Theory of Strangers

Originally published in 1995, this book constitutes a turning point in the development of what Francois Laruelle calls non-philosophy, towards its democratic and emancipatory vision. In this work, Laruelle utilises his non-philosophical theory to develop unified theoretical analyses into philosophy’s relationship with the humanities, politics and psychoanalysis.

Centred on the figure of the Stranger, he argues for a democratic reformation of thought governed by human multitudes. The new field of thought is opened by this Universal Humanity, identified with three different pathways: a science of people and non-humanism, democracy and non-politics, and non-psychoanalysis as the development of a Universal Unconscious.

Author Biography

Francois Laruelle (1937-2024) was Emeritus Professor of philosophy at University of Paris X: Nanterre and instigator of the movement known as non-philosophy or non-standard philosophy. Laruelle was the director of L’Organisation Non-Philosophique Internationale. Author of over thirty texts, Laruelle’s work has been translated into English, Greek, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese.