Hermes II: Interference
(Hardback)
Available Formats
Publishing Details
Hermes II: Interference
By (Author) Michel Serres
Translated by Randolph Burks
University of Minnesota Press
University of Minnesota Press
20th August 2025
United States
Classifications
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
Physical Properties
Hardback
216
Width 152mm, Height 229mm, Spine 11mm
397g
Description
Unveiling the hidden connections in the network of knowledge
Hermes II: Interference is the second in a series of works by philosopher Michel Serres using Hermes, god of communication, as an archetypal symbolic figure for reflecting on philosophy and the arts and sciences. Serres delves into the concept of interreferentiality, proposing that every node-whether it be knowledge, objects, or people-exists within a network where it both receives and transmits information. He argues against the existence of a dominant center or pole within these networks, emphasizing that each node can temporarily serve as a focal point depending on context.
Serres presents unique insights into topics such as the nature of knowledge, the world of objects, intersubjectivity, the origins of geometry, the interplay of music and background noise, and empiricism. By identifying parallel structures across these areas, Serres unifies them into a comprehensive theoretical framework, revealing hidden connections and potential future influences. Additionally, this work includes a critique of Gaston Bachelard's The Formation of the Scientific Mind and concludes with an analysis of communication in Herg's The Castafiore Emerald.
Hermes II is a unique blend of ancient and modern perspectives, combining rigorous analysis with an optimistic outlook. It will appeal to anyone interested in the interconnectedness of knowledge and its implications for fostering peaceful relations within the network of life.
Author Bio
Michel Serres (19302019) was author of more than sixty books, including Biogea, Variations on the Body, and The Parasite (all from Minnesota). He was widely known for his poetic prose and interdisciplinary form of thought.
Randolph Burks is an independent scholar who has translated several other works by Michel Serres, including Variations on the Body and Biogea (both from Minnesota) as well as The Incandescent, Hominescence, and Branches.
