Weak Thought

by Gianni Vattimo (Editor), Pier Aldo Rovatti (Editor), Peter Carravetta (Translator)

Heralding the beginning of the philosophical dialogue on the concept for which Gianni Vattimo would become best known (and coining its name), this groundbreaking 1983 collection includes foundational essays by Vattimo and Pier Aldo Rovatti, along with original contributions by nine other Italian philosophers influenced by and working within the authors' framework. Dissatisfied with the responses to nineteenth- and twentieth-century European philosophy offered by Marxism, deconstruction, and poststructuralism, Vattimo found in the nihilism of Friedrich Nietzsche an important context within which to take up the hermeneutics of Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer. The idea of weak thought sketched by Vattimo and Rovatti emphasizes a way of understanding the role of philosophy based on language, interpretation, and limits rather than on metaphysical and epistemological certainties—without falling into relativism. To the first English-language edition of this volume, translator Peter Carravetta adds an extensive critical introduction, providing an overview of weak thought and taking stock of its philosophical trajectory over more than a quarter century.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

277 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Gianteresio Vattimo, also known as Gianni Vattimo (born January 4, 1936) is an internationally recognized Italian author, philosopher, and politician. Many of his works have been translated into English.

His philosophy can be characterized as postmodern with his emphasis on "pensiero debole" (weak thought). This requires that the foundational certainties of modernity with its emphasis on objective truth founded in a rational unitary subject be relinquished for a more multi-faceted conception closer to that of the arts.

Reviews

[Pavlogreen]

Los artículos que se recogen en este volumen son ya clásicos de la filosofía de los años 80 y suponen un documento muy valioso para captar la efervescencia del pensamiento italiano en aquella época. Hay una gran variedad en los artículos y solo algunos de ellos se podrían clasificar sin redención posible dentro de lo que se ha llamado "la Posmodernidad". La mayoría de ellos juega con conceptos e ideas muy influidos por Heidegger y siempre contra una noción fuerte del pensamiento, aunque con disparidades en el tono y la radicalidad de sus propuestas. Los artículos más intereantes son los de Vattimo, Aldo Rovatti, Eco, Ferraris y Dal Lago.

[Franco Lualdi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Testo per iniziati, lungi dall'essere un compendio del “pensiero debole” è un insieme destrutturato di analisi dei pensieri filosofici che ne avvicinano la comprensione ma più per esclusione. Ho scoperto nel frattempo il Kafka filosofo che non conoscevo. Tostissimo.

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mi viene voglia di andare con una donna quando penso che appartengo alla stessa schiera di Cecchi". Che grande.