Earth and World: Philosophy After the Apollo Missions

313 Pages·2015·1.321 MB·English

by  Kelly Oliver

EARTH AND WORLD

KELLY OLIVER
EARTH AND WORLD
Philosophy After
the Apollo Missions
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW YORK
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
cup.columbia.edu
Copyright © 2015 Columbia University Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Oliver, Kelly, 1958–
Earth and world : philosophy after the Apollo missions / Kelly Oliver
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-231-17086-4 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-17087-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) —
ISBN 978-0-231-53906-7 (e-book)
1. Philosophy—21st century. 2. Earth (Planet)—Miscellanea. 3. Philosophy, Modern. I. Title.
B805 O46 2015
190—dc23
2014035071
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
This book is printed on paper with recycled content.
Printed in the United States of America
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
cover design: Martin Hinze
References to websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author
nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed
since the manuscript was prepared.
For Chuck and Teri
. . . thanks for our many adventures,
enjoying the wonders of earth . . .

From the viewpoint of the processes in the universe and in
nature, and their statistically overwhelming probabilities, the
coming into being of the earth out of cosmic processes, the
formation of organic life out of inorganic processes, the evolution
of man, finally, out of processes of organic life are all “infinite
improbabilities,” they are “miracles.”
—Hannah Arendt, Between Past and Future

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments xi
1. The Big Picture: Philosophy After the Apollo Missions 1
2. The Earth’s Inhospitable Hospitality: Kant 45
3. Plurality as the Law of the Earth: Arendt 71
4. The Earth’s Refusal: Heidegger 111
5. The World Is Not Enough: Derrida 163
6. Terraphilia: Earth Ethics 207
Notes 247
Bibliography 263
Index 293