Simon Critchley
Professor of Philosophy at The European Graduate School / EGS.
Biography
Simon Critchley (b. 1960) is a professor of philosophy at The European Graduate School / EGS and the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at The New School of Social Research. He is a scholar of continental philosophy and phenomenology, with particular emphasis on Emmanuel Levinas. Much of Critchley’s work examines the crucial relationship between the ethical and political within philosophy. His thinking traverses a variety of genres complimenting his interests in music, humour, and tragedy.
The prolific writer has published and edited twentyeight books to date, many on the works of Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida, Ernesto Laclau, Martin Heidegger, and Wallace Stevens. Critchley’s works include, among others, Re-Reading Levinas(1991), Deconstructive Subjectivities (1996), Continental Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (2001), On Humour (2002), On the Human Condition (2005) with Dominique Janicaud and Eileen Brennan, On Heidegger’s Being and Time (2008) with Reiner Schürmann, the slim German volume Der Katechismus des Bürgers(2008, The Catechism of the Citizen, 2009), and Impossible Objects (2011).
Critchley was born in Hertfordshire, England. He obtained his BA from the University of Essex in 1985 and his MA in philosophy with a thesis on Martin Heidegger and Rudolf Carnap from the University of Nice in 1987. In 1988, he received his PhD from the University of Essex with a dissertation on the ethics of deconstruction in the works of Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida. Simon Critchley then went on to teach at his alma mater in Essex, first as a lecturer in philosophy, then as a reader, and finally, in 1999, as a professor. In 2004, he became a professor at The New School in New York. In addition, Critchley was chosen as a scholar by the prestigious Getty Research Institute and has been a visiting professor in institutions such as the University of Oslo, Cardozo Law School, Tilburg University, and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
To a large degree, Simon Critchley’s work deals with religious and political disappointment in its relationship to philosophy. In Very Little… Almost Nothing(1997), the philosopher explores religious disappointment, the loss of belief, and nihilism through Maurice Blanchot and Samuel Beckett. Simultaneously pointing to the symbiosis between disappointment and excitement, Critchley links them as a necessity to one another. Instead of disappointment being an inescapable truth in the pejorative sense, he explores its relationship to limitation as freedom. In an interview with the journal Ephemera: Theory and Politics in Organization, Simon Critchley talks about disappointment as “an acceptance of limitation”; for Critchley, limitation is a condition of possibility. Pointing towards the idea that those who accept the limitations of being mortal beings are truly free, Critchley cites Montaigne who wrote, “he who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave.”
Delving further into the contemporary state of disappointment in liberal politics, Simon Critchley’s most comprehensive work, in terms of his philosophical views, is Infinitely Demanding: Ethics of Commitment, Politics of Resistance (2007). His stated goal was to present his ethics as clearly as possible, and to address what kind of political consequences such a stance could have. Arguing for anarchism as a tool for motivation in a post-Marxist climate, Critchley writes: “Politics is the manifestation of dissensus, the cultivation of an anarchic multiplicity that calls into question the authority and legitimacy of the state. It is in relation to such a multiplicity that we may begin to restore some dignity to the dreadfully devalued discourse of democracy.” Infinitely Demanding covers much ground (his early relationship to music and the punk scene seems to allow for his work to be open and interdisciplinary), including disappointment, deconstruction, humor, contemporary art, poetry, fashion, political theory, and authenticity.
Acceptance of mortality as freedom is more thoroughly explored in Simon Critchley’s eighth book, The Book of Dead Philosophers (2008), which is an account of the deaths of over one hundred and ninety philosophers. Humorous and illuminating, The Book of Dead Philosophers not only maps out the relationship between the work of the philosophers at hand and the nature of their demise, but also consistently reminds the reader of his or her own existential anxiety. In his conclusion, Critchley writes: “In speaking of death and even laughing at our frailty and mortality, one accepts the creaturely limitation that is the very condition for human freedom. Such freedom is not a passive state of being or the simple absence of necessity or constraint. On the contrary, it is an ongoing activity that requires the acceptance of necessity and the affirmation of the moving constraint of our mortality.”
In Bowie (2014), an autobiographical essay with forays into theory, Simon Critchley recounts the impact David Bowie had on his life. The first chapter, humorously entitled “My First Sexual Experience,” chronicles the moment Critchely first saw Bowie perform “Starman” on television. Equally entertaining and illuminating, Critchley reminisces about Bowie’s songs and the games of authenticity and identity the ever-shifting popstar from outer space played with throughout his career.
