The Political Thought of Jacques Rancière

by Todd May

Equality is not something that we must expect from state institutions. It is something that we must both presuppose and create through collective action. Todd May investigates in depth the philosophical grounds, ethical implications and practical consequences of the view of active equality. Much more than a commentary, his book is a powerful analysis of what politics means and how we can recover the project of political action. Jacques Rancière This is the first single-authored book in any language devoted entirely to the thought of Jacques Rancière. It focuses on his central political idea that a democratic politics emerges from the presupposition of equality. Todd May examines and extends this presupposition, offering a framework for understanding it, placing it in the current political context, and showing how it challenges traditional political philosophy and opens up neglected political paths. May aims to show that Rancière's view offers both hope and perspective for those who seek to think about and engage in progressive political action.

Key Features
* offers a thorough discussion of Rancière's concept of equality
* provides an ethical framework in which to ground his politics
* shows why Rancière is crucial for political reflection today
* both translated and untranslated works are referred to

Genres: Philosophy, Politics

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Todd May was born in New York City. He is the author of 18 books of philosophy. He was philosophical advisor to NBC's hit sit-com The Good Place and one of the original contributors to the New York Times philosophy blog The Stone. Todd teaches philosophy at Warren Wilson College.

Reviews

[Jet R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting and relevant today. But May jumps very quickly, and I don’t think he understands Iris Marion Young well enough lol

[Alex Hui · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main focus of this book is a radical form of democracy emphasizing the presupposition of equality. In stark contrast to deliberative democracy, consensus is regarded as an obstacle to achieving equality in community. The criticism of current democratic system is not sound in all senses but offers us a investigation of the potential problems which are often neglected in name of protecting or promoting economic fortune for the whole society. I found this book pretty much thought-provoking in terms of relationships of classes in a democratic system, and the struggles of 'part with no part'— people with no say — in a society where passive equality is the mainstream.