Collapse Volume II: Speculative Realism

Collapse #2

by Robin Mackay (Editor)

Comprising subjects from probability theory to theology, from quantum theory to neuroscience, from astrophysics to necrology, and involving them in unforeseen and productive syntheses, Collapse II features a selection of speculative essays by some of the foremost young philosophers at work today, together with new work from artists and cinéastes, and searching interviews with leading scientists.

Against the tide of institutional balkanisation and specialisation, this volume testifies to a defiant reanimation of the most radical philosophical problematics - the status of the scientific object, metaphysics and its "end", the prospects for a revival of speculative realism, the possibility of phenomenology, transcendence and the divine, the nature of causation, the necessity of contingency - both through a fresh reappropriation of the philosophical tradition and through an openness to its outside. The breadth of philosophical thought in this volume is matched by the surprising and revealing thematic connections that emerge between the philosophers and scientists who have contributed.

Genres: Philosophy

315 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Emma Eugénie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roberto Trotta’s interview on dark matter was definitely the highlight of this collapse. It gave an excellent response to Meillassoux’s concept of archefossil.
The second highlight was for me, Reza Negarestani’s essay on Islamic Exotericism. Astonishing conclusions.
Unfortunately, the other essays and interviews were not worth the read.

[vr reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this 5 stars but the movie shots are almost unviewable by the binding in my copy and I still can't make much sense of Reza. Otherwise this was fantastic, a great example of what books can be.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intellectuals doing alternative facts.

Though I think we don’t use the terminology in quite the same way.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the two interviews in this volume to be quite illuminating, and in retrospect the first couple of essays regarding the "arche-fossil" concept probably added a bit to the interview directly following, but most of the rest I could have skipped. The piece on "vicarious causation" felt decidedly half-baked, and the portions of Negarestani's piece that were intelligible felt like notes for Cyclonopedia more than anything else. I will continue reading this series as it is interesting more often than not, but this volume was not as strong as the first.

[David Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this for the essay on Meillasoux's After Finitude by Ray Brassier, which I was not disappointed with. The interview with eliminative realist philosopher Paul Churchland and Kristen Alvanson's photo/diagrammatic essay on Middle Eastern graveyards were both fantastic. Unfortunately, I found Negarestani's essay here nearly impenetrable.

[Razi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulled it out of the shelf yesterday to re-read in the light of my on-going reading of Quentin Meillassoux. Should make more sense now. I can recall finding it very informative on cutting-edge theory when I read it 5 years ago (how time flies!) About time I renewed my subscription.