New Books in Critical Theory Piotr Nowak, "After Jews: Essays on Political Theology, Shoah and the End of Man" (Anthem Press, 2025)
Nov 25, 2025
In this discussion, Piotr Nowak, a philosophy professor at Białystok University, dives into his thought-provoking book on the impact of the Holocaust on modern identity. He argues that conditions enabling such atrocities persist in late capitalism. Nowak explores the meaning behind 'After Jews,' critiques the tensions within Jewish tradition, and examines the uncomfortable truths of fascism. He provocatively links the roots of the Shoah to a resistance against secular modernity while warning of the potential for future violence against marginalized groups.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Destructive Capacity Persists
- The structural and technological conditions that enabled the Holocaust remain present in late capitalism.
- Piotr Nowak warns the organizational capacity of modern states allows destruction to recur quickly.
Title Borrowed From A Ghetto Survivor
- Nowak recounts Marek Edelman's phrase "There are no Jews. There will never be any more." to explain the title After Jews.
- He frames the title as a commemoration of a vanished communal presence.
Exclusive Tradition Versus Universal Mission
- Nowak contrasts Judaism's exclusivity with Christianity's proselytizing universalism.
- He argues Judaism's closed boundaries limited aggression while Christianity's openness propelled expansion.
