Wagering on Happiness Philosophical Affect in Badiou

• Published in: The Comparatist Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 158 - 176
• Main Author: DI LEO, JEFFREY R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press 01.10.2021; The University of North Carolina Press
• Subjects: 17th century; Affect (Psychology); Analogy (Language change); Analysis; Badiou, Alain; Beckett, Samuel (1906-1989); British & Irish literature; Capitalism; Comparative literature; Criticism and interpretation; English literature; Fantasy; French literature; Happiness; Huxley, Aldous (1894-1963); Irish literature; Literary characters; Literature; Metaphysics; Neoliberalism; Pascal, Blaise (1623-1662); Philosophers; Philosophy; Spinoza, Benedictus de (1632-1677); France
• ISSN: 0195-7678; 1559-0887; 1559-0887
• DOI: 10.1353/com.2021.0020

[...]following the early nineteenth century Danish philosophy and theologian, Søren Kierkegaard, Badiou also argues that a certain dose of despair is the condition of real happiness. [...]for Badiou, we can change the world simply by being happy. The literary analogue to Badiou's happiness is exemplified in the late literature of Samuel Beckett, where characters enveloped in dull and dreary existences find happiness. [...]we will turn here to one of Beckett's last and most beautiful literary works, III Seen III Said, which was first published in 1981. Most importantly, it is a universe where the gods are no longer present. [...]they have no role in transcendentally conferring meaning on the universe.