Autopsie de la révolution

    • Avant-propos : Simon Charbonneau
Jacques Ellul est un auteur davantage connu pour ses ouvrages consacrés à la technique, à la religion ou à l'histoire du droit que comme penseur politique. Dans ce présent livre, Jacques Ellul part du point de vue de la liberté humaine pour mener une analyse historique qui pense que l'homme peut s'arracher aux déterminismes sociaux et naturels.
C'est dans une perspective morale et politique qu'Ellul aborde le phénomène révolution. Il distingue et relie révolte et révolution, en rappelant que la révolte est d'abord instinctive alors que la révolution procède d'une théorie et d'une organisation. Toutes deux se faisant soit au nom d'un passé idéalisé, soit au nom d'un avenir radieux – mais c'est toujours l'ordre établi qui est visé.
  • La petite vermillon (n° 312)
  • Paru le 14/11/2008
  • Genres : Essais et documents - La Petite Vermillon
  • 360 pages - 110 x 175 mm
  • EAN : 9782710330943
  • ISBN : 9782710330943

Foreign Rights

Autopsy of Revolution

Rights sold
Korea (Daejanggan)
USA (Wipf & Stock)

Presentation

In this significant and very timely book, Jacques Ellul asks a tremendous question and shows that the answer we give it is decisive for the future of our society: Can we learn from history what revolution really is necessary for our survival? That is, can we distinguish between senseless, ineffectual revolt or rebellion and a genuine revolution that can alter fundamentals?

In his basic, closely reasoned way, Jacques Ellul examines past and recent history in light of the current overwhelming preoccupation with revolution, which seems to have become the daily bread of Western man's thoughts and actions, the immediate explanation for every historical movement. Ellul insists on examining the possibility that today we are projecting onto past events a fairly recent and distorted image of revolution.

The new image was created by Marx in the nineteenth century, and Ellul questions how long we can continue to live on his legacy. More important, he suggests that Marx may have brought about an abrupt deviation of the necessary revolutionary current and given a false meaning to the word revolution. Is all our talk about Marxian revolution talk about reality, or a way of filling a void with words? Finally, among so many social eddies and agitations, are we today caught up in a really revolutionary movement - or are we being led into blind combat by false lights that in reality are reflections in distorting mirrors? Are we capable of discerning the real Revolution, the needed Revolution?

Ellul does not map out a route in detail: he clears paths into the future, making it possible for a route to be found. His masterly book should help to change our thinking, and therefore our future.

This essay is Part One of a trilogy, followed by De la révolution aux révoltes and Changer de révolution.

After a revelation that led him to Christianity and an intensive reading of Marx, Jacques Ellul studied law. He then devoted himself to reflection on the evolution of modern society. He noted the disappearance of rural life and the mechanization of man’s environment. He foresaw the magnitude of this ecological and social “great mutation”.

Considering that technique is the determining factor of modern society, he leads a critique of what he calls “technological tyranny”. He further analyses that technique self-increases, imposing its values of efficiency and technical progress, while denying man’s needs  and  culture as well as the nature.

Sociology is not his only field. His work is composed of theologian and historian output.  Some would also say that he is a philosopher, although he did not define himself as such. 

As a militant anarchist whose ideas are close to situationism, but also as a subtle commentator of Marxist thought and excesses, he was instrumental in the establishment of political ecology and reflections on Christian anarchism. He also wrote many theological works on the Gospel’s subversive and liberating aspects and on the “perversion” which the Christian revelation has suffered from. Some of his other works are thoughts on ethics and on hope.

Jacques Ellul can be considered as one of the fathers of the idea of rational economic decay and voluntary simplicity.

“Jacques Ellul, a true thinker” Royaliste

“A kind of clairvoyant who had already predict everything” Réforme

“His writings remained fiery, the prophet’s voice still resonates” La Croix

If you are interested in publishing one of our books or wish to receive further information, you can contact:
Anna Vateva, Foreign Rights : + 33 1 40 46 71 02
a.vateva@editionslatableronde.fr

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Autour du livre

On en parle...

« Urgent de lire ou de relire. »

Le choc du mois - Jacques Cognerais

« Autopsie de la Révolution s'achève sur un vibrant appel à construire, bâtir, une insurrection contre le monde moderne. 

Royaliste - Jérôme Besnard

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