Specters of God: An Anatomy of the Apophatic Imagination

In Specters of God, John D. Caputo explores the mystical element in things, addressing the nocturnal powers in being and the spectralization and virtualization of the world in the posthuman age. He argues that the name of God is not the master name of a super-being but a placeholder for sources deep in our apophatic imaginary.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In Specters of God, John D. Caputo delves back into the core essence of his work, exploring the mystical dimension within objects through the lens of an anxious apophatics, distinct from the edifying apophatics rooted in unity with God. Engaging in a dialogue with Schelling, a transformative turn for Caputo, this argument revolves around the nocturnal powers that haunt our existence, casting shadows upon our being. The outcome is an erudite and insightful analysis, delivered in Caputo's characteristic lively and masterful style, encompassing a comprehensive exploration of several key spectral figures from medieval angelology, Eckhart's Gottheit, Luther's deus absconditus, and Schelling's Satanology. Through this intricate tapestry, Caputo argues that the name of God should not be perceived as the master name of a super-being destined to save us but rather as a placeholder for the depths of our apophatic imagination. He poses profound questions, such as whether God has transformed into a (holy) ghost of the past, a fleeting spectral effect of ancient harmonies, or if radical thinking leads to a cosmopoetics that transcends theism and its theology, embracing a doxology to the transient glory of the world, whatever its origins may be, even in the face of its enigmatic end.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253063014