Theory of religionTheory of Religion brings to philosophy what Bataille's earlier book, The Accursed Share, brought to anthropology and history; namely, an analysis based on notions of excess and expenditure. Bataille brilliantly defines religion as so many different attempts to respond to the universe's relentless generosity. Framed within his original theory of generalized economics and based on his masterly reading of archaic religious activity, Theory of Religion constitutes, along with The Accursed Share, the most important articulation of Bataille's work. Georges Bataille (1897-1962), founder of the French review Critique, wrote fiction and essays on a wide range of topics. His books in English translation include Story of the Eye, Blue of Noon, Literature and Evil, Manet and Erotism. Robert Hurley is the translator of The History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault and cotranslator of Anti Oedipus by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Distributed for Zone Books. |
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affirmation Alexandre Kojeve anguish appears autonomous awakening body clear consciousness clearly and distinctly complete condemns consumption continuity contrary death defined destroyed developed distinct divine intimacy divine order divine world Doubtless dualism duration eaten economy of salvation elements Emile DURKHEIM empire evil external violence fact festival forces Georges Dumezil given Hegel here-below human sacrifice iconoclasm imma implies individual insofar inti intimate order labor limits linked longer lost intimacy macy man's Max WEBER meaning mediation ment military order moral divinity movement mythical nature negation never nonproductive destruction operative forms operative power opposed order of things plane plant positing possible precisely principle production profane world rational real order real world reality reason reduced relation religious restored reveals self-consciousness sense sensuous world separate situation slave sovereign sovereignty spirit subordinated supreme theory of religion thinghood thought tion tool transcendence universal unleashing water in water world like water world of things