In Notes on Suicide (2015), Critchley returns to death, examining what it means to end one’s own life with anecdotes and insights from philosophers, literary figures, and even pop stars—many of whom have ended their lives at their own hands. His other most recent works include, ABC of Impossibility, The Stone Reader, and The Problem with Levinas, all published in 2015. He is also editor of the book series “Thinking the Political” (Routledge), “Blackwell Readings in Continental Philosophy” (Blackwell), “Thinking in Action” (Routledge), and “How to Read…” (Granta, London and W.W. Norton, New York). Furthermore, Critchley is the moderator of the New York Times opinion series “The Stone,” which invites contemporary philosophers to contribute on a wide variety of philosophical topics.
Simon Critchley also holds the position of “Chief Philosopher” for the International Necronautical Society (INS), an obvious choice given the philosopher’s mobility within varying philosophical, political, and cultural practices. A parody of early twentieth century avant-garde cultural, artistic, and political organizations, the INS produces live events, denunciations and proclamations. In 2009, Critchley, and INS General Secretary Tom McCarthy, held a lecture at Tate Britain on the self-serving nature of authenticity. Keeping with the theme, they chose two actors to represent them rather than presenting the lecture themselves. A selection of the official documents of the INS, from 1999 until 2010, was first published in German as International Necronautical Society – Offizielle Mitteilungen (2011). Two years later they were published in English under the title, The Mattering of Matter: Documents from the Archive of the International Necronautical Society (2013).
Written by Christian Hänggi
Works
Books
Edited Works
The Stone
“The Stone,” column in The New York Times. 2010-2015.
The Anarchist Turn
Critchley, Simon, Jacob Blumenfeld, and Chiara Bottici, eds. The Anarchist Turn. Pluto Press, 2013. ISBN: 0745333427
Philippe Parreno
Critchley, Simon, Philippe Parreno, Christine Macel, and Karen Marta, eds. Philippe Parreno. JRP|Ringier, 2009. ISBN: 3037640332
Laclau, A Critical Reader
Critchley, Simon, and Oliver Marchart, eds. Laclau, A Critical Reader. Routledge, 2004. ISBN: 0415238447
The Cambridge Companion to Levinas
Critchley, Simon, and Robert Bernasconi, eds.. The Cambridge Companion to Levinas. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0521665655
A Companion to Continental Philosophy
Critchley, Simon, and William R. Schroeder, eds. A Companion to Continental Philosophy. Wiley-Blackwell, 1999. ISBN: 0631218505
Emmanuel Levinas: Basic Philosophical Writings
Critchley, Simon, Adriaan T. Peperzak, and Robert Bernasconi, eds. Emmanuel Levinas: Basic Philosophical Writings. Indiana University Press, 1996. ISBN: 0253210798.
Deconstructive Subjectivities
Critchley, Simon, and Peter Dews, eds. Deconstructive Subjectivities. State University of New York Press, 1996. ISBN: 0791427242
Re-Reading Levinas
Critchley, Simon, and Robert Bernasconi, eds. Re-Reading Levinas. Indiana Univ Press, 1991. ISBN: 0253311799
Chapters
A Beginner’s Guide to Philosophy
Critchley, Simon. Foreword to A Beginner’s Guide to Philosophy, by Dominique Janicaud. Pegasus, 2009. ISBN: 1605980013
Articles
Superfaciality: Some Poems by Fernando Pessoa, one by Wallace Stevens, and the brief Sketch of a Poetic Ontology
Critchley, Simon. “Superfaciality: Some Poems by Fernando Pessoa, one by Wallace Stevens, and the brief Sketch of a Poetic Ontology.” Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology Vol. 46, No. 4 (2015): 278-291.
Levinas and Hitlerism
Critchley, Simon. “Levinas and Hitlerism.” Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal Vol. 35, No. 1 (2014): 223-249.
What is the Institutional Form of Thinking?
Critchley, Simon. “What is the Institutional Form of Thinking?” The Undecidable Unconscious: A Journal of Deconstruction and Psychoanalysis Vol. 1, No. 1 (2014): 119-133.
Funny Stories About Death
Critchley, Simon. “Funny Stories About Death.” Chronogram, February 1, 2013.
Why I Love Mormonism
Critchley, Simon. “Why I Love Mormonism.” New York Times, The Stone, September 16, 2012
What Is the Institutional Form for Thinking?
Critchley, Simon. “What Is the Institutional Form for Thinking?” Differences Vol. 21, No. 1 (2010): 19.
