For Lefort, writing and language are not neutral communication tools but are imbued with political significance. They are symbolic practices that both reflect and shape the social order. In democratic societies, writing is of special importance because it embodies the principles of openness, debate, and contestation that define democratic life. In this context, writing becomes …
Those who aspire to live in the macro realm and seek transcendence must allow this higher reality to permeate their micro world. We can’t expect a higher power to operate solely on an abstract level, detached from our everyday existence. Yet, in our earthly dwelling, many prefer to believe that their lives aren’t contained within …
The intricate connection between the body and brain ensures our adaptive responses to the ever-changing environmental landscape. At the heart of this dynamic relationship lies psychophysiology, a field devoted to uncovering how our physiological processes underpin emotional and social experiences. Through the lens of psychophysiological methods, we gain profound insights into the symbiotic relationship between …
Since his rise to power and a certain part of his reign coincided with the Fascist rule in Italy, and soon also the Nazi rule in Germany, as well as the reign of Francisco Franco in neighboring Spain (often also suspected of the same thing, albeit with some more justification), the perception of the Salazar’s …
Now, of course, one could argue that, just as Plato went a step too far in condemning mimesis to court, we can use digital communications in a modified fashion, exercising control and intention in what we occupy our minds with and when and why. The trick is to be always mindful of not giving free …
Claude Lefort and Pierