Against the widespread attitude of understanding negativity as something to be overcome in the interest of greater self-actualization, productivity, and positivity, this volume opens up a different perspective. It explores the various forms of the negative in art, law, and politics, highlighting its irreducible power. The possibility of success is interconnected with that of failure not only internally – negativity even proves to be the necessary foundation of all positivity and a force of liberation. Contributions include works by Eva Geulen, Raymond Geuss, Axel Honneth, Andrea Kern, Isabelle Graw, Gertrud Koch, Martin Saar, Martin Seel, and Dieter Thomä.