Of Poets and Thinkers: A Conversation on Philosophy, Literature and the Rebuilding of the World
Critchley, Simon, Costica Bradatan, Giuseppe Mazzotta, and Alexander Nehamas. “Of Poets and Thinkers: A Conversation on Philosophy, Literature and the Rebuilding of the World.” The European Legacy Vol. 14, No. 5 (2009): 519-534.
Quentin Meillassoux – After Finitude
Critchley, Simon. “Quentin Meillassoux – After Finitude.” Times Literary Supplement,February 27, 2009.
The catechism of the citizen: politics, law and religion in, after, with and against Rousseau
Critchley, Simon. “The catechism of the citizen: politics, law and religion in, after, with and against Rousseau.” Continental Philosophy Review Vol. 42, No. 1 (2009): 5-34.
Resistance is Utile
Critchley, Simon. “Resistance is Utile.” Harpers, May 2008.
The Split Subject
Critchley, Simon. “The Split Subject.” Chinese Philosophy Vol. 35, No. 1 (2008): 79-87.
A Heroism of the Decision, a Politics of the Event
Critchley, Simon. “A Heroism of the Decision, a Politics of the Event.” London Review of Books Vol. 29, No. 18-20, September (2007).
Noises off – on Ibsen
Critchley, Simon. “Noises off – on Ibsen.” Ibsen Studies Vol. 7, No. 2 (2007): 132-149.
Ours is Not a Terrible Situation
Critchley, Simon and Alain Badiou. “Ours is Not a Terrible Situation.” Philosophy Today Vol. 51, No. 3, Fall (2007).
Forgetfulness Must: Politics and Filiation in Blanchot and Derrida
Critchley, Simon. “Forgetfulness Must: Politics and Filiation in Blanchot and Derrida.” Parallax Vol. 12, No. 2 (2006): 12-22.
Crypto-Schmittianism
Critchley, Simon. “Crypto-Schmittianism.” State of Nature 2, Winter (2006).
Satura Resartus: Living in the Woods with Bears
Critchley, Simon. “Satura Resartus: Living in the Woods with Bears.” Law and Literature Vol. 17, No. 3, Autumn (2005): 433-441.
Jacques Derrida
Critchley, Simon. “Jacques Derrida.” Theory and Event Vol. 8, No. 1 (2005).
Poetry as philosophy – on Wallace Stevens
Critchley, Simon. “Poetry as philosophy – on Wallace Stevens.” European Journal of American Culture Vol. 24, No. 3 (2005): 179-190.
Five Problems in Levinas’s View of Politics and the Sketch of a Solution to Them
Critchley, Simon. “Five Problems in Levinas’s View of Politics and the Sketch of a Solution to Them.” Political Theory Vol. 32, No. 2, April (2004): 172-185.
Obituary Jacques Derrida: An Ethos of Reading
Critchley, Simon. “Obituary Jacques Derrida: An Ethos of Reading.” Radical Philosophy 129 (2005): 26.
I Want to Die, I Hate My Life–Phaedra’s Malaise
Critchley, Simon. “I Want to Die, I Hate My Life–Phaedra’s Malaise.” New Literary History Vol. 35, No. 1 (2004): 17-40.
Obituaries Profiles: Dominique Janicaud, 1937-2002
Critchley, Simon. “Obituaries Profiles: Dominique Janicaud, 1937-2002.” Radical Philosophy 117 (2003).
Qui Vivra Verra: Obituary for Dominique Janicaud
Critchley, Simon. “Qui Vivra Verra: Obituary for Dominique Janicaud.” Philosophy and Social Criticism Vol. 29, No. 6 (2003): 729-732.
In Memoriam: Dominique Janicaud (1937-2002)
Critchley, Simon. “In Memoriam: Dominique Janicaud (1937-2002).” Research in Phenomenology Vol. 33, No. 1 (2003): 3-5.
The overcoming of overcoming: On Dominique Janicaud
Critchley, Simon. “The overcoming of overcoming: On Dominique Janicaud.” Continental Philosophy Review Vol. 36, No. 4 (2003): 433-447.
Introduction
Critchley, Simon. “Introduction.” Parallax Vol. 8, No. 3 (2002): 1-4.
Enigma Variations: An Interpretation of Heidegger’s Sein und Zeit
Critchley, Simon. “Enigma Variations: An Interpretation of Heidegger’s Sein und Zeit.” Ratio Vol. 15, No. 2 (2002): 154-175.
Persecution Before Exploitation – A Non-Jewish Israel?
Critchley, Simon. “Persecution Before Exploitation – A Non-Jewish Israel?” ParallaxVol. 8, No. 3 (2002): 71-77.
