This is a book that I almost certainly should have spent a longer time reading, despite it being very short. It is also the kind of book that is almost pointless to give a rating to, so by 3 stars I mean only that I to some extent disagree with Badiou's conclusions. To think of Evil as being constructed from Good (or even visa versa) strikes me as a hopeless quest. It is a question that comes up often in philosophy, and while Badiou does well explaining his take on this issue, I personally cannot bring myself to believe it. To me there are certain things that are Good and other things that are Evil not because we name them or characterize them situationally, but because they evoke a visceral feeling of happiness or horror. These events are definite extremes, and the vast majority of human history is concerned with the shades of gray between them. In this sense, I agree with Badiou that a religious conception of Good is antiquated, but disagree that it is possible to perceive Good situationally. If something is obviously Good or Evil, there will be no debate. If something is not Good or Evil explicitly, as I would argue almost all things are, It is not possible to fully and convincingly explain the ethics of the situation.

It is entirely possible I am misunderstanding Badiou's argument or conclusion, and I'm sure I will return to this book in the future. But for now, I respectfully disagree. ( )

Very readable. This book develops themes and ideas from Being and Event (in fact the preface by Badiou explicitly notes some places where he has revised positions advanced in his magnum opus), and is a targeted intervention into current popular and academic discourse on ethics and multiculturalism. Badiou's position is forcefully argued, and he is insightful as ever, but in the course of making his argument he produces numerous strawmen and simplifications; furthermore, while I agree with parts of his criticism of Levinas and the so-called "ethics of the Other" he also is frequently far too glib in his handling of these positions, to the point where one begins to question whether he even understands them. Would have been a five star rating if it weren't for the way that Badiou's polemics occasionally deteriorate into vapid denunciations and hand waving. ( )

Readable, provocative, excellent. ( )