Solar Politics - BookWyrm

English language

Published Nov. 17, 2022 by Polity Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-5095-4966-5

(1 review)

This book is a philosophical essay on the sun. It draws on Georges Bataille’s theories of the solar economy and solar violence and demonstrates their relevance to a world affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The sun, which, since Antiquity, has played an essential role in our utopian imaginations, is the ultimate source of energy, both productive and destructive. According to Georges Bataille, its infinite generosity can be taken as the model for human societies, which suggests an alternative to the capitalist economy with its infinite expansion, colonization, and disastrous consequences on the cosmic scale.

Taking a step from solar economy to solar politics, Timofeeva locates the grounds for it in solidarity with nature, treated neither as a master nor as a slave, but as a comrade.

The book will appeal to students, academics, artists, and other readers interested in the philosophy of nature, ecology, social and political …

This book is a philosophical essay on the sun. It draws on Georges Bataille’s theories of the solar economy and solar violence and demonstrates their relevance to a world affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The sun, which, since Antiquity, has played an essential role in our utopian imaginations, is the ultimate source of energy, both productive and destructive. According to Georges Bataille, its infinite generosity can be taken as the model for human societies, which suggests an alternative to the capitalist economy with its infinite expansion, colonization, and disastrous consequences on the cosmic scale.

Taking a step from solar economy to solar politics, Timofeeva locates the grounds for it in solidarity with nature, treated neither as a master nor as a slave, but as a comrade.

The book will appeal to students, academics, artists, and other readers interested in the philosophy of nature, ecology, social and political theory, postcolonial and decolonial studies, and the humanities generally.

4 editions

Justinas Dūdėnas reviewed Solar Politics by Oxana Timofeeva (Theory Redux)

A lively intellectual play

3 stars

The way of politicizing Solar energy for Oxana is to lean on Batailles recognition of excess and juxtapose it with various types of violence. That makes a really nice landcape for your mind to wander and thus a quite tasty read.

However, I have an issue with the title, which seems to promise a focus on politics. But politics is somewhat reduced to games of formalist classifications and occasional ethical slogans. It just didn work for me.. neither as analysis of politics, neither as mobilising knowledge.