![A Tahrir Moment on Wall Street [Polish]](http://www.adbusters.org/files/magazine/teaser/flag_polish_guardian.png?1317158630 "A Tahrir Moment on Wall Street [Polish]")
For disciples of Western philosophy, the gathering of the sages happens each year in a Swiss Alpine resort. Secluded among the peaks where thin air brings reverie, the world’s most prominent intellectuals welcome an eclectic mix of students – artists, thinkers and eccentrics – into their midst. Only here, at an experimental institution known as the European Graduate School, is one granted access to Slavoj Žižek, Alain Badiou, Avital Ronell, Giorgio Agamben, Judith Butler, Michael Hardt, Jacques Rancière and Jean-Luc Nancy among others. This congregation of masters lasts for three weeks of seminars, night lectures and communal dinner discussion. No other school in the world boasts a more exceptional faculty whose calling is to philosophize. But ultimately what makes the European Graduate School unique is the educational style. Eschewing the approach of traditional academia, the European Graduate School encourages professors to come without a syllabus in favor of speaking extemporaneously about the ideas they are currently wrestling with. What one grasps at the European Graduate School is a reflection of the subterranean ideas bubbling up in our historical moment.
In the four years since I began my studies at the European Graduate School, I have always returned home with a deep insight into the direction of our culture. My first year was the summer of 2006, in the midst of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The air was charged with political intensity and the most frequent subject of discussion was anarchism. The next year conversations tended toward discussions of political violence. Together, these years anticipated the reemergence of insurrectionary anarchism as a cultural force and heralded the publication of The Coming Insurrection. In my third year, the flock seemed divided over what constitutes an organic human, suggesting increasing anxiety over the post-human era and the consequences of our continued cyborgization, themes which have yet to be addressed by society at large. In my fourth and final year, from which I just returned, discussions did not circle around a single point but seemed to be fleeing from some truth none were willing to speak of.
What a surprise that big name philosophers, who in previous years did not hesitate to share their profound wisdom in a language that was philosophical but plain, nuanced but direct, now seemed to be hiding behind words. It was as if there was something they could not say. Their presentations became more academic, their focus more narrowed. The absence of a theme was obvious and that, I believe, was the only theme.
We are in a moment of cultural stagnation where the only thing to say is that we have nothing to say. The great contemporary philosophers of our age are in intellectual retreat. Something about this historical moment is leaving the discipline of Western philosophy blind. The great minds seem aware of a presence, but unable to get to it directly. So they fill the air with empty words that, while philosophically interesting, simply serve as a placeholder, a time-filler while events unfold.
It wasn’t until the year was drawing to a close that I caught a glimpse of what had rendered us all so speechless. Žižek, in his nightly lecture, remarked that we are reaching a “zero-point” of systemic collapse and civilizational crisis. And although he did not go so far as to say it, I believe that we have become paralyzed in the face of the imminent ecological, economic and cultural catastrophe facing humanity. We are staring into the abyss and we see nothing on the horizon to save ourselves. Is this the end of philosophy?
in fact, the rebirth of
in fact, the rebirth of philosophy is taking place along the lines of ken wilber's integral theory of everything. i've been in the philosophers game a long time, and there is nothing that rivals its inclusiveness and insight into the workings of virtually every aspect of human existence. postmodern deconstructionists, eat your heart out.
The whole ethos of this and
The whole ethos of this and your other articles got pretty well licked here http://theactivist.org/blog/ironicality-101-adbusters-war-on-your-little...
The end of philosophy is its
The end of philosophy is its rebirth. Ready your new ideas, they will be needed.
Perpetual growth is unsustainable. Re-payment of debt (with interest) requires perpetual growth. To live sustainably is to live without debt... and usury. I dare not speak about it, as I can't imagine the upheaval required to put this new sustainable civilization in place. Those in power want to keep the status quo. Only total collapse can transform our earth.
AbleFable -Canada.
We're not paralyzed, we're
We're not paralyzed, we're shopping! At least that's what we're doing in Brazil!
Well I hope its the end of
Well I hope its the end of philosphy for you. Have you so-called "philosophers" done anything concrete to improve society besides doing what you call "thinking about things"? Anything concrete? Anything measurable? Don't be too stuck in your western world because the world's culture and understanding does not revolve around you. Oh but I forgot that you are the guys that are the most culturally sensitive people around. You can be filled with pessimism and start feeling apocalyptic about the state of human kind because that is the easiest thing to do - complain. I can do it too. I don't need a 4-year intellectual w*&king session in some "Swiss Alpine Resort" to learn to complain in bombastic academic jargon which has no relevance to people with real lives and much better things to do. Is your life so privileged that you are so filled with boredom that you just have to find something to complain about? It would never be perfect for you, would it? If you had money, you complain about the "social/politico-economic/philosophical/psychological problems" of having too much money. If you had no money, you would ALSO complain about the "social/politico-economic/philosophical/psychological problems" of a lack of money. Will you ever be happy? Don't ask adbusters readers that question (as many adbusters authors are wont to do). You should ask yourself that same question.
Frankly, I hope that its the end of philosophy for you as you may have run out of things to complain about for now. And I hope that you find something better to do with your life because I frankly think that you wasted 4 years of your precious life (unless you did get some good skiing in the above mentioned Swiss alpine resort).
Adbusters! Wake up and give us some good material please....
so what do you actually do?
so what do you actually do?
To call it a drought in
To call it a drought in ideas, the decline should be evident for a number of successive years.
It is only this year, the conference was a bit muted. Why being so pessimistic?
Also, what about the students? Can't they stir things up a bit?
