The Accursed Share, Volume I
The Accursed Share, Volume I by Georges Bataille is a significant work published by Zone Books on May 15, 1991. This first edition, comprising 200 pages, presents an inquiry into the nature of civilization through Bataille’s novel economic theory. He introduces the concept of the “accursed share,” which refers to the surplus energy that any system, whether natural or cultural, must expend, positing that this expenditure is a defining characteristic of society.
Readers will find that Bataille explores various examples, such as Aztec sacrifice, potlatch among Northwest Coast Indians, military conquest in Islam, and Buddhist monasticism in Tibet, to illustrate his theory of a “general economy” rooted in excess and exuberance. This work blends economics with aesthetics, ethics, and anthropology, offering insights that will appeal to those interested in cultural theory, anthropology, and economics. The Accursed Share serves as an introduction to Bataille’s philosophical contributions, making it relevant for a diverse audience.
Official synopsis Publisher
In this important work, Georges Bataille uses his novel economic theory as the basis for an incisive inquiry into the very nature of civilization. He introduces here his concept of the accursed share, the surplus energy that any system, natural or cultural, must expend; it is this expenditure, according to Bataille, that most clearly defines a society. His examples include sacrifice among the Aztecs, potlatch among the Northwest Coast Indians, military conquest in Islam, and Buddhist monasticism in Tibet.
In this way, Bataille proposes a theory of a “general economy” based on excess and exuberance that radically revises conventional economic models of scarcity and utility. A brilliant blend of economics and aesthetics, ethics and anthropology, The Accursed Share provides an excellent introduction to Bataille’s philosophic work. It will be of particular interest not only to readers of his fiction and essays but also to cultural theorists, anthropologists, and economists of all schools.
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