The Profane Land of the Happy: On the Messianic Promise in the Work of Giorgio Agamben

This paper provides an interpretation of the enigmatic concept ‘happy life’ in philosophy Giorgio Agamben. It departs from a recognition ambivalence Agamben’s use sacred and profane terminology that informs this concept. In decidedly Benjaminian frame, with help esoteric religious images, happy life is described by Agamben as messianic blessed life, while he, at same time, explicitly defines it perfectly life. Reading aspiring to radical transformation our mode being world, I argue consistency his idiosyncratic attitude toward can be shown, new light shed on nature Beyond prevailing negative characterizations describe what not be, developed argues positively entails ethos love practice use. As such, aims contribute recent attempts analyzing curative promissory aspects over above its critical potential, provide basic outline allows for comparative analysis other contemporary authors notion happiness.