Sacrificial ontology and theory of illusion. A rehabilitation program for Jean Baudrillard

Abstract

This article attempts to bring Jean Baudrillard back to the philosophical stage and reposition him two decades after his death, during which few works have emerged that account for his philosophical legacy as a singular conceptual body of thought. It proposes a reconstruction of his thought based on the notion of sacrificial ontology and the doctrine of illusion founded upon it. In contrast to the powerful traditions of the philosophy of representation and of production, Baudrillard posits that entities emerge and disappear according to a ritualistic game where illusion, generally considered the enemy of thought, has ontological value. This reading allows for a radical critique of the reality principle, renewing the analysis of simulacra and proposing the concept of hyperreality as the defining characteristic of our relationship with the world in contemporary societies. Finally, a description of the ethical and moral orientation that guides his thought is offered. Through this framework, the enduring relevance and philosophical depth of his work are reaffirmed.