Badiou and the Philosophers: Interrogating 1960s French Philosophy

In this review of Badiou and the Philosophers: Interrogating 1960s French Philosophy, the bottom line is straightforward: this book is for readers who want a lively, primary-source glimpse into postwar French thought. The translated interviews document Alain Badiou conversing with figures such as Michel Foucault, Paul Ricoeur, Michel Henry and Michel Serres, and the single biggest reason to buy is access to the first English-language translation of these televised discussions that reveal Badiou's early ideas in context. For scholars, students and curious general readers, the interviews combine accessibility with historical importance.

Key Features

• First English translation: Presents the televised interviews from 1965 to 1968 in English for the first time, making previously hard-to-access material available to a wider audience.
• Primary-source dialogue: Captures live conversations between Badiou and leading contemporaries, offering direct insight into intellectual exchanges of the period.
• Historic snapshot: Provides a vivid picture of French philosophy in the 1960s, useful for understanding broader shifts in modern Western thought.
• Readable format: The interview style makes complex ideas approachable, helping students and non-specialists follow philosophical arguments without dense technical prose.
• Contextual value: Shows Badiou before his major works, highlighting his philosophical origins and the development of themes later expanded in his books.

Who It's For

The book is best for philosophy students, historians of ideas and general readers interested in postwar French intellectual life who want accessible primary texts rather than secondary summaries. Academics tracing the development of Alain Badiou's thought will find the interviews illuminating for situating his early positions and conversational methods.

Readers looking for a systematic exposition of Badiou's mature theories or a comprehensive textbook on 1960s philosophy should look elsewhere; this volume is strongest as a collection of interviews and a historical snapshot, not as a substitute for Badiou's later monographs or extensive scholarly syntheses.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Accessible translation opens rare televised interviews to English readers and broadens research sources.
• Direct exchanges with prominent philosophers provide color and context absent from purely academic summaries.
• Engaging interview format makes complex ideas more approachable for non-specialists.

Cons

• The book focuses on interviews and does not replace Badiou's later major works for readers seeking full theoretical development.

Specifications

Title	Badiou and the Philosophers: Interrogating 1960s French Philosophy
Authors / Editors	Tzuchien Tho, Giuseppe Bianco
Content type	English-language translation of televised interviews
Interview dates	1965 to 1968
Featured interlocutors	Michel Foucault, Paul Ricoeur, Michel Henry, Michel Serres
Primary focus	Early Alain Badiou and 1960s French philosophy

Our Verdict

For those interested in the historical formation of postwar French thought and in seeing Badiou in dialogue with his contemporaries, this translation is a valuable and affordable resource. It is particularly good value for students and researchers seeking primary material and for general readers who prefer conversational access to difficult ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include the original French text?
No, this volume presents the first English-language translation of the televised interviews rather than a bilingual edition.

Who are the interview subjects?
The interviews feature leading figures of the period, including Michel Foucault, Paul Ricoeur, Michel Henry and Michel Serres.

Is this a substitute for Badiou's major works?
No, the interviews reveal Badiou's early positions and style but do not replace his later, more systematic books for full theoretical study.