Ignaas Devisch / Ignaas Devisch – Vuur

Ignaas Devisch – Vuur

Ignaas Devisch – Vuur

About the book

In ancient times fire was a source of fear and fascination. Countless myths and stories were told and written in which fire was attributed to God or the gods. In that way, fire was made to appear a powerful tool. When modern man, aided by science and technology, was able to tame fire, all of his problems seemed to have been remedied: the control of fire and combustion enabled freedom and progress. What did we still need to worry about?  Like a boomerang, that carelessness has now flown back into our face: the large-scale use of fossil fuels is damaging humanity and the environment’s health.

In Fire, Ignaas Devisch develops a new idea, inspired by such thinkers as Peter Sloterdijk and Bruno Latour, about fire’s place in our world. If we plan on maintaining our quality of life, we will need a new source of energy that supports our freedom and wellbeing without destroying the planet and ourselves. The largest fireball in our galaxy – the sun – has this potential. But are we capable of embracing heliocentrism?

‘His book touches on a fundamental philosophical question: what do we want to keep from the project of Enlightenment, and what do we not?’ – TROUW

‘Ignaas Devisch jovially makes you reconsider fire.’ – DE VOLKSKRANT

Ignaas Devisch (b. 1970) is professor of ethics, philosophy and medical philosophy at the University of Ghent and the Artevelde College. He publishes in the fields of social, medical and political philosophy. His critical essay about medicalisation, Sick of Health, was published in 2013. His book Restlessness (2016), which critically examined today’s obsession with finding balance in our lives, and his work The Excess of Empathy (2017), were both nominated for the Socrates Cup for best philosophy book.

© Michiel Hendryckx

Additional book information

  • Philosophy / History
  • ISBN 9789403114514
  • Number of pages: 262
  • World rights: De Bezige Bij
  • Price: €23,99