Esposito (contemporary philosophy, Italian Institute for the Human Sciences, Naples) explores the treatment--mistreatment, or lack of treatment at best, he might say--of community by philosophy in the Christian West. In chapters on nothing in common, fear, guilt, law, ecstasy, and experience, he reflects on the work of Rousseau, Kant, Heidegger, Hobbes, Augustine, and other thinkers. An appendix considers nihilism and community. Communitas: Origine e destrino communita was published by Giulo Einandi Editore in 1998 and 2006. No index is provided. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Roberto Esposito teaches contemporary philosophy at the Italian Institute for the Human Sciences in Naples. His Bios: Biopolitics and Philosophy (2008) has also been translated into English.