Author: Cornelius Castoriadis File Type: pdf [T]he most original, ambitious, and reflective attempt to think through the liberating mediation of history, society, external and internal nature once again as praxis.-- Ju rgen Habermas, The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity Castoriadiss The Imaginary Institution of Society is a work of great power and originality. As a work of social theory, I would argue that it belongs in a class with the writings of Habermas and Arendt.-- Jay Bernstein, University of Essex This is one of the most original and important works of contemporary European thought. First published in France in 1975, it is the major theoretical work of one of the foremost thinkers in Europe today. Castoriadis offers a brilliant and far-reaching analysis of the unique character of the social-historical world and its relations to the individual, to language, and to nature. He argues that most traditional conceptions of society and history overlook the essential feature of the social-historical world, namely that this world is not articulated once and for all but is in each case the creation of the society concerned. In emphasizing the element of creativity, Castoriadis opens the way for rethinking political theory and practice in terms of the autonomous and explicit self-institution of society.From Library JournalThirty years ago Castoriadis founded the French journal Socialisme ou Barbarie, the title of which stated the alternatives he then saw confronting capitalism. Like Bruno Rizzi, James Burnham, and Milovan Djilas, who worked through an early belief in Marxism to develop a critique of Marxism from the Left, Castoriadis came to conclude that Marxism itself ends in the barbarism of a new class of bureaucrats. The first half of the present work consists of Castoriadiss trenchant critique, while the second half attempts to explain societys origin and function from a new viewpoint. Castoriadiss social theory, a product of more recent years, holds that society arises from the creative imagination, especially in language. Although his presentation is abstract, it is often punctuated by striking examples. This title belongs in most academic collections. Brent A. Nelson, Univ. of Arkansas, Technology Campus Lib., Little Rock 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. ReviewCastoriadiss The Imaginary Institution of Society is a workof great power and originality. As a work of social theory, I wouldargue that it belongs in a class with the writings of Habermas andArendt. Jay Bernstein, University of Essex

Author: Arthur Miller File Type: epub The collected essays of the moral voice of [the] American stage (The New York Times) in a Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition Arthur Miller was not only one of Americas most important twentieth-century playwrights, but he was also one of its most influential literary, cultural, and intellectual voices. Throughout his career, he consistently remained one of the countrys leading public intellectuals, advocating tirelessly for social justice, global democracy, and the arts. Theater scholar Susan C. W. Abbotson introduces this volume as a selection of Millers finest essays, organized in three thematic parts essays on the theater, essays on specific plays like Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, and sociopolitical essays on topics spanning from the Depression to the twenty-first century. Written with playful wit, clear-eyed intellect, and above all, human dignity, these essays offer unmatched insight into the work of Arthur Miller and the turbulent times through which he guided his country. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. From the Trade Paperback edition. **About the Author Arthur Miller (19152005) was born in New York City and studied at the University of Michigan. His remarkable creative output includes plays, fiction, memoir, and screenplays. Among other honors, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the John F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award. Susan C. W. Abbotson (Introduction) is a professor of English at Rhode Island College. A leading scholar on the work of Arthur Miller, she has published three books and many articles on his life and work. She has served as president of the Arthur Miller Society and is the performance editor for the Arthur Miller Journal.