Libidinal Economy

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Libidinal Economy
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Jean-Francois Lyotard
Translated by Iain Hamilton Grant
SeriesBloomsbury Revelations
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:304
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 138
Category/GenreWestern philosophy from c 1900 to now
Social and political philosophy
ISBN/Barcode 9781474241120
ClassificationsDewey:194
Audience
Undergraduate
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly

Publishing Details

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publication Date 22 October 2015
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

First published in 1974, Libidinal Economy is a major work of twentieth century continental philosophy. In it, Lyotard develops the idea of economies driven by libidinal 'energies' or 'intensities' which he claims flow through all structures, such as the human body and political or social events. He uses this idea to interpret a diverse range of subjects including political economy, Marxism, sexual politics, semiotics and psychoanalysis. Lyotard also carries out a broad critique of philosophies of desire, as expounded by Deleuze and Guattari, Nietzsche, Bataille, Foucault and de Sade.

Author Biography

Jean-Francois Lyotard (1924-1998) was Professor of Philosophy at several institutes of higher learning in Paris and at the University of California. A member of the radical group Socialisme ou Barbarie, he later went on to become one of the founding figures of postmodernism with his work The Postmodern Condition.