Writing a Different Ending to the "World War" Pitting Humanity Against the Biosphere in Michel Serres and Jacques Derrida's Philosophy

Authors

• Keith Moser, Mississippi State University

ORCID

Moser: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3824-1021

MSU Affiliation

College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures

Creation Date

2026-06-01

Abstract

Although Michel Serres and Jacques Derrida espouse radically different approaches to engaging in philosophical inquiry overall, they both describe our present rapport with the rest of the cosmos as a “world war” that must be ended at all costs. Serres and Derrida posit that the story of this perpetual state of warfare against the Web of Life has deep historical, philosophical, and ideological roots. Specifically, they problematize two of the most pervasive and lethal social constructs, the Genesis myth and the bêtemachine theory, which continue to breed complacency and ignorance.

Publication Date

8-13-2019

Publication Title

SubStance

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press

First Page

41

Last Page

58

Recommended Citation

Moser, Keith. "Writing a Different Ending to the "World War" Pitting Humanity Against the Biosphere in Michel Serres and Jacques Derrida's Philosophy." SubStance, vol. 48 no. 2, 2019, p. 41-58. Project MUSE, https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/sub.2019.0016.