Demanding Approval
Critchley, Simon. “Demanding Approval.” Radical Philosophy 101 (2000).
Remarks on Derrida and Habermas
Critchley, Simon. “Remarks on Derrida and Habermas.” Constellations Vol. 7, No. 4 (2000): 455-465.
Heidegger for Beginners
Critchley, Simon. “Heidegger for Beginners.” Theory and Event Vol. 3, No. 4 (2000).
Sounding desire: On tricky
Critchley, Simon. “Sounding desire: On tricky.” Angelaki Vol. 4, No. 3 (1999): 121-130.
Comedy and Finitude: Displacing the Tragic-Heroic Paradigm in Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
Critchley, Simon. “Comedy and Finitude: Displacing the Tragic-Heroic Paradigm in Philosophy and Psychoanalysis.” Constellations Vol. 6, No. 1 (1999): 108.
Kako ne popustiti glede svoje želje : pripombe in vprašanja ob Etiki Alaina Badiouja
Critchley, Simon. “Kako ne popustiti glede svoje želje : pripombe in vprašanja ob Etiki Alaina Badiouja.” Filozofski Vestnik Vol. 19, No. 1 (1998): 21-31.
Philosophy in Germany
Critchley, Simon. “Philosophy in Germany.” Translated by Axel Honneth. Radical Philosophy 89 (1998).
Who Speaks in the Work of Samuel Beckett?
Critchley, Simon. “Who Speaks in the Work of Samuel Beckett?” Yale French Studies93 (1998): 114.
Metaphysics in the Dark: A Response to Richard Rorty and Ernesto Laclau
Critchley, Simon. “Metaphysics in the Dark: A Response to Richard Rorty and Ernesto Laclau.” Political Theory Vol. 26, No. 6, December (1998): 803-817.
Di and Dodi Die
Critchley, Simon. “Di and Dodi Die.” Theory and Event Vol. 1, No. 4 (1997).
The Philosophical Significance of a Poem (On Wallace Stevens)
Critchley, Simon. “The Philosophical Significance of a Poem (On Wallace Stevens).” Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 96 (1996): 269-291.
The hypothesis, the context, the messianic, the political, the economic, the technological : on Derrida’s specters of Marx
Critchley, Simon. “The hypothesis, the context, the messianic, the political, the economic, the technological : on Derrida’s specters of Marx.” Filozofski Vestnik Vol. 16, No. 2 (1995): 81-108.
On Derrida’s Specters of Marx
Critchley, Simon. “On Derrida’s Specters of Marx.” Philosophy and Social CriticismVol. 21, No. 3 (1995): 1.
Obituaries Profiles: Emmanuel Levinas
Critchley, Simon. “Obituaries Profiles: Emmanuel Levinas.” Radical Philosophy 78 (1996).
Black Socrates?
Critchley, Simon. “Black Socrates?” Radical Philosophy 69 (1995).
Interviews
Demand Everything! An Interview With Philosopher Simon Critchley
Critchley, Simon, and Anders Gullestad. “Demand Everything! An Interview With Philosopher Simon Critchley.” truthout, May 15, 2010.
A Living Breathing Philosopher: Vice Talks with a Representative from an Endangered Species
Critchley, Simon, and Steve Fowler. “A Living Breathing Philosopher: Vice Talks with a Representative from an Endangered Species.” Vice, June 2009.
Author Sums Up Philosophers’ Thoughts On Death
Critchley, Simon, and Jacki Lyden. “Author Sums Up Philosophers’ Thoughts On Death.” NPR, 2009.
Nihilism, Punk and the International Necronautical Society: an interview with Simon Critchley
Critchley, Simon, and Steve Fowler. “Nihilism, Punk and the International Necronautical Society: an interview with Simon Critchley.” 3am, March 30, 2009.
Interview with Readybook
Critchley, Simon, and Mark Thwaite. “Interview with Readybook.” Ready Steady Book, March 1, 2006.
Very Funny: An Interview with Simon Critchley
Critchely, Simon, and Brian Dillon. “Very Funny: An Interview with Simon Critchley.” Cabinet 17, Spring (2005).
Interview
Critchley, Simon, and Jill Stauffer. “Interview.” Believer, August 2003.
Interview with Simon Critchley
Critchley, Simon, and Tim McCarthy. “Interview with Simon Critchley.” Necronauts,March 29, 2001.
Films
Democracy and Disappointment: On the Politics of Resistance
Critchley, Simon, and Alain Badiou in Democracy and Disappointment: On the Politics of Resistance. Microcinema, 2008. ASIN: B001AXTZIO.