Oliver Feltham
Encyclopedia
Oliver Feltham is an Australian philosopher and translator
working in Paris, France. He is known primarily for his English translations of Alain Badiou
, most notably Badiou’s magnum opus
Being and Event (2006). Feltham's own writings are drawn from many of his research interests including Marxism
, critical theory
, and the history of metaphysics
. His recent work has also focused on psychoanalysis
and Jaques Lacan.
Feltham received his B.A.
at the University of Sydney
in Australia
. In 2000, he completed his doctoral thesis at Deakin University
in Melbourne, writing his dissertation on the ontological distinction between praxis and work
in ancient and modern philosophy (with a focus on Badiou and Michel Foucault
) based on research Feltham conducted in Paris.
Feltham teaches at The American University of Paris (AUP) where he has been since 2004 and where he became a full-time Associate Professor in 2006, teaching in the Comparative Literature
and "Global Communications" departments and in the Philosophy Program. Feltham is also a researcher at the Circle for Lacanian Ideology Critique at the Jan van Eyck Academie
in Maastricht
.
Authored books
Articles in edited collections and books
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
working in Paris, France. He is known primarily for his English translations of Alain Badiou
Alain Badiou
Alain Badiou is a French philosopher, professor at European Graduate School, formerly chair of Philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure . Along with Giorgio Agamben and Slavoj Žižek, Badiou is a prominent figure in an anti-postmodern strand of continental philosophy...
, most notably Badiou’s magnum opus
Magnum opus
Magnum opus , from the Latin meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.-Related terms:Sometimes the term magnum opus is used to refer to simply "a great work" rather than "the...
Being and Event (2006). Feltham's own writings are drawn from many of his research interests including Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
, critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
, and the history of metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
. His recent work has also focused on psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and Jaques Lacan.
Feltham received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 2000, he completed his doctoral thesis at Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
in Melbourne, writing his dissertation on the ontological distinction between praxis and work
Work
Work may refer to:Human labor:* Employment* House work* Labor , measure of the work done by human beings* Manual labor, physical work done by people* Wage labor, in which a worker sells their labor and an employer buys it...
in ancient and modern philosophy (with a focus on Badiou and Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault , born Paul-Michel Foucault , was a French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas...
) based on research Feltham conducted in Paris.
Feltham teaches at The American University of Paris (AUP) where he has been since 2004 and where he became a full-time Associate Professor in 2006, teaching in the Comparative Literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
and "Global Communications" departments and in the Philosophy Program. Feltham is also a researcher at the Circle for Lacanian Ideology Critique at the Jan van Eyck Academie
Jan Van Eyck Academie
The Jan van Eyck Academie is a post-academic institute for research and production in the fields of fine art, design and theory, based in Maastricht in the south of The Netherlands. The academy offers individuals and institutes the opportunity to submit research or production proposals.-1947–1948:...
in Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
.
Selected bibliography
Translated books and articles- Alain Badiou:
- Infinite Thought: Truth and the Return to Philosophy, transl. and ed. by Feltham & Justin ClemensJustin ClemensJustin Clemens is an Australian philosopher, translator, social critic, and poet. He is primarily known today for his work on Alain Badiou as an editor, translator, and scholar writing, speaking, and lecturing on the impact of Badiou's thought in this contemporary juncture.A former instructor in...
; (London: Continuum, 2003): ISBN 978-0-82-64792-97 (paperback); ISBN 978-0-82-64672-49 (hardcover) - Being and Event, London: Continuum, 2006.
- Infinite Thought: Truth and the Return to Philosophy, transl. and ed. by Feltham & Justin Clemens
- Jean-Claude MilnerJean-Claude MilnerJean-Claude Milner is a linguist, philosopher and a French essayist. In particular, he is a specialist in the field of both linguistics and psychoanalysis...
, “The Doctrine on Science”, Umbr(a)L Science and Truth Issue (Buffalo: 2000).
Authored books
- As Fire Burns: Of Ontology, Praxis, and Functional Work, Geelong, Deakin University PhD Thesis, 2000.
- (ed. with Bruno Besana), Écrits autour de la pensée d'Alain Badiou, Paris, Éditions L'Harmattan, 2007.
- Alain Badiou: Live Theory, London: Continuum, 2008. ISBN 978-0-82-64969--5.
Articles in edited collections and books
- “Sovereignty: Ontology and Psychoanalysis”, Analysis no.9, (Melbourne: 2000).
- “Singularity happening in politics: the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra 1972”, Communication and Cognition, Vol. 37 No. 1, 2004.
- “Forget subversion, link up the generic: on art’s passage to politics”, AS Media Journal (Antwerp, 2005).
- “And being and event and...: Philosophy and its nominations”, Polygraph 17: The Philosophy of Alain Badiou, (Durham, 2005)
- “Enjoy Your Stay: Structural Change in Seminar XVII”, Jaques Lacan and the Other Side of Psychoanalysis: Reflections on Seminar XVII, J. Clemens & R. Grigg (eds.), (Durham: Duke University Press, 2006).
- “An Explosive Genealogy: Theatre, Philosophy and the Art of Presentation”, The Praxis of Alain Badiou, Paul Ashton, A. J. Bartlett, Justin Clemens (eds.), (Melbourne: re.press, 2006).
- Badiou: Key Concepts, Bartlett & Clemens (eds.), (London: Acumen, 2010)
External links
- Faculty Homepage at The American University of Paris
- Make it New: Oliver Feltham's Badiou: Live Theory a useful review & response "blog-post" to Feltham's work