Crisis and Critique Special: Žižek on “The Oeuvre of Slavoj Žižek”
Aug 31, 2025
Slavoj Žižek shares his complex feelings about scholarly interpretations of his work. The discussion dives into 'Christian atheism' and the nature of evil, exploring the implications of a post-God world. The hosts analyze modern political discourse and how contemporary political correctness echoes historical fascism. They also uncover connections between quantum physics and ideological critique, while navigating political uncertainty and the need for practical approaches in today's disillusioned landscape. It's a thought-provoking conversation with layers of insight!
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Hesitation Before Reading Praise
- Slavoj Žižek admits he hasn't yet read the Crisis and Critique issue because he fears being overly fascinated or disappointed.
- He finds the journal too good and needs time to accept its excellence before reading it.
Christian Experience Shapes Authentic Atheism
- Žižek distinguishes his 'Christian atheism' from cultural Christianity and sees Christianity as confronting the origin of evil in God himself.
- He argues religious experience is necessary to genuinely assume atheism, not merely assert it verbally.
Freedom Taken To Extremes Becomes Control
- Žižek proposes 'liberal fascism' to capture a form of libertarian extremism that weaponizes freedom and leads to new regulation and dictatorship.
- He warns that extreme individual freedom paradoxically yields tighter control and novel authoritarianism.
