ALAIN BADIOU

BIRTH AND DEATH

Birth: 1/17/1937     Death:

OCCUPATION

scientist

BIOGRAPHY SUMMARY

Alain Badiou is a French philosopher, formerly chair of Philosophy at the École normale supérieure (ENS) and founder of the faculty of Philosophy of the Université de Paris VIII with Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault and Jean-François Lyotard. Badiou's work is heavily informed by philosophical applications of mathematics, in particular set theory and category theory. Badiou's Being and Event project considers the concepts of being, truth, event and the subject defined by a rejection of linguistic relativism seen as typical of postwar French thought. Unlike his peers, Badiou openly believes in the idea of universalism and truth. His work is notable for his widespread applications of various conceptions of indifference. Badiou has been involved in a number of political organisations, and regularly comments on political events. Badiou argues for a return of communism as a political force.

NOTABLE WORK

WHY THEY MATTER

Alain Badiou's intellectual uniqueness lies in his fusion of philosophy with mathematics, particularly set theory and category theory, as seen in his influential work Being and Event. He challenges the prevalent linguistic relativism in postwar French thought and advocates for universalism and truth, a departure from his contemporaries. Badiou's engagement with political philosophy, specifically his advocacy for a return of communism, further distinguishes him as a philosopher actively involved in contemporary socio-political discourse.

FAMOUS QUOTE

… necessitating the unilateral choice of one of three orientations […] I would summarize the disjointed temporal multiple which organizes our site in the following manner:

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