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The strangest part of all of
The strangest part of all of this is that it's 50/50.
Something that i often notice
Something that i often notice is something to do with the end of consensus. People may throw up an idea and a barrage of cynicism is returned, by frustrated loners desperate to show that they are right and more importantly, you are an idiot. I dont know if this has to do with an excess of ego in the west but we seem increasingly, at least in the west, to inhabit a clever dick world were the same clever dicks produce nothing but hot air and shit.
I like this article and it's
I like this article and it's thesis is proven by the lack of civility in the comments.
I agree that we are staring into the abyss, but I suggest this is not the end of philosophy...rather it is a new beginning, and when I'm feeling optimistic I think this is exciting, when i'm feeling pessimistic it is terrifying.
I believe that over time ideas tend to complicate themselves, becoming overly ornate, and that revolutionary times have a way of simplifying those ideals that make life not only comfortable but civil and allow for laughter and unity, a few things that slip away a little bit each day.
what makes a philosophy heroic if it not challenged by a set of facts and phenomena that confound the mind? perhaps the silence, the abyss will give us the humility that will give philosophy an injection of the spiritual, and i would call that progress.
some thoughts
kenvallario.com
The next revolution will be
The next revolution will be in the rejection of the modern concept of money. The powers that be will be stopped from printing!
It's not the end of
It's not the end of philosophy, stupid: it's the end of humanity. That's a trifle worse.
Philosophy found its answers
Philosophy found its answers with wittgenstein years ago; western philosophy succeded it didnt die. All thats come since then is high sounding nonsense
"We are in a moment of
"We are in a moment of cultural stagnation where the only thing to say is that we have nothing to say. The great contemporary philosophers of our age are in intellectual retreat. Something about this historical moment is leaving the discipline of Western philosophy blind. The great minds seem aware of a presence, but unable to get to it directly. So they fill the air with empty words that, while philosophically interesting, simply serve as a placeholder, a time-filler while events unfold."
HAHHA
don't you dare try to name drop Zizek, who in the hell do you think you are? Well I'm guessing, just another sAdbusters shill, internet Barnums who speak in hyperbole because its the only way to cause panic and obfuscate real dialouge... There is an elitist subtext smelling up this internet space... the idea that only academics are allowed to discuss philosophy and more to the point, the only ones allowed to frame the debate. We just follow, bleat and move on.
One day, the people will speak Micah, in a roaring madness that not even you can bullshit your way out of, Joe and Jill Six Pack and the dirty smelly third worlders you look down your elitist nose at will shriek with blood curdling fury as they raze the foundations of your ivory tower. The end of philosophy indeed! Be careful, just be sure you know which side you're on when the shit hits the fan. Everyday the line we draw in the sand gets thick, wider and longer, you spit game like the enemy Micah. Watch out.
Why am I the only one who seems to be taking issue with how nakedly anti-radical bAdbusters seems to be? Are the people reading these articles really that brain damaged?
Beautiful philosophical
Beautiful philosophical developments are unfolding all around us. (See resilience theory as one of many examples). It's time to let go of the old angst ridden ideas of the Armegedonists, alarmists and anarchists – the world is not going to shit. Yes we've got big problems, but we have capacity like never before to work on these problems. The convergence of art, design, science, and philosophy is yielding rich new space for inquiry. We don't need pontificators in the hills to crush our optimism on their megaphones telling us that the the sky is falling. Forget that noise. Today, more than ever before in human history, every day people, filled with hope, are thinking critically about their surroundings, and coming together to work in communities to build something great.
This is an entirely
This is an entirely disappointing article. I expect more original ideas from both this publication and its writers. I keep reading articles with the hope that they will evolve beyond this general critique of how society is on the verge of the cliff and has only itself to blame. While I am sympathetic to this, I expect more of this publication and its voices - to go beyond and provide a deeper understanding of why it may be so. Articles like this disappoint me.
"We are staring into the abyss and we see nothing on the horizon to save ourselves" This notion is so tired. Any why is the moment in time any different than any other before it? Isn't this feeling entrenched within us?
Frankly, I am really disappointed.
It is not that anything is
It is not that anything is less interesting. It is just too complicated to solve with old solutions or singular human minds. You cannot solve new problems with solutions that worked for different problems or eras. There is a financial disaster that is still transcending and has the potential to worsen this winter. There are still escalating wars and many more cultures than ever before fighting for their way of life.
But as always after a rock bottom ... something always opens up. After destruction there is always construction. It is a cycle. And who needs philosophy as the greatest depression will have people thinking for themselves quicker in our lifetime than any other. It is a revolution that is slowly occurring already. Start running ... yes. Basic survival skills, stock food, obtain trades with local businesses, and get to know your neighbors.
As with anything nothing is permanent. We do have guides and guardian angels watching over us yet we are supposed to experience lessons.
I don't think the night is
I don't think the night is always darkest before dawn. It sort of starts to lighten up a bit before the sun comes up. Just before dawn does seem to be the coldest bit though.
What!? Human society hasn't
What!? Human society hasn't become less interesting, less complicated or less "cultured", imo. Maybe your perception of such things simply hasn't evolved.
This is not the end of philosophy, whatever that means. Philosophy coincides with sentience. Are we nearing the end of sentience? Hardly.
you spent four years there
you spent four years there and this is your deep insight?
did professors dj spooky and emin teach you nothing?
No, the night is always
No, the night is always darkest before the dawn. What may unfold in the mist of darkness is unknown to us and that there is our greatest fear, fear of the unknown. We can pull through but we need to stop walking and start running and get it over sooner rather than later, that is, revolutionizing our society, rebalance, solace.
Cheers!
-Tonka