Commemorating World War One: The Trial of Hate, A conversation with French Author Marc Crépon and Translator Michael Naas.

Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Chicago—and in celebration of the PMML's acquisition of 100 French language books about WWI — French philosopher Marc Crépon discusses his work with DePaul University’s Michael Naas, philosophy professor and chair.

In an effort to further expand its foreign language holdings, and in commemoration of the centennial of WWI, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library has partnered with the Consulate General of France in Chicago to acquire a collection of 100 French language books on The Great War.  The books will be unveiled in a joint press conference beginning at 12:00 p.m. CDT.

The unveiling will be followed by a special presentation of Pritzker Military Presents, featuring a fascinating discussion by French-speaker Marc Crépon and translator Michael Naas on “Commemorating World War One: The Trial of Hate.” This program will be webcast live for the benefit of viewers in France and the United States. 

The lecture will explore the surge in time of war of a “culture of fear” and a “culture of the enemy” that are the first and the most formidable of the trials that must be surmounted by those who want not only to make the voice of peace heard, but to give it a chance in the future. 

“In the framework of WWI centennial, the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in the United States is organizing a series of events with the vision of informing the general public about the major issues of WWI, focusing more specially on the transmission of common values across the last century, from one generation to another, in France as in America." — Official Statement, Consulate General of France in Chicago

Marc Crépon is the chair of philosophy at Ecole Normale Supérieure and director of research at the Archives Husserl. He is the author of sixteen books in French, including The Thought of Death and the Memory of War.

Michael Naas is a professor and department chair at Chicago's DePaul University. He teaches courses in Philosophy and Comparative Literature and conducts research in the areas of ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary French philosophy. His recent published work includes co-translations of Jacques Derridas The Other Heading, Memoirs of the Blind, Adieu, Rogues, and Learning to Live Finally.