A trenchant look at how the coronavirus reveals the dangerous fault lines of contemporary society As seen on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS: “A stirring alarm addressed to an unsettled world.” (Kirkus Reviews) Forget the world that came before. The author of American Vertigo serves up an incisive look at how COVID-19 reveals the dangerous fault lines of contemporary society. With medical mysteries, rising death tolls, and conspiracy theories beamed minute by minute through the vast web universe, the coronavirus pandemic has irrevocably altered societies around the world. In this sharp essay, world-renowned philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy interrogates the many meanings and metaphors we have assigned to the pandemic—and what they tell us about ourselves. Drawing on the philosophical tradition from Plato and Aristotle to Lacan and Foucault, Lévy asks uncomfortable questions about reality and mythology: he rejects the idea that the virus is a warning from nature, the inevitable result of global capitalism; he questions the heroic status of doctors, asking us to think critically about the loci of authority and power; he challenges the panicked polarization that dominates online discourse. Lucid, incisive, and always original, Lévy takes a bird's-eye view of the most consequential historical event of our time and proposes a way to defend human society from threats to our collective future. A portion of the author's proceeds will be donated to Binc (The Book Industry Charitable Foundation).

Ce virus qui rend fou

Lévy, Bernard-Henri, author; Kennedy, Steven B., translator

Bernard-Henri Lévy

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

New Haven: Yale University Press

Brandywine River Museum

Mariners' Museum, The

United States, United States of America

New Haven, CT :, 2020

Jul 28, 2020

PT, 2020

xvii, 106 pages ; 21 cm
"World-renowned philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy interrogates the many meanings and metaphors we have assigned to the coronavirus pandemic--and what they tell us about ourselves. Lévy takes a bird's-eye view of the most consequential historical event of our time and proposes a way to defend human society from threats to our collective future."--Publisher's description
A trenchant look at how the coronavirus reveals the dangerous fault lines of contemporary society. With medical mysteries, rising death tolls, and conspiracy theories beamed minute by minute through the vast web universe, the coronavirus pandemic has irrevocably altered societies around the world. In this sharp essay, world-renowned philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy interrogates the many meanings and metaphors we have assigned to the pandemic--and what they tell us about ourselves. Drawing on the philosophical tradition from Plato and Aristotle to Lacan and Foucault, Lévy asks uncomfortable questions about reality and mythology: he rejects the idea that the virus is a warning from nature, the inevitable result of global capitalism; he questions the heroic status of doctors, asking us to think critically about the loci of authority and power; he challenges the panicked polarization that dominates online discourse. Lucid, incisive, and always original, Lévy takes a bird's-eye view of the most consequential historical event of our time and proposes a way to defend human society from threats to our collective future
Come back, Michel Foucault--we need you! -- Divine surprise -- Delicious confinement -- Life, they say -- Goodbye, world?
Includes bibliographical references (pages 95-106)

A Trenchant Look At How The Coronavirus Reveals The Dangerous Fault Lines Of Contemporary Society With Medical Mysteries, Rising Death Tolls, And Conspiracy Theories Beamed Minute By Minute Through The Vast Web Universe, The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Irrevocably Altered Societies Around The World. In This Sharp Essay, World-renowned Philosopher Bernard-henri Lévy Interrogates The Many Meanings And Metaphors We Have Assigned To The Pandemic--and What They Tell Us About Ourselves. Drawing On The Philosophical Tradition From Plato And Aristotle To Lacan And Foucault, Lévy Asks Uncomfortable Questions About Reality And Mythology: He Rejects The Idea That The Virus Is A Warning From Nature, The Inevitable Result Of Global Capitalism; He Troubles The Heroic Status Of Doctors, Asking Us To Think Critically About The Loci Of Authority And Power; He Challenges The Panicked Polarization That Dominates Online Discourse. Lucid, Incisive, And Always Original, Lévy Takes A Bird's-eye View Of The Most Consequential Historical Event Of Our Time And Proposes A Way To Defend Human Society From Threats To Our Collective Future.

Offers a trenchant look at how the coronavirus reveals the dangerous fault lines of contemporary society. Bernard-Henri Lévy interrogates the many meanings and metaphors we have assigned to the pandemic--and what they tell us about ourselves. Drawing on the philosophical tradition from Plato and Aristotle to Lacan and Foucault, Lévy asks uncomfortable questions about reality and mythology: he rejects the idea that the virus is a warning from nature, the inevitable result of global capitalism; he questions the heroic status of doctors, asking us to think critically about the loci of authority and power; he challenges the panicked polarization that dominates online discourse. The author takes a bird's-eye view of the most consequential historical event of our time and proposes a way to defend human society from threats to our collective future. --Adapted from publisher description

2023-10-09