Listen as Slavoj Žižek provides a Hegelian insight into political crises, explores the evolving meaning of truth, and discusses the role of philosophy in addressing societal issues. They also touch on quantum physics, the tension between individualism and a social approach, and the connection between philosophy and love.
Understanding the conceptual structure of our era is crucial to grasp its potential positive or negative trajectories.
Philosophy should challenge prevailing assumptions and enable us to approach problems in new ways.
Deep dives
Hegelian Insight into Historical and Political Crises
In this podcast episode, renowned philosopher Slavoj Jijek provides a Hegelian insight into historical and current political crises. He discusses how Hegel's concept of the subject and the emergence of reality relate to historical and political events. Jijek highlights Hegel's view that history repeats itself, showing how promising epochs often lead to unforeseen negative outcomes. He also contrasts Marx's deterministic perspective with Hegel's more nuanced approach to historical progress. Jijek argues that we need to understand the conceptual structure of our era to grasp its potential positive or negative trajectories.
The Relevance of Philosophy in Today's World
Jijek explores the role of philosophy in our contemporary world and its contribution to understanding our existence. He critiques the prevailing reductionist and individualistic frameworks of philosophy and science. Jijek argues for a more comprehensive perspective that acknowledges the complex interplays between individualism and social structures. He also discusses the limitations of naturalistic approaches to the subject and advocates for a deeper understanding of the relationship between the primordial ontological state of reality and the human subject. By examining love and freedom, Jijek emphasizes the need for philosophy to ask the right questions, challenge prevailing assumptions, and enable us to approach problems in new ways.
The Nature of Love and Subjectivity
Jijek delves into the nature of love and subjectivity, drawing insights from psychoanalysis, Buddhism, and quantum physics. He challenges prevalent notions of love as contingent and argues for a view that incorporates both freedom and determination. Jijek also highlights the necessity of recognizing the primordial rift or disturbance in reality and its manifestation in human subjectivity. He discusses the limitations of attributing love solely to individual needs and proposes a more profound understanding of love that transcends mere contingency. Jijek ultimately sees love and philosophy as intertwined, both characterized by continual questioning and reevaluation.
Should we seek to fulfill our needs with multiple partners? Does dissecting a rat brain count as philosophy? Are we entering the age of corporate authoritarianism? Listen as Zizek guides us through these and other major questions of our time.
Slavoj Žižek provides a Hegelian insight into historical and current political crises. The dialectical repetition of history is not inevitable, and the recent trend away from continental 'transcendental historicism' will allow the continental tradition to shed new light on the world. Slavoj takes us on a whirlwind tour of continental philosophy from the pandemic to how philosophy is like falling in love.
Slavoj Žižek is a globally renowned philosopher and cultural critic. He is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London, visiting professor at New York University and a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana's Department of Philosophy. He is the author of several books, including The Sublime Object of Ideology, The Parallax View, Living in the End Times and Heaven in Disorder.