Sexistence

Sex, more than just a part of our experience, troubles our conceptions of existence. Drawing on a fascinating array of sources, ancient and modern, philosophical and literary, Jean-Luc Nancy explores and upholds the form-giving thrust of the drive. Nancy reminds us that we are more comfortable with the drama of prohibitions, ideals, repression, transgression, and destruction, which often hamper thinking about sex and gender, than with the affirmation of an originary trouble at the limits of language that divides being and opens the world. Sexistence develops a new philosophical account of sexuality that resonates with contemporary research on gender and biopolitics. Without attempting to be comprehensive, the book ranges from the ancient world through psychoanalysis to discover the turbulence of the drive at the heart of existence. Cover SEXISTENCE Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preliminaries A. Fatality? B. Liberation? C. Philosophy? D. Drive? E. Unsayable? 1. Lifting 2. Transmission 3. Appropriation 4. Fiction 5. Real 6. History 7. Technics and Transcendence 8. Excessive Nature 9. Desire 10. Continuous, Discontinuous 11. Devouring 12. Ass in Air 13. Penetration 14. Too Much, Too Little 15. Sex Singular Plural 16. not a word / I lacked 17. Joy 18. Troubles 19. Love Unto Death 20. Love Unto Life 21. Erotic Novel Postlude Superfl uous Supplement Notes Sexistence develops a new philosophical account of sexuality that troubles our conceptions of existence.