The Accursed Share, Volume I

The Accursed Share, Volume I - Paperback

$29.95
$29.95
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The Accursed Share, Volume I
  • The Accursed Share, Volume I
The Accursed Share, Volume I - Paperback

The Accursed Share, Volume I - Paperback

by Georges Bataille
$29.95
$29.95

Book Overview

From the acclaimed French philosopher, intellectual, and novelist, a brilliant account of the social and economic costs of civilization

In this important work, Georges Bataille uses his novel economic theory as the basis for an incisive inquiry into the very nature of civilization. He introduces here his concept of the accursed share, the surplus energy that any system, natural or cultural, must expend; it is this expenditure, according to Bataille, that most clearly defines a society. His examples include sacrifice among the Aztecs, potlatch among the Northwest Coast Indians, military conquest in Islam, and Buddhist monasticism in Tibet.

In this way, Bataille proposes a theory of a "general economy" based on excess and exuberance that radically revises conventional economic models of scarcity and utility. A brilliant blend of economics and aesthetics, ethics and anthropology, The Accursed Share provides an excellent introduction to Bataille's philosophic work. It will be of particular interest not only to readers of his fiction and essays but also to cultural theorists, anthropologists, and economists of all schools.
ISBN9780942299113
Author Georges Bataille
PublisherZone Books
GenreBusiness and Philosophy
FormatPaperback
PublishedMay 1991
LanguageENG- English
Pages200
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceAdults
Print SizeStandard Print

Related Subjects

Business & Economics Nonfiction Philosophy

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More by Georges Bataille

The Accursed Share, Volume I

The Accursed Share, Volume I - Paperback

The Accursed Share, Volume I - Paperback

By Georges Bataille

About Georges Bataille

Georges Bataille (1897-1962) was a French intellectual and literary icon who wrote essays, novels, and poems exploring philosophical and sociological subjects such as eroticism and surrealism. City Lights published more of Bataille's works including The Impossible, The Tears of Eros, and Story of the Eye.

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