Present Hope

"An exploration of how we may think philosophically about the present, this text draws upon philosophy, architecture and poetry. It argues that we must consider the crucial roles played by themes that fragment and complicate the present. Loss, memory, tragedy, hope and modernity are brought to bear in a discussion of what is meant by the present. The author develops a conception of the present through two pivotal motifs. The first is the work of Walter Benjamin. Benjamin's understanding of modernity is compared with that of Martin Heidegger, illustrating the differing ways in which the present has worked within philosophy. The second is the problem of hope. Rather than being an expression only of the future, hope is seen as a vital part of the present. Andrew Benjamin presents a philosophical explorations of this charged but overlooked theme. Underpinning these themes is the role of Judaism and philosophy. The text offers a new voice to philosophy after the Holocaust, showing how the Holocaust provides a crucial link between modernity and the present."
"Present Hope develops a fascinating philosophical understanding of the present, via discussions of the nature of historical time, the philosophy of history, memory, and the role of tragedy."@en