Between Myth and Nihilism - Community in Jean-Luc Nancys Philosophy

Jean-Luc Nancy is known to be one of the principal contributors to postmodern theory of community. This book examines Nancys con-cept of community as it is presented in his two books "The Sense of the World" and "The Inoperative Community". To obviate both myth and nihilism, Nancy suggests a concept of community based on the ontology of event. At the same time, he proceeds from the ex-perience of addressing and exposing, which in fact exceeds this ontology. Moreover, it implies different ethical attitude - addressing/ exposing and establishing ties with others instead of maintaining flowing identity (openness toward the coming). Therefore, Nancys approach - in spite of his own intention - demonstrates the im-possibility of reducing community to ontology. Community calls for the deciding subject, the one who is not merely an effect of difference but devotes her- or himself to the very project of "being-together". The book is intended for those interested in philosophy, literary and political studies, as well as French studies.