In conversation with Slavoj Žižek: Life and philosophy
Feb 6, 2024
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Renowned philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Žižek discusses the apocalypse, ideology, freedom, and more. Topics include living in a time of dystopian fantasies, advancements in technology challenging subjectivity, and exploring the unconscious and the history of feminism.
Zizek explores the concept of ontological incompleteness, emphasizing the potential for multiple outcomes in nature and history.
Zizek criticizes the illusion of cultural understanding and advocates for confronting the horrors committed in politics rather than covering them up.
Deep dives
The Intersection of Slavoj Zizek's Ideas and His Personal Life
In an intimate conversation with author Joanna Kavanagh, philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Zizek explores the theological ideas of thinkers such as Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Stalin, and Donald Trump. He discusses the Soviet dream of linking brains together to destroy subjectivity, the concept of free will and autonomy while accepting determinism, and the idea of being too bright for God. Zizek also delves into the notion of ontological incompleteness in nature and history, highlighting the open possibilities and potential for multiple outcomes. He examines the relationship between subjectivity and the unconscious, positing that even with the emergence of brain-computer interfaces, the empty space of Cartesian subjectivity will remain in the unconscious.
Living in the Era of Cynical Reason and the Illusion of Objectivity
Zizek discusses the shift from disavowal to a new era of cynical reason, where those in power tell the objective truth but remain immobilized by it. He provides examples of how this plays out in politics and art, criticizing the way art analysis often fails to align with its stated intentions. Zizek also addresses the danger of the illusion of cultural understanding, highlighting the need to challenge the idea that the enemy is someone whose truth we may have failed to listen to. He argues that in politics, the focus should be on confronting the horrors committed rather than seeking to enact a narrative that covers them up.
Saving Freedom within the Framework of Determinism and Quantum Physics
Zizek delves into the question of saving freedom within the context of determinism and quantum physics. He proposes that freedom is not necessarily a natural occurrence but rather an ontological openness in nature and history. Zizek argues against the idea of contingency and posits that freedom is a positive decision rather than a result of chance. He explores the concept of reality as discrete rather than continuously divisible and argues for the importance of understanding historical events in superposition with other possible events. Zizek also touches on the idea of subjectivity and the unconscious, suggesting that even with advanced technologies, the empty space of subjectivity will persist.
How do we save freedom? And, please, would you like coffee without cream or coffee without milk?
Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes
Join renowned philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Zizek as he divulges his ideas regarding the apocalypse, ideology, freedom in the present moment, and more through a classic Zizekian mix of personal anecdotes, pop culture, and philosophical references. As he asserts, he did not exist before theory.
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