Philosophy of Traces

The first book in English to offer an extended critical engagement with the work of contemporary Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris

The first book to offer extended critical engagement of the work of the major contemporary Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris, showing how his thought is essential to international debates around New Materialism, Speculative Realism and Deconstruction.


In Philosophy of Traces, twenty-two contributions from world-class contemporary philosophers set out the questions and answers that constitute the pillars of Ferraris' work. At its foundation is the concept of the trace, that which arises in the process of the transmission and recording of information which is the basis of natural and social life. The essays explore the significance of the trace across a diverse range of fields including metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, philosophy of technology, science and technology studies, architecture, literary theory, and anthropology.


With an introduction by Ferraris himself, this volume will be the key resource for anyone interested in the principal philosopher of New Realism, as well as those concerned with the legacy of post-structuralist philosophy in the Italian context.