Jean-François Lyotard (1924-1998) was one of the most important French philosophers of the Twentieth Century. His impact has been felt across many disciplines: sociology; cultural studies; art theory and politics. This volume presents a diverse selection of interviews, conversations and debates which relate to the five decades of his working life, both as a political militant, experimental philosopher and teacher. Including hard-to-find interviews and previously untranslated material, this is the first time that interviews with Lyotard have been presented as a collection.Key concepts from Lyotard's thought - the differend, the postmodern, the immaterial - are debated and discussed across different time periods, prompted by specific contexts and provocations. In addition there are debates with other thinkers, including Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida, which may be less familiar to an Anglophone audience. These debates and interviews help to contextualise Lyotard, highlighting the importance of Marx, Freud, Kant and Wittgenstein, in addition to the Jewish thought which accompanies the questions of silence, justice and presence that pervades Lyotard's thinking.

prelims preface 1. Introduction by Kiff Bamford2. 'Slowly, tenderly' by Philippe Bonnefis, Emory University, 19983. 'Letter to Jean-François Lyotard from Gilles Deleuze', undated (c. 1976)4. 'On Theory: An interview' with Brigite Devismes VH 101, 1970 5. 'Doing away with the illusion of politics' with Gilbert Lascault, La Quinzaine littéraire, 1972 6. 'Remarks on Jean-François Lyotard' by Gilles Deleuze, La Quinzaine littéraire, 19727. 'The 'intensities' are what imports, not the meaning' with Christian Descamps, La Quinzaine littéraire, 19758. Joint letter by Jean-François Lyotard and Gilles Deleuze: 'Concerning the Vincennes Psychoanalysis Department', Les Temps Modernes, 19749. 'A 'Barbarian' speaks about Socialism' with Bernard-Henri Levy, Le Nouvel Observateur, 197610. 'Incommensurable narrations' with Patrick de Haas, Art Press International, 197711. 'Will Vincennes survive?' with Christian Descamps, La Quinzaine littéraire, 1980 12. Debate on 'Discussions, or: phrasing "after Auschwitz"' with Jacques Derrida; Jean-Luc Nancy; Jacob Rogozinski et al. Les fins de l'homme : À partir du travail de Jacques Derrida, 198013. 'In reading your work ...' with Geoges Van Den Abbeele; including the short text 'Decor' by Jean-François Lyotard, Diacritics, 198414. 'Philosophy: the case for the defence' with Jacques Derrida, Le Monde, 1984. 15. 'Les Immatériaux' with Jacques Saur and Philippe Bidaine, CNAC magazine, March 198516. 'Les Immatériaux' with Bernard Blistène, Flash Art, 198517. 'Chrysalide's little narratives' with Élie Théofilakis, From Modernes et Après : Les Immatériaux, 1985 18. 'Otherwise than knowledge' Debate with Emmanuel Levinas at the Centre Sèvres, From Autrement que Savoir, Paris, 198619. 'The Enlightement, the Sublime: philosophy and aesthetics' with Willem van Reijen and Dick Veerman, 1987, Les Cahiers de Philosophie20. 'Lyotard and Vidal-Naquet talking about the Algerian war still' with Pierre Vidal-Naquet, Libération, 198921. 'Before the Law, After the Law' with Elisabeth Weber, 1991, From Questioning Judaism: Interviews by Elisabeth Weber22. 'What is Justice?' with Richard Kearney, 1994, From States of Mind: Dialogues with Contemporary Thinkers23. 'Responding Questions' Interview with Eberhard Gruber, 1995, From The Hyphen: Between Judaism and Christianity24. 'The real extreme' with Gérald Sfez, Rue Descartes, 1995 25. 'La Vie de Malraux (Malraux's life) must be read as a collection of legends' with Philippe Bonnefis, Magazine littéraire, 1996 notes bibliography index