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Judging from the enthusiasm and conviction with which many theologians (and philosophers and others) speak of postmodern philosophy, it often sounds as if there is no alternative. One gets the distinct impression that one better cave in or risk becoming (or more often, remaining) irrelevant. Relevance apparently being the watch-word for any successful Christian theology. The French philosophers, ‘the great three,’ Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault, are often explicitly mentioned and lauded. Especially in the Emerging community these men are highly regarded, and not completely without reason. However, and here it comes, in the midst of all this talk about French philosophy almost no mention is ever made of Alain Badiou (except by some adherents of Radical Orthodoxy), even though his star is quickly rising in the philosophical firmament. The great three have all died, but Badiou is still here and this might contribute to his growing popularity: the three can not speak back anymore.
Alain Badiou is a French Professor of Philosophy at University of Paris 8, and ironically, is one of the remaining original staff that was appointed by Michel Foucault in 1969. Badiou has arisen as a fierce critic of postmodern philosophy, one of many, and his voice is being increasingly heard.
In one of his first books translated into English, Badiou writes, “The philosophers of today should rather call
themselves ‘philosophers.’ Most of them say in fact that philosophy is impossible, completed, assigned to something other than itself” (Manifesto for Philosophy, 27). Such a fundamental critique on contemporary philosophers is rare coming from within its own circles. Badiou, in effect, says that these philosophers are more like anti-philosophers. Such is Badiou’s criticism: on the fundamental, basic level. Illustrative of this is the following; referring to Lyotard’s famous declaration, Badiou writes, “The announcement of the ‘End of the Grand Narratives’ is as immodest as the Grand Narrative itself…” (ibid., 31).
More will be said of Alain Badiou in future posts. Any criticism of Badiou, or additional relevant information is welcome.
