The Inhuman

In this major study, now available in paperback, Lyotard develops his analysis of the phenomenon of postmodernity, and examines the philosophy of Kant, Heidegger, Adorno and Derrida. Lyotard claims that it is the task of literature, philosophy and the arts to bear witness to and explain the links between modernity, progress and humanity, and the difficult transition to postmodernity. Introduction: About the Human.

1. Can Thought go on without a Body?.

2. Rewriting Modernity.

3. Matter and Time.

4. Logos and Tekhne, or Telegraphy.

5. Time Today.

6. Newman: The Instant.

7. The Sublime and the Avant-Garde.

8. Something like: 'Communication ... without Communication.'.

9. Representation, Presentation, Unpresentable.

10. Speech Snapshot.

11. After the Sublime, the State of Aesthetics.

12. Conservation and Colour.

13. God and the Puppet.

14. Obedience.

15. Scapeland.

16. Domus and the Megalopolis.

Index.

'Challenging and controversial, The Inhuman will be among the more widely discussed books of the decade.' Mark Poster, University of California, Irvine

'The Inhuman offers an interesting discussion of postmodernity, the concept which has made Lyotard's reputation in the English speaking world.' Sociology

Jean- François Lyotard was considered to be one of the architects of postmodernity and is the author of many books published in both French and English. In this major study, now available in paperback, Lyotard develops his analysis of the phenomenon of postmodernity, and examines the philosophy of Kant, Heidegger, Adorno and Derrida.

Considering modernist and postmodernist art Lyotard looks at the works of Cezanne, Debussy and Boulez among others. He also addresses such issues as time and memory, the sublime and the avant-garde and the relationship between aesthetics and politics. Throughout his discussion, Lyotard considers the close but problematic links between modernity, progress and humanity, and the transition to postmodernity. He claims that it is the task of literature, philosophy and the arts to bear witness to and explain this difficult transition.