive politics of the body that adds to debates over morality, equality, sexual relations, and social engagement, demonstrating how philosophy, and not just modern scientism, can contribute to a humanistic ethics. Onfray Michael Onfray Passionately Defends The Potential Of Hedonism To Resolve The Dislocations And Disconnections Of Our Melancholy Age. In A Sweeping Survey Of History's Engagement With And Rejection Of The Body, He Exposes The Sterile Conventions That Prevent Us From Realizing A More Immediate, Ethical, And Embodied Life. He Then Lays The Groundwork For Both A Radical And Constructive Politics Of The Body That Adds To Debates Over Morality, Equality, Sexual Relations, And Social Engagement, Demonstrating How Philosophy, And Not Just Modern Scientism, Can Contribute To A Humanistic Ethics. Onfray Attacks Platonic Idealism And Its Manifestation In Judaic, Christian, And Islamic Belief. He Warns Of The Lure Of Attachment To The Purportedly Eternal, Immutable Truths Of Idealism, Which Detracts From The Immediacy Of The World And Our Bodily Existence. Insisting That Philosophy Is A Practice That Operates In The Real, Material World, Onfray Enlists Epicurus And Democritus To Undermine Idealist And Theological Metaphysics; Nietzsche, Bentham, And Mill To Dismantle Idealist Ethics; And Palante And Bourdieu To Collapse Crypto-fascist Neoliberalism. In Their Place, He Constructs A Positive, Hedonistic Ethics That Enlarges On The Work Of The New Atheists To Promote A Joyful Approach To Our Lives In This, Our Only, World. Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. I An Alternative Method -- One.a Philosophical Side Path -- Two.bodily Reason -- Three.a Philosophical Life -- Pt. Ii An Elective Ethics -- Four.an Atheological Morality -- Five.a Rule Of Immanent Play -- Six.a Hedonist Intersubjectivity -- Pt. Iii Solar Erotics -- Seven.the Ascetic Ideal -- Eight.a Libertarian Libido -- Nine.carnal Hospitality -- Pt. Iv A Cynical Aesthetic -- Ten.an Archipelagic Logic -- Eleven.a Psychopathology Of Art -- Twelve.a Playful Art -- Pt. V A Promethean Bioethics -- Thirteen.de-christianized Flesh -- Fourteen.an Art Of Artifice -- Fifteen.the Faustian Body -- Pt. Vi Libertarian Politics -- Sixteen.mapping Poverty -- Seventeen.hedonist Politics -- Eighteen.a Practice Of Resistance. Michel Onfray ; Translated With An Introduction By Joseph Mcclellan. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Michael Onfray passionately defends the potential of hedonism to resolve the dislocations and disconnections of our melancholy age. In a sweeping survey of history's engagement with and rejection of the body, he exposes the sterile conventions that prevent us from realizing a more immediate, ethical, and embodied life. He then lays the groundwork for both a radical and constructive politics of the body that adds to debates over morality, equality, sexual relations, and social engagement, demonstrating how philosophy, and not just modern scientism, can contribute to a humanistic ethics. Onfray attacks Platonic idealism and its manifestation in Judaic, Christian, and Islamic belief. He warns of the lure of attachment to the purportedly eternal, immutable truths of idealism, which detracts from the immediacy of the world and our bodily existence. Insisting that philosophy is a practice that operates in a real, material space, Onfray enlists Epicurus and Democritus to undermine idealist and theological metaphysics; Nietzsche, Bentham, and Mill to dismantle idealist ethics; and Palante and Bourdieu to collapse crypto-fascist neoliberalism. In their place, he constructs a positive, hedonistic ethics that enlarges on the work of the New Atheists to promote a joyful approach to our lives in this, our only, world. Table of Contents Translator’s Introduction Preface Part I. An Alternative Method 1. A Philosophical Side Path 2. Bodily Reason 3. A Philosophical Life Part II. An Elective Ethics 4. An Atheological Morality 5. A Rule of Immanent Play 6. A Hedonist Intersubjectivity Part III. Solar Erotics 7. The Ascetic Ideal 8. A Libertarian Libido 9. Carnal Hospitality Part IV. A Cynical Aesthetic 10. An Archipelagic Logic 11. A Psychopathology of Art 12. A Playful Art Part V. A Promethean Bioethics 13. De-Christianized Flesh 14. An Art of Artifice 15. The Faustian Body Part VI. Libertarian Politics 16. Mapping Poverty 17. Hedonist Politics 18. A Practice of Resistance Notes Index Michael Onfray passionately defends a radical and constructive politics of the body, demonstrating how philosophy can contribute to a humanistic ethics. He warns of the lure of attachment to the purportedly eternal, immutable truths of idealism, which detracts from the immediacy of the world and our bodily existence. Insisting that philosophy is a practice that operates in a real, material space, Onfray constructs a positive, hedonistic ethics that promotes a joyful approach to our lives in this, our only, world. The provocative French intellectual promotes a radical body politics that shows us how we must think and act to live well.