Detachment

by Michel Serres

French

Genres: Philosophy

107 pages, Unknown Binding

First published December 1, 1983

About the author

Michel Serres was a French philosopher, theorist and author.

Reviews

[EB · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We are too condemned to be ruled by economics, the law of the world, greediness, productivity, exhaustion. Economists will make us become exact beasts. We have almost reached that point, we are close to history’s end” (12).

A stunning short book of essays. I deeply admire Serres’s style of writing that can both baffle and enchant me at the same time. His way of communicating the body’s relationship to the land— and what becomes lost in the destruction of it— is just beautiful. His critiques of science are more relevant than ever. “Trees of Death, The Tree of Life” in part three of the book is particularly poignant and is my favorite section of the book.

“I am no longer dreaming, perhaps I did not dream. We are the forewarned masters of a tremendous science, why are you speaking to me of vegetables and oxen, we are barely masters of a considerable power that would make barbarians full of pride” (61).

“Upright and praying, keeping a colossal vigil, with its branches raised like elbows almost to the light — it is praying to some god of life which I will never know, if I still know what praying means. Perhaps today I should forget my knowledge” (62).

[Wim Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Associatief, poëtisch en beeldend betoog in een taalveld dat sterk doet denken – mede door de beschrijvingen van het Chinese platteland en de zee – aan de proza van J.J. Slauerhoff (1898–1936). De rode draad is dat losmaking (‘detachment’) een cruciale voorwaarde is voor persoonlijke en collectieve groei. Je hebt het nodig voor creativiteit en innovatie. Door ons los te maken van gevestigde ideeën, conventies en routines, ontdekken we nieuwe perspectieven en mogelijkheden. Deze losmaking kan zowel fysiek, zoals in de reis van een zeeman of de zwerver, als mentaal en spiritueel, zoals in de levensstijl van een minderbroeder. Deze tekst kan dienen als een ‘spirituele’ bron voor de meer filosofisch-geïnteresseerde gelovige.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A fruit is a sin of the flesh, sin is a lack, a fruit, a fruition... Our essence is only a margin, our being a swerve."