Slavoj Žižek: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Zizek 2.jpg|thumb|right|A grumpy looking Žižek.]] | [[File:Zizek 2.jpg|thumb|right|A grumpy looking Žižek.]] | ||
'''Slavoj Žižek''' is a contemporary leftist theorist. He is notable for his [[ | '''Slavoj Žižek''' is a contemporary leftist theorist. He is notable for his critique of [[ideology]] going beyond the work of [[Louis Althusser]], and his efforts to rethink [[dialectical materialism]] on a more traditional [[Hegel|Hegelian]] basis, integrating the insights of [[psychoanalysis|psychoanalytic]] theorist [[Jacques Lacan]]. Žižek and his work have been criticized by [[Domenico Losurdo]]<ref name="losu">''Il marxismo occidentale: Come nacque, come morì, come può rinascere.'' Losurdo, Domenico. Ch. 5: Ripresa o ultimo guizzo del marxismo occidentale?</ref>, [[Noam Chomsky]]<ref name="chom">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVBOtxCfan0 ''Noam Chomsky on Slavoj Žižek''], YouTube clip.</ref>, and others; however, he retains widespread recognition among academics and leftists alike, including for his livestreamed debate against reactionary academic [[Jordan Peterson]], in which he defended his [[Marxist]] and [[Hegelian]] critiques of capitalist society, and he continues to have a large online following. | ||
==Biography== | |||
{{quote|I'm definitely not lamenting the fall of the [Iron Curtain]; if I may boast a little bit, I even participated in it.<ref>Op. cit. ''‘20th Century Communism’'', at 1:01.</ref>}} | |||
Žižek studied philosophy at the University of Ljubljana, developing an interest in Sigmund Freud, Louis Althusser, and French structuralism. | |||
==Ideas== | |||
=== Critique of ideology === | |||
=== Rethinking of dialectical materialism === | |||
==Political views== | |||
===Communism=== | |||
Žižek is well known for his emphatic break with the 20th century communist project, calling it “maybe the worst ideological, political, ethical, social (and so on) catastrophe in the history of humanity”<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThTJBKYPiNo ''‘20th Century Communism’ by Slavoj Žižek''], Interview on BBC Hardball, 2009; At timestamp 2:09.</ref> and calling Stalinism "at some abstract level of suffering [...] arguably worse than Nazism"<ref>Op. cit. ''‘20th Century Communism’'', at 3:22. His subsequent argument for this view is difficult to parse or paraphrase.</ref>. His work often criticizes the ideological basis of Stalinism and other 20th century communist movements. | |||
== | However, Žižek prefers to critique existing formations rather than outlining a specific political program or goal. Contrasting himself with the optimistic Left in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Žižek said that "except [for] some old Keynesian formulas, I'm not aware of any convincing radical left alternatives" to capitalism.<ref>Op. cit. ''‘20th Century Communism’'', at 7:39.</ref> When pressed, Žižek tentatively defined his view of 21st century communism as "some form of collective activity which will be neither market nor state bureaucracy"<ref>Op. cit. ''‘20th Century Communism’, at 19:19.</ref> involving a "global organisation that can control and regulate the economy as well as limit the sovereignty of nation states when needed"<ref name="grdn">[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/apr/23/pandemic-by-slavoj-zizek-review-the-philosopher-provides-his-solution Pandemic! by Slavoj Žižek review – the philosopher provides his solution], The Guardian.</ref>. Žižek argued in the first months of the Coronavirus pandemic that the international response had already begun to resemble a communism of this sort.<ref name="grdn" /> | ||
===Venezuela=== | |||
== | ===NATO and Ukraine=== | ||
==Public image== | |||
== | |||
Žižek is known across the internet, even by people uninterested in his philosophy, for his distinctive and bizarre mannerisms. He speaks in a heavy Slovenian accent, and has a strong, noticeable lisp that makes his S sounds like SH. He sniffs frequently while talking, and tugs at his shirt. For these mannerisms alone, it is very much worth seeing him speak on video or in person. | Žižek is known across the internet, even by people uninterested in his philosophy, for his distinctive and bizarre mannerisms. He speaks in a heavy Slovenian accent, and has a strong, noticeable lisp that makes his S sounds like SH. He sniffs frequently while talking, and tugs at his shirt. For these mannerisms alone, it is very much worth seeing him speak on video or in person. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
{{NavHegelians}} | {{NavHegelians}} | ||
==References== | |||
==External | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
Materials ''by'' Žižek: | Materials ''by'' Žižek: | ||
*[http://theoryleaks.org/text/books/slavoj-zizek/ Theoryleaks.org, website containing downloadable books by Žižek] | *[http://theoryleaks.org/text/books/slavoj-zizek/ Theoryleaks.org, website containing downloadable books by Žižek] | ||
