Politics of Benjamin's Kafka: Philosophy as Renegade Philosophy as Renegade

This book provides a critical assessment of Benjamin’s writings on Franz Kafka and of Benjamin’s related writings. Eliciting from Benjamin’s writings a conception of philosophy that is political in its dissociation from – its becoming renegade in relation to, its philosophic shame about – established laws, norms, and forms, the book compares Benjamin’s writings with relevant works by Agamben, Heidegger, Levinas, and others. In relating Benjamin’s writings on Kafka to Benjamin’s writings on politics, the study delineates a philosophic impetus in literature and argues that this impetus has potential political consequences. Finally, the book is critical of Benjamin’s messianism insofar as it is oriented by the anticipated elimination of exceptions and distractions. Exceptions and distractions are, the book argues, precisely what literature, like other arts, brings to the fore. Hence the philosophic, and the political, importance of literature. Annotation This text provides a critical assessment of Benjamin's writings on Franz Kafka and of Benjamin's related writings. Eliciting from Benjamin's writings a conception of philosophy that is political in its dissociation from - its becoming renegade in relation to, its philosophic shame about - established laws, norms, and forms, the book compares Benjamin's writings with relevant works by Agamben, Heidegger, Levinas, and others. In relating Benjamin's writings on Kafka to Benjamin's writings on politics, the study delineates a philosophic impetus in literature and argues that this impetus has potential political consequences. Finally, the book is critical of Benjamin's messianism insofar as it is oriented by the anticipated elimination of exceptions and distractions. Exceptions and distractions are, the book argues, precisely what literature, like other arts, brings to the fore Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Gesture of Philosophy (Brendan Moran)....Pages 3-15 Historico-Philosophic Shame (Brendan Moran)....Pages 17-34 Unmythic Wisdom (Brendan Moran)....Pages 35-64 Foolishness of Philosophy (Brendan Moran)....Pages 65-92 Prophecy of Shame (Brendan Moran)....Pages 93-123 Front Matter ....Pages 125-125 Anxiety (Brendan Moran)....Pages 127-160 Study (Brendan Moran)....Pages 161-195 Distractedly Attentive (Brendan Moran)....Pages 197-212 Anxious Friendliness as Physical Attentiveness (Brendan Moran)....Pages 213-225 Front Matter ....Pages 227-227 Exception and Decision: The Extreme and Philosophic Politics (Brendan Moran)....Pages 229-267 In the Epic Vorwelt (Brendan Moran)....Pages 269-303 Philosophy, Literature, Politics (Brendan Moran)....Pages 305-312 Back Matter ....Pages 313-350