Groundless Existence : The Political Ontology of Carl Schmitt

"Groundless Existence discusses the implicit phenomenological and existential foundations of Schmitt's political philosophy. The book's unique contribution lies in its claim that Schmitt decisively breaks with the metaphysical tradition and predicates the political on the 'groundless' categories of existence, including risk, decision, and agonism. This argument is substantiated by both tacit and explicit existentialist and phenomenological underpinnings of Schmitt's work, discussed here for the first time in book form. The book provides an insight into the implications of Schmitt's thought reconceptualized in the light of contemporary political developments. An essential text for anyone interested in the political theory of Carl Schmitt, it offers a new reading of Schmitt's work against the double background of phenomenology and existentialism."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 List of Abbreviations: The Works of Carl Schmitt 12 Introduction: On the Possibility of a Non-Objectivist Political Ontology 14 PART I: THE ELEMENTS 24 Chapter 1 Geometry of the Exception: The Point and the Line 26 To the Point! 28 Beyond the Line 33 The Extremism of the Middle Point 40 The Point of the Political 45 Chapter 2 The Danger: Unavoidability of Risk 51 A Taxonomy of Risk 52 Whence Political Risk? The Anthropological minus the Economic 57 Risky Recognitions 62 Risky Decisions 67 Chapter 3 The Non-Ground: From the Concept of the Political to the Event of Politics 73 A Philosophical Primer: Snapshots of the Event in Heidegger and Derrida 74 There is No Such Thing as the “Political Sphere”! 75 Schmitt’s Anti-Economism Revisited: Nomos/Appropriation, Politics/Expropriation 83 How to Remain Faithful to the Event of Politics? 88 Chapter 4 Politics in Question 97 Prelude: Questioning the Question 97 Posing the Question 98 Interlude: Yes or No? 105 In Place of a Response ... 107 PART II: THE CRITIQUE 114 Chapter 5 Metonymic Abuses of Modernity 116 In the Name of the Law ... 118 Constitutional Unity, Constitutional Details 126 The Fragility of the Status and the Irreducibility of the Political 131 Chapter 6 Political Reduction to Constitutive Subjectivity 139 Schmitt and Husserl: From the Crisis 139 The Ontology of Political Will 143 P.S.: On Political Consciousness 154 PART III: ON THE GROUND 160 Chapter 7 Living Forms: Culture, Multiculturalism, and Complexio Oppositorum 162 Disentangling Complexio Oppositorum 162 The Living Forms of Politics 166 A Virtuous Circle: The Mutual Invigoration of Culture and Politics 172 Multiculturalism: A New Complexio Oppositorum? 175 Chapter 8 Political Hermeneutics: The Necessity of Interpretation 183 Schmitt and Gadamer: Decision and Interpretation 183 Politics as Interpretation 188 Interpreting the Meaning of the Political 192 Political Theology as a Hermeneutic Endeavor 196 Groundless Existence Discusses The Implicit Phenomenological And Existential Foundations Of Schmitt's Political Philosophy. The Book's Unique Contribution Lies In Its Claim That Schmitt Decisively Breaks With The Metaphysical Tradition And Predicates The Political On The 'groundless' Categories Of Existence, Including Risk, Decision, And Agonism. This Argument Is Substantiated By Both Tacit And Explicit Existentialist And Phenomenological Underpinnings Of Schmitt's Work, Discussed Here For The First Time In Book Form.the Book Provides An Insight Into The Implications Of Schmitt's Thought Reconceptualized In The Light Of Contemporary Political Developments. An Essential Text For Anyone Interested In The Political Theory Of Carl Schmitt, It Offers A New Reading Of Schmitt's Work Against The Double Background Of Phenomenology And Existentialism.-- Geometry Of The Exception: The Point And The Line -- The Danger: Unavoidability Of Risk -- The Non-ground: From The Concept Of The Political To The Event Of Politics -- Politics In Question -- Metonymic Abuses Of Modernity -- Political Reduction To Constitutive Subjectivity -- Living Forms: Culture, Multiculturalism, And Complexio Oppositorum -- Political Hermeneutics: The Necessity Of Interpretation. By Michael Marder. Includes Bibliographical References.