Article by A. Beilik-Robson, 2008 Apr 1.
International Journal of Žižek Studies [Online] Vol 2:0, "Žižek po Polsku".
Available at http://zizekstudies.org/index.php/ijzs/article/view/102/194
"Assuming an attitude which Alain Badiou, a French philosopher of a similar stripe, called (incidentally also inspired by Lacan) passion du Réel, Žižek despises all that which he regards as a syndrome of escape from the "tragic" reality of the human psyche. Mere happiness as a goal of the liberal-democratic consensus seems to him a laughable play of appearances, sported by the "Last People" who, in Nietzsche's Zaratustra, are a declining race of Westerners engaged only in the quest of individual illusions of pleasure. Any ethic of heroism is alien to them, they are incapable of sacrifice, they do not want to die for any Cause--they only want to live a comfortable life. Žižek paints such a contemptful portrait of contemporary Westerners, condemning their political indolence and intellectual hypocrisy. And the most blame-worthy culprit here is the New Left, accused by Žižek of being unable to oppose modern capitalism and letting itself be seduced by its trivial pursuits of happiness and gratification."
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I love the International Journal of Žižek Studies, but this volume (Vol 2:0, "Žižek po Polsku") is altogether too "cautionful" for me, too many scare quotes, not far-sighted enough.
ReplyDeleteWestern so-called 'civilization' is not in danger of losing its (alleged) "anti-authoritarian safeguards". For crying out loud, human beings are now in the situation of passengers on a plane that is in a nose-dive! What is so "fanatical" or "dehumanising" about trying to save ourselves before it is too late? Why do so many commentators on Žižek seem to have no background in philosophy? For philosophers, human "happiness" has never meant the idiotic pursuit of comforts and luxuries while the human species is making itself extinct.
Let's not be contemptful! Her English is much better than my Polish. And besides, Jesus is the King of Poland, you know. The author might be burned at the stake if she dared to express agreement and understanding. We have the same problem to an even worse degree here in the USA with our academics, those new sophists, those liars for hire (except for a courageous few, people like Eric Santner, Fredric Jameson, Wendy Brown, Adrian Johnston, Clayton Crockett).
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