Keith Moser
This monograph represents the first comprehensive study dedicated to the interdisciplinary French philosopher Michel Serres. As the title of this project unequivocally suggests, Serres’s prolific body of work paints a rending portrait of what it means for a sentient being to live in the modern world. This book reflects Serres’s profound conviction that “philosopher c’est anticiper”/ ‘to philosophize (about something) is to anticipate’ (“Philosophie Magazine”). According to Serres, a philosopher is someone who possesses an extremely broad base of knowledge coupled with the uncanny ability to envision what might transpire based upon his or her astute observations concerning phenomena that are already starting to unfold in a given society. Serres’s explanation of what engaging in philosophical inquiry entails encourages us to imagine all of the present and future ramifications of certain trajectories that are clearly visible all around us. From 1968 to the present, Serres has been generating forceful, “prophetic” visions in his works that mingle philosophy, religion, theology, contemporary science, and literature. “Comprehensive and insightful introduction… both illuminates pressing contemporary issues and presages potential futures-to-come. This is a remarkable achievement and a genuine gift to readers both new and old to Serres’s work.” -Steven D. Brown, Professor of Psychology, University of Leicester “An essential book for becoming aware of the threat of a return of obscurantism—despite the development of new technologies—and of the necessity of a new century of Lumières.” -Issa Asgarally, Associate Professor, Mauritius Institute of Education, founder, Foundation for Interculturality and Peace “Moser’s engaging prose makes this study a great read, and he demonstrates a formidable grasp on the connections within Serres’ work, as well as the links between Serres and other major twentieth century thinkers.” -Tom Trzyna, Professor Emeritus of English, Seattle Pacific University “Both timely and thorough. His provocative critique of societal malaise, from our relationship to the planet, to ourselves, to each other, and to technology, as well as the solutions envisioned through an erudite and thoughtful analysis of Serres’ entire philosophical corpus is a remarkable contribution to Philosophy and French Studies.” -Isaac Joslin, University of Denver “Keith Moser’s pioneering vision of the post-Marxist era, as reflected in the syncretism of philosophy, religion, theology, science and literature in Michel Serres’ body of work during the last half a century, transforms human consciousness beyond its illusory genophobia that has damaged the very semiotics of life. Moser’s monograph taps into a tremendous flow of energy that evokes a passionate desire in a dead humanity to re-live and re-think.” -Professor Ananta Sukla, Editor, Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics Keith Moser is Associate Professor of French at Mississippi State University. He is the author of A Practical Guide to French Harki Literature, J.M.G. Le Clézio: A Concerned Citizen of the Global Village, Le Clézio dans la forêt des paradoxes (co-editor), and ‘Privileged Moments’ in the Novels and Short Stories of Le Clézio: His Contemporary Development of a Traditional French Literary Device. Moser has also contributed approximately forty essays to peer-reviewed publications such as The French Review, The International Journal of Francophone Studies, Romance Notes, Dalhousie French Studies, Les Cahiers Le Clézio, Modern Language Review, French Cultural Studies, Forum for Modern Language Studies (Oxford), Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment (Oxford), and Pennsylvania Literary Journal. 3
