Sophist or antiphilosopher? Badiou on Wittgenstein

This essay takes Badiou’s recently published book as an opportunity to discuss not only his complex (though generally hostile) approach to Wittgenstein but also his evolving critical stance in relation to various other movements in present-day philosophical thought. In particular it examines his distinction between ‘sophistics’ and ‘anti-philosophy’, as developed very largely through his series of encounters with Wittgenstein. Beyond that, I offer some brief remarks about the role of set-theoretical concepts in Badiou’s thinking and the vexed question of their bearing on his other (including political) concerns. Finally – with an eye to certain CR-internal trends and debates – I focus on Badiou’s powerful critique of the religious or mystical (hence ‘anti-philosophical’) dimension of Wittgenstein’s thought