Groundless Existence

In this marvelous book, Marder set out to expose the hermeneutic nature of Schmitt's political ontology as no one has ever done before. Through a deconstructive reading, Schmitt's political philosophy is put in a dialogue with contemporary thought, giving politics new ontological vitality. Not only Schmitt scholars but also all those interested in the meaning of politics after deconstruction will find this book to be an indispensable text. A genuine "must read." --Gianni Vattimo and Santiago Zabala, authors of Hermeneutic Communism "Michael Marder's brilliant explication of the philosophical content of Carl Schmitt's political theory is, at the same time, a profound exploration of the very possibility of political philosophy in the wake of phenomenology, existentialism and deconstruction. No one has written more lucidly or insightfully on Schmitt's philosophical standing and on the fundamental problems of the political. Groundless Existence is the new gold standard in Schmitt scholarship and an indispensable point of reference in political philosophy."--Russell Berman, Professor of German Studies and Comparative Literature & Walter A. Haas Professor in the Humanities, Stanford University Brilliantly revisiting Schmitt's concepts in the context of a political ontology understood within an existential-phenomenological framework, Michael Marder furnishes one of the most powerful, original and interesting reflections on Carl Schmitt's work from a philosophical point of view. --Alexandre Franco de S, Professor of Philosophy, University of Coimbra, Portugal Tracing Schmitt's ideas to their philosophical underpinnings and beyond to their very essence, the human experience, Michael Marder breaks new ground in Schmitt scholarship. -- George Schwab, Professor Emeritus, CUNY Marder's book is a significant contribution to understanding Schmitt's philosophical underpinnings and political ontology. It facilitates a fresh and innovative conversation about possible politico-philosophical links between Schmitt, phenomenology, existentialism, and deconstructivism. -- Notre Dame Philosophy Reviews

Michael Marder is Ikerbasque Research Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. He is the Associate Editor of Telos: A Quarterly Journal of Critical Thought and the author of The Event of The Thing: Derrida's Post-Deconstructive Realism (2009).

List of Abbreviations: The Works of Carl Schmitt Introduction: On the Possibility of a Non-Objectivist Political Ontology Part I - The Elements Chapter 1 - Geometry of the Exception: The Point and The Line To the Point Beyond the Line The Extremism of the Middle Point Chapter 2 - The Danger: Unavoidability of Risk A Taxonomy of Risk Whence Political Risk? The Anthropological Minus the Economic Risky Recognitions Risky Decisions Chapter 3 - The Non-Ground: From the Concept of the Political to the Event of Politics A Philosophical Primer: Snapshots of the Event in Heidegger and Derrida There is no Such a Thing as the "Political Sphere"! Schmitt's Anti-Economism Revisited: Nomos / Appropriation, Politics / Expropriation How to Remain Faithful to the Event of Politics? Chapter 4 - Politics in Question Prelude: Questioning the Question Posing the Question Interlude: Yes or No? In Place of a Response... Part II - The Critique Chapter 5 - Metonymic Abuses of Modernity In the Name of the Law... Constitutional Unity, Constitutional Details The Fragility of the Status and the Irreducibility of the Political Chapter 6 - Political Reduction to Constitutive Subjectivity Schmitt and Husserl: From the Crisis The Ontology of Political Will P.S.: On Political Consciousness Part III - On the Ground Chapter 7 - Living Forms: Culture, Multiculturalism and the Complexio Oppositorum Disentangling Complexio Oppositorum The Living Forms of Politics A Virtuous Circle: The Mutual Invigoration of Culture and Politics Multiculturalism: A New Complexio Oppositorum Chapter 8 - Political Hermeneutics: The Necessity of Interpretation Schmitt and Gadamer: Decision and Interpretation Politics as Interpretation Interpreting the Meaning of the Political Political Theology as a Hermeneutic Endeavor