*[http://zizekpodcast.com/category/zizek/ "Slavoj Žižek -- Collected Recordings", website archiving all audio materials available of Žižek online] | *[http://zizekpodcast.com/category/zizek/ "Slavoj Žižek -- Collected Recordings", website archiving all audio materials available of Žižek online] | ||
*[http://www.lacan.com/frameziz.htm Articles by Žižek on Lacan.com] | *[http://www.lacan.com/frameziz.htm Articles by Žižek on Lacan.com] | ||
*[https://zizek.uk/ Žižek.uk, website listing articles by Žižek in popular publications.] | *[https://zizek.uk/ Žižek.uk, website listing articles by Žižek in popular publications.] | ||
Materials ''on'' Žižek: | Materials ''on'' Žižek: | ||
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_%C5%BDi%C5%BEek Wikipedia article on Žižek] | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_%C5%BDi%C5%BEek Wikipedia article on Žižek] | ||
*[https://www.iep.utm.edu/zizek/ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Žižek] | *[https://www.iep.utm.edu/zizek/ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Žižek] | ||
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[[Category:People]] | [[Category:People]] | ||
[[category:philosophy]] | |||
Revision as of 18:28, 23 March 2023
Slavoj Žižek is a contemporary leftist theorist. He is notable for his critique of ideology going beyond the work of Louis Althusser, and his efforts to rethink dialectical materialism on a more traditional Hegelian basis, integrating the insights of psychoanalytic theorist Jacques Lacan. Žižek and his work have been criticized by Domenico Losurdo[1], Noam Chomsky[2], and others; however, he retains widespread recognition among academics and leftists alike, including for his livestreamed debate against reactionary academic Jordan Peterson, in which he defended his Marxist and Hegelian critiques of capitalist society, and he continues to have a large online following.
Biography
I'm definitely not lamenting the fall of the [Iron Curtain]; if I may boast a little bit, I even participated in it.[3]
Žižek studied philosophy at the University of Ljubljana, developing an interest in Sigmund Freud, Louis Althusser, and French structuralism.
Ideas
Critique of ideology
Rethinking of dialectical materialism
Political views
Communism
Žižek is well known for his emphatic break with the 20th century communist project, calling it “maybe the worst ideological, political, ethical, social (and so on) catastrophe in the history of humanity”[4] and calling Stalinism "at some abstract level of suffering [...] arguably worse than Nazism"[5]. His work often criticizes the ideological basis of Stalinism and other 20th century communist movements.
However, Žižek prefers to critique existing formations rather than outlining a specific political program or goal. Contrasting himself with the optimistic Left in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Žižek said that "except [for] some old Keynesian formulas, I'm not aware of any convincing radical left alternatives" to capitalism.[6] When pressed, Žižek tentatively defined his view of 21st century communism as "some form of collective activity which will be neither market nor state bureaucracy"[7] involving a "global organisation that can control and regulate the economy as well as limit the sovereignty of nation states when needed"[8]. Žižek argued in the first months of the Coronavirus pandemic that the international response had already begun to resemble a communism of this sort.[8]
Venezuela
NATO and Ukraine
Public image
Žižek is known across the internet, even by people uninterested in his philosophy, for his distinctive and bizarre mannerisms. He speaks in a heavy Slovenian accent, and has a strong, noticeable lisp that makes his S sounds like SH. He sniffs frequently while talking, and tugs at his shirt. For these mannerisms alone, it is very much worth seeing him speak on video or in person.
See also
References
- ↑ Il marxismo occidentale: Come nacque, come morì, come può rinascere. Losurdo, Domenico. Ch. 5: Ripresa o ultimo guizzo del marxismo occidentale?
- ↑ Noam Chomsky on Slavoj Žižek, YouTube clip.
- ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 1:01.
- ↑ ‘20th Century Communism’ by Slavoj Žižek, Interview on BBC Hardball, 2009; At timestamp 2:09.
- ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 3:22. His subsequent argument for this view is difficult to parse or paraphrase.
- ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 7:39.
- ↑ Op. cit. ‘20th Century Communism’, at 19:19.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Pandemic! by Slavoj Žižek review – the philosopher provides his solution, The Guardian.
External links
Materials by Žižek:
- Theoryleaks.org, website containing downloadable books by Žižek
- "Slavoj Žižek -- Collected Recordings", website archiving all audio materials available of Žižek online
- Articles by Žižek on Lacan.com
- Žižek.uk, website listing articles by Žižek in popular publications.
Materials on Žižek: