José Gil
Encyclopedia
José Gil is a Portuguese philosopher.
In his youth he lived in Lisbon
, Portugal
, but his experiences under António Salazar’s 1933-1974 dictator
ship, made him decide to study in a free country. He moved to Paris
, France
where in 1982 he got his PhD
from the University of Paris (Université de Vincennes à Saint-Denis) where he researched on the body as a power field under the supervision of François Châtelet
. There he assisted at Gilles Deleuze
’s classes whose influence on his thinking was decisive.
Between 1986 and 1989 he conducted an original research project on the aesthetics of Fernando Pessoa
, at the Collège International de Philosophie, where he directed a program.
He wrote several books prior to 1983 but when “Portugal, Today: Fear of Existing” (Portugal, Hoje: O Medo de Existir, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água) was published in November 2004, there was a massive response. The book describes, in a way considered by some to be very accurate, what is to be Portuguese and how Portuguese people perceive themselves, other people and the world. Considering that Portugal is a country with a serious identity crisis the book was an important step to shed some light on what it seems to be a mystery for Portuguese. The fact that the book was a success enabled the Portuguese to share a public awareness of the problem which may be relevant to helping to solve it.
The following month, December 2004, Le Nouvel Observateur
named him one of the 25 Great Thinkers of the contemporary world along with Richard Rorty
, Peter Sloterdijk
, Toni Negri and Slavoj Žižek
.
For several years he has taught courses on aesthetics
, Deleuze
and Spinoza
at Universidade Nova de Lisboa
, Department of Philosophy
. He also writes for several Portuguese and foreign magazines. The academic year 2008/ 2009 brought his teaching career to an end.
In 2008 he has published two books: one on Deleuze’s philosophy (The Imperceptible Becoming of Immanence/ O Imperceptível Devir da Imanência, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água); and a second one, a fictional work, “At noon, the birds” (ao meio-dia, os pássaros, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água).
In his youth he lived in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, but his experiences under António Salazar’s 1933-1974 dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
ship, made him decide to study in a free country. He moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where in 1982 he got his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Paris (Université de Vincennes à Saint-Denis) where he researched on the body as a power field under the supervision of François Châtelet
François Châtelet
François Châtelet was a historian of philosophy, political philosophy and professor in the socratic tradition. He was the husband of philosopher Noëlle Châtelet, the sister of Lionel Jospin....
. There he assisted at Gilles Deleuze
Gilles Deleuze
Gilles Deleuze , was a French philosopher who, from the early 1960s until his death, wrote influentially on philosophy, literature, film, and fine art. His most popular works were the two volumes of Capitalism and Schizophrenia: Anti-Oedipus and A Thousand Plateaus , both co-written with Félix...
’s classes whose influence on his thinking was decisive.
Between 1986 and 1989 he conducted an original research project on the aesthetics of Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
, at the Collège International de Philosophie, where he directed a program.
He wrote several books prior to 1983 but when “Portugal, Today: Fear of Existing” (Portugal, Hoje: O Medo de Existir, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água) was published in November 2004, there was a massive response. The book describes, in a way considered by some to be very accurate, what is to be Portuguese and how Portuguese people perceive themselves, other people and the world. Considering that Portugal is a country with a serious identity crisis the book was an important step to shed some light on what it seems to be a mystery for Portuguese. The fact that the book was a success enabled the Portuguese to share a public awareness of the problem which may be relevant to helping to solve it.
The following month, December 2004, Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur is a weekly French newsmagazine. Based in Paris, it is the most prominent French general information magazine in terms of audience and circulation ....
named him one of the 25 Great Thinkers of the contemporary world along with Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
Richard McKay Rorty was an American philosopher. He had a long and diverse academic career, including positions as Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Princeton, Kenan Professor of Humanities at the University of Virginia, and Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford University...
, Peter Sloterdijk
Peter Sloterdijk
Peter Sloterdijk is a German philosopher, television host, cultural scientist and essayist. He is a professor of philosophy and media theory at the University of Art and Design Karlsruhe. He currently co-hosts the German show Im Glashaus: Das Philosophische Quartett.-Biography:Sloterdijk's father...
, Toni Negri and Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher, critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....
.
For several years he has taught courses on aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
, Deleuze
Gilles Deleuze
Gilles Deleuze , was a French philosopher who, from the early 1960s until his death, wrote influentially on philosophy, literature, film, and fine art. His most popular works were the two volumes of Capitalism and Schizophrenia: Anti-Oedipus and A Thousand Plateaus , both co-written with Félix...
and Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza
Baruch de Spinoza and later Benedict de Spinoza was a Dutch Jewish philosopher. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death...
at Universidade Nova de Lisboa
New University of Lisbon
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, , also known as NOVA ) was established in 1973 and is the youngest of the three public universities of Lisbon, in Portugal....
, Department of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He also writes for several Portuguese and foreign magazines. The academic year 2008/ 2009 brought his teaching career to an end.
In 2008 he has published two books: one on Deleuze’s philosophy (The Imperceptible Becoming of Immanence/ O Imperceptível Devir da Imanência, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água); and a second one, a fictional work, “At noon, the birds” (ao meio-dia, os pássaros, Lisboa: Relógio d'Água).
Works
- 1983: La Crucifiée, Éditions de la Différence.
- 1983: Un'Antropologia delle Forze, Einaudi .
- 1984: La Corse, entre la liberté et la terreur – Étude sur la dynamique des systèmes politiques corses, Éditions de la Différence (2.ª edição: 1991) .
- 1985: Métamorphoses du corps, Éditions de la Différence . [As Metamorfoses do corpo, 1980.]
- 1986: A Crucificada, Relógio d'Água .
- 1987: Fernando PessoaFernando PessoaFernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
ou a Metafisica das Sensações, Relógio d'Água . - 1988: Fernando PessoaFernando PessoaFernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
ou la métaphysique des sensations, Éditions de la Différence. - 1988: Corpo, Espaço e Poder, Litoral Edições .
- 1990: Cemitério dos Desejos, Relógio d'Água .
- 1990: Cimetière des Plaisirs, Éditions de la Différence.
- 1994: O Espaço Interior, Presença .
- 1994: Os Monstros, Quetzal .
- 1995: Salazar: a Retórica da Invisibilidade, Relógio d'Água .
- 1996: A Imagem-Nua e as Pequenas Percepções, Relógio d'Água .
- 1997: Metamorfoses do Corpo, Relógio d'Água .
- 1999: Diferença e Negação na Poesia de Fernando Pessoa, Relógio d'Água .
- 2001: Movimento Total – O Corpo e a Dança, Relógio d'Água .
- 2003: A Profundidade e a Superfície – Ensaio sobre o Principezinho de Saint-Exupéry, Relógio d'Água .
- 2004: Portugal, Hoje: O Medo de Existir, Relógio d'Água, Lisboa, Novembro de 2004 .
- 2005: Sem Título – Escritos sobre Arte e Artistas, Relógio d'Água.