Krytyka nuklearna
Nuclear Criticism

Thought on the Eve of the Apocalypse

Summary/Abstract: The essay reflects on the issue of the apocalypse, the possibility of absolute destruction, the end of the world, and presents the phenomenon of nuclear criticism, a school of thought directly related to the arms race and the Cold War. To this end, the text analyzes the lines of reasoning contained in Liam Sprod’s book "Nuclear Futurism", in particular, the similarities between the futuristic discourse of early 20th century and the apocalyptic visions of total annihilation dominant in the latter half of the century. In its characterization of the phenomenon of the apocalypse, the essay also refers to two little-known texts by Derrida: “No Apocalypse, Not Now” and “Of an Apocalyptic Tone Recently Adopted in Philosophy”. The author, following Derrida’s thought, sees the apocalypse itself as a phenomenon belonging to the world of literature, while the greatest potential disaster is seen as being the threat of its embodiment, of a total revealing of truth.

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