Introduction: The Strong Reasons for Weak Thought, by Franca D'Agostini Weakness French Nihilism and Italian Nihilism Nihilism and Difference Difference and Dialectic Nihilism, Hermeneutics, and Postmodernity Verwindung Argumentation and Provenance This Book Postscript (2009) 1. Philosophy and Science After Kant, After Hegel The Flash of the Ereignis The Story of a Comma Science and "Being-not beings" The Edification of Humanity Cumulative Knowledges 2. Philosophy, History, Literature Truth, Rhetoric, History Are History and Ontology Compatible? Mythization of the World Fugues Sciences of Nature and Sciences of the Spirit? 3. Logic in Philosophy Logic and the Logics Logic and the History of Being Philosophy of Logic and Logic of Philosophy Logic and Ontology 4. To Speak the Truth Redemisti nos Domine Deus veritatis The Endless Banquet Do Vampires Exist? 5. The Vocation to Philosophy and the Responsibility of Philosophy Writing for the Newspapers Writing in the First Person The Dive Into Politics Politics Philosopher-style Losing your Soul Filling in the Blanks The Construction of Universality is Political Notes Bibliography Index

Gianni Vattimo has assumed a number of public and private identities and has pursued multiple intellectual paths. He seems to embody several contradictions, at once defending and questioning religion and critiquing and serving the state. Yet the diversity of his life and thought form the very essence of, as he sees it, the vocation and responsibility of the philosopher. In a world that desires quantifiable results and ideological expediency, the philosopher becomes the vital interpreter of the endlessly complex. As he outlines his ideas about the philosopher's role, Vattimo builds an important companion to his life's work. He confronts questions of science, religion, logic, literature, and truth, and passionately defends the power of hermeneutics to engage with life's conundrums. Vattimo conjures a clear vision of philosophy as something separate from the sciences and the humanities but also intimately connected to their processes, and he explicates a conception of truth that emphasizes fidelity and participation through dialogue.