Hermes I

In Hermes I, Michel Serres introduces a profound exploration of communication, bridging the gap between mathematics, literature, and philosophy in a groundbreaking discourse on knowledge.

For the first time in English, Hermes I serves as the introductory volume in a significant series by the renowned French philosopher Michel Serres. Recognized as a pivotal figure in postwar French philosophy, alongside thinkers like Gilles Deleuze and Jacques Derrida, Serres' work in the 1960s and 1970s introduced a revolutionary perspective on the interconnectedness of culture and science. His early five-volume series, Hermes, proposed that both domains share similar mythic and narrative structures, establishing a foundational framework for understanding knowledge production.

Hermes I: Communication opens the door to this groundbreaking series, reflecting on the history of mathematics through the lenses of influential figures such as Descartes and Leibniz. The text culminates in a Bachelardian logoanalytic interpretation of various literary works, including those of Homer, Dumas, Molière, Verne, and the story of Cinderella. This exploration reveals Serres as a unique poetic philosopher, striving to connect the liberal arts with the sciences through a rich mathematical and poetic narrative that addresses information theory, history, and art.

Students and scholars of philosophy will find Hermes I to be an extraordinary intellectual endeavor, as relevant to contemporary critical reflection as it was fifty years ago. Serres' insights encourage readers to rethink the production of knowledge and its implications for both the humanities and the sciences, making this volume a vital addition to the philosophical discourse today.