Althusser And His Contemporaries: Philosophy's Perpetual War (post-contemporary Interventions)

__Althusser and His Contemporaries__ alters and expands understanding of Louis Althusser and French philosophy of the 1960s and 1970s. Thousands of pages of previously unpublished work from different periods of Althusser's career have been made available in French since his death in 1990. Based on meticulous study of the philosopher's posthumous publications, as well as his unpublished manuscripts, lecture notes, letters, and marginalia, Warren Montag provides a thoroughgoing reevaluation of Althusser's philosophical project. Montag shows that the theorist was intensely engaged with the work of his contemporaries, particularly Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, and Lacan. Examining Althusser's philosophy as a series of encounters with his peers' thought, Montag contends that Althusser's major philosophical confrontations revolved around three themes: structure, subject, and beginnings and endings. Reading Althusser reading his contemporaries, Montag sheds new light on structuralism, poststructuralism, and the extraordinary moment of French thought in the 1960s and 1970s. Althusser And His Contemporaries Alters And Expands Understanding Of Louis Althusser And French Philosophy Of The 1960s And 1970s. Thousands Of Pages Of Previously Unpublished Work From Different Periods Of Althusser's Career Have Been Made Available In French Since His Death In 1990. Based On Meticulous Study Of The Philosopher's Posthumous Publications, As Well As His Unpublished Manuscripts, Lecture Notes, Letters, And Marginalia, Warren Montag Provides A Thoroughgoing Reevaluation Of Althusser's Philosophical Project. Montag Shows That The Theorist Was Intensely Engaged With The Work Of His Contemporaries, Particularly Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, And Lacan. Examining Althusser's Philosophy As A Series Of Encounters With His Peers' Thought, Montag Contends That Althusser's Major Philosophical Confrontations Revolved Around Three Themes: Structure, Subject, And Beginnings And Endings. Reading Althusser Reading His Contemporaries, Montag Sheds New Light On Structuralism, Poststructuralism, And The Extraordinary Moment Of French Thought In The 1960s And 1970s.--pub. Desc. Introduction: Why Read Althusser Today? -- The Theoretical Conjuncture : Structure, Structurality, Structuralism -- Towards A Prehistory Of Structuralism : From Montesquieu To Dilthey -- Settling Accounts With Phenomenology : Husserl And His Critics -- Lévi-strauss: Ancestors And Descendants, Causes And Effects -- Between Spinozists: The Function Of Structure In Althusser, Macherey And Deleuze -- Marxism And Humanism -- Althusser And Lacan: Towards A Geneaology Of The Concept Of Interpellation -- Althusser And Foucault: Apparatuses Of Subjection -- The Late Althusser : Materialism Of The Encounter Or Philosophy Of Nothingness? Warren Montag. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Althusser and His Contemporaries alters and expands understanding of Louis Althusser and French philosophy of the 1960s and 1970s. Thousands of pages of previously unpublished work from different periods of Althussef's career have been made available in French since his death in 1990. Based on meticulous study of the philosopher's posthumous publications, as well as his unpublished manuscripts, lecture notes, letters, and marginalia, Warren Montag provides a thoroughgoing reevaluation of Althusser's philosophical project. Montag shows that the theorist was intensely engaged with the work of his contemporaries, particularly Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, and Lacan. Examining Althusser's philosophy as a series of encounters with his peers' thought, Montag contends that Althusser's major philosophical confrontations revolved around three diemes: structure, subject, and beginnings and endings. Reading Althusser reading his contemporaries, Montag sheds new light on structuralism, poststructuralism, and the extraordinary moment of French thought in the 1960s and 1970s. Book jacket Contents 7 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Why Read Althusser Today? 12 Part I. Structure 24 Chapter 1. The Theoretical Conjuncture: Structure, Structurality, Structuralism 26 Chapter 2. Toward a Prehistory of Structuralism: From Montesquieu to Dilthey 34 Chapter 3. Settling Accounts with Phenomenology: Husserl and His Critics 47 Chapter 4. Lévi-Strauss: Ancestors and Descendants, Causes and Effects 64 Chapter 5. Between Spinozists: The Function of Structure in Althusser, Macherey, and Deleuze 84 Part II. Subject 112 Chapter 6. Marxism and Humanism 114 Chapter 7. Althusser and Lacan: Toward a Genealogy of the Concept of Interpellation 129 Chapter 8. Althusser and Foucault: Apparatuses of Subjection 152 Part III. Origin/End 182 Chapter 9. The Late Althusser: Materialism of the Encounter or Philosophy of Nothingness? 184 Chapter 10. The End of Destiny: Althusser before Althusser 201 Afterword 220 Notes 224 Bibliography 242 Index 254 This thoroughgoing reevaluation of Louis Althusser's philosophical project shows that the theorist was intensely engaged with the work of his contemporaries, particularly Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, and Lacan.