On magical nominalism: An interview with Martin Jay

This interview with Martin Jay took place in January 2025. The conversation focuses on the conceptual elements of his book Magical Nominalism: The Historical Event, Aesthetic Reenchantment, and the Photograph (2025). Attention is given to the place of nominalism within philosophy and in connection to critical theory, history, and art. With a mind to his contribution to all these areas, as the Ehrman Professor of European History Emeritus at University of California Berkeley, Jay also positions this work alongside his previous and possible contributions to intellectual history and social theory.