Ben Ware, Co-Director of the Centre for Philosophy and Art at King’s College London, delves into the profound themes of extinction and renewal. He explores how acknowledging our potential demise can add depth to our lives. Discussing philosophical giants from Kant to modern thinkers, he connects literary insights with today's climate crises. He also tackles antinatalism, questioning the ethics of procreation amidst suffering. Ultimately, Ware argues that confronting the end can inspire new beginnings and philosophical transformation.
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insights INSIGHT
On Extinction: A Unique Perspective
Ben Ware's book "On Extinction" offers a unique perspective, going beyond typical climate change discussions.
It delves into philosophical, psychoanalytic, and political aspects of extinction throughout history and its impact on our current times.
insights INSIGHT
The Pandemic's Unfulfilled Promise
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark example of how endings can be both disruptive and underwhelming.
It highlighted the possibility of systemic change, but ultimately reinforced the status quo, creating a sense of a prolonged emergency.
insights INSIGHT
Kant's Sublime End
Immanuel Kant explored the idea of an absolute end as both terrifying and compelling.
He posited that this concept, though unthinkable, gives meaning to human existence and moral striving.
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The Waste Land is a 434-line poem divided into five sections: 'The Burial of the Dead', 'A Game of Chess', 'The Fire Sermon', 'Death by Water', and 'What the Thunder Said'. It is a complex and erudite work that incorporates numerous allusions to mythology, classical literature, and religious texts. The poem reflects the spiritual disillusionment and moral decay of the Western world after World War I, portraying a sterile and fragmented society. It was initially met with controversy due to its innovative and often obscure style but has since become a central work in the modernist canon[2][3][4].
On Extinction
Beginning Again at the End
Ben Ware
The Crisis of the Mind
The Crisis of the Mind
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Paul Valéry
Paul Valéry's "The Crisis of the Mind" is an essay exploring the intellectual and cultural landscape of the early 20th century. Valéry reflects on the impact of World War I and the changing nature of thought and society. He examines the fragility of civilization and the uncertainties of the future. The essay is characterized by its intellectual rigor and its exploration of complex philosophical and aesthetic issues. Valéry's insights into the human condition and the challenges of modernity continue to resonate with readers today.
Endgame
Samuel Beckett
Set in a dim, nondescript room, 'Endgame' revolves around four characters: Hamm, a blind and paralyzed man; Clov, his servant who cannot sit; and Nagg and Nell, Hamm's parents living in dustbins. The play delves into the bleak and absurd lives of these characters, highlighting their physical and emotional disabilities. Hamm, dependent on Clov for all his needs, engages in bitter and acrimonious dialogue, while Clov longs for something more but lacks the initiative to change. The play is a metaphorical exploration of the endgame in chess, symbolizing the final stages of life and the inevitability of death. Beckett's work challenges the audience to confront the meaninglessness and despair that can characterize human existence.
Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus at Colonus
F. Storr
Sophocles
In this ancient Greek tragedy, Oedipus, the blind and banished King of Thebes, arrives at Colonus, a deme of Athens, accompanied by his daughter Antigone. The play explores themes of fate, forgiveness, and the tragic consequences of human actions as Oedipus awaits his death, interacting with characters such as Theseus, Creon, and his son Polyneices. The drama culminates with Oedipus' mysterious and sacred death, attended by Theseus and his daughters[5].
Philosophy at the end of the world
Is humanity looking at its demise in the face? Has it always been? And how can philosophy help us?
Join philosopher Ben Ware, Co-Director of the Centre for Philosophy and Art at King’s College London, as he interrogates how to philosophically, and humanly, confront the end of the world. Ware traces the idea of extinction across many authors - philosophers, writers and the scientists who influenced them - to chart a path to his own ideas of how we can cope with the possibility of the End, of extinction. Without defeatism or denial or excitement, but with strength and possibility.
Read more about Ben's 2024 book On Extinction: Beginning Again at the End here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2604-on-extinction.
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