Hermitix

Mark Blacklock, Lecturer at Birkbeck College, discusses J.G. Ballard's blurring of fact and fiction, the disturbing nature of his writing, his analysis of the future, and insights into his nonfiction writings.

Lars Iyer, a British novelist and philosopher of Indian/Danish parentage, discusses his recently published theory fiction novel exploring the philosophy of Simone Vay and academic life in Britain. Topics covered include the role of British comedy in addressing suffering, the marginalization of academic spaces, criticism and support for a house helping people with addiction, the essence of love and vulnerability in human relationships, and the accessibility and emotional impact of the book.

Peder Anker is a historian of environmental sciences, specializing in the history of ecology and ecological architecture and design. Anker is currently a Professor of History of Science at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. Book PDF Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/7070AC66999C30D35EAE07F0A290963A/9781108477567AR.pdf/The_Power_of_the_Periphery.pdf?event-type=FTLA --- Become part of the Hermitix community: Hermitix Twitter - https://twitter.com/Hermitixpodcast Support Hermitix: Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/hermitix Donations: - https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod Hermitix Merchandise - http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2 Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLK Ethereum Donation Address: 0x31e2a4a31B8563B8d238eC086daE9B75a00D9E74

Damian Catani, senior lecturer in French at Birkbeck, University of London, discusses his book on the controversial author Louis-Ferdinand Céline. They explore his contradictory persona, the impact of war on his writing, the challenge of untethering antisemitism from Nazism, and the discovery of his unpublished novels. Catani also shares his current projects and future plans.

Roe Fremstedal, Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, discusses topics such as despair, morality, God's role, and the connection to Peter Vesser Zappa. They explore the importance of hope and charity in religious ethics, the dilemma of going too far or doing nothing, and the relationship between despair, personal identity, and religion. Kierkegaard's views on morality, atheism, and the relevance of his book are also discussed.

Barry Allen, Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy, discusses the philosophy of Henri Bergson. Topics include: transition from analytic to continental philosophy, the spiritual power of the mind, consciously aligning with the Bergsonian impulse, exploring openness and psychosis, impact of COVID-19 on martial arts training, overlap between martial arts and Bergson's philosophy, book projects and synthesizing Native American traditions with Western philosophy.

Christopher John Müller, a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University, discusses the philosophy of Günther Anders. They explore shame and technology, the fear of death and 'industrial reincarnation,' Anders' writing style and technological eschatology, the overwhelming nature of the post-literary, and an overview of Anders' philosophy.

David Edmonds, British philosopher and radio feature maker at the BBC World Service, discusses the controversial legacy of philosopher Derek Parfit. Topics include Parfit's influence on obligations to future people, his unusual relationship with his body, the consequences of taking action on climate change, the Non-identity Problem and moral dilemmas, introduction to Parfit's work, and a famous thought experiment in moral philosophy.

"Maurice Blanchot: Poetry and Narrative with Kevin Hart" features Maurice Blanchot, a guest known for his contributions to literature and poetry. In this episode, Kevin Hart discusses Blanchot's work from his new book "Maurice Blanchot on Poetry and Narrative." They explore Blanchot's unique atheistic perspective, his views on poetry and narrative, the limits of detail and description in literature, the relationship between his writing and reading, and his interest in gnosis. The chapter also suggests starting with Blanchot's essays before tackling his challenging narrative works.

Tim Howles, Junior Research Fellow in Political Theology at Campion Hall, University of Oxford, discusses the book 'On the Emergence of an Ecological Class: A Memo'. They explore the changing perceptions of class, the concept of progress and the need for an ecological class, guilt, consumption, responsibility in secular and religious contexts, and the separation between humans and nature.