European Intellectual History since Nietzsche

Class 23: “Antipolitics” & the Philosophy of Dissent

17 snips
Feb 7, 2024
Delve into the philosophical turmoil of post-1968 Eastern Europe, where disillusionment clashes with revolt among Polish students. Explore the Grand Inquisitor's parable, showcasing the tension between faith and freedom. Discover 'antipolitics' in Czechoslovakia, revealing a shift towards societal deception amid totalitarianism. Hear about the grassroots rise of human rights discourse and the struggles of the Plastic People of the Universe as they seek artistic survival. The narrative intertwines moral dilemmas and the pursuit of truth in oppressive regimes.
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INSIGHT

Deconstruction Raises Responsibility Questions

  • Derrida's deconstruction questions fixed meanings, teleology, and the autonomous subject as ideological fictions.
  • This critique raises the problem of responsibility once truth and stable structures are contested.
ANECDOTE

Havel's Epiphany With Underground Musicians

  • Vaclav Havel met the rock band Plastic People of the Universe after their manager Ivan Jirous insisted he hear them.
  • Their arrest galvanized Havel to mobilize Czech intellectuals and defend the musicians' integrity.
INSIGHT

Human Rights Language Replaced Ideology

  • Charter 77 used the Helsinki Accords' human-rights language to create a moral, not political, opposition.
  • Its aim was to form an open community demanding that the state honor rights it had formally accepted.
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