Doing

French philosopher Nancy (Portrait), observing mass unemployment, income inequality, war, terrorism, and corrupt politics, urges readers to “do something” in this timely if dense collection of essays. The concept of the “state” is “dated, outdated, or expired,” Nancy writes, and has been replaced by a combination of global economics and technological power. Nancy touches on the populist movement, (those abandoned by the new economic state), leftist politics (which Nancy argues facilitated the transfer of traditional politics to economic and technological hegemony), and religion, which he calls “fervour led astray.” As Nancy zeroes in on the question of “What to do?” his language becomes difficult to parse, leaving the question wrapped in abstractions and its answer unfortunately opaque. Nancy’s message, if not wholly optimistic, is at least hopeful, as he closes with a prediction that “a wind is rising,” which, aided by the “human spirit,” may lead to a better future. Patient, philosophically minded readers are sure to find food for thought. (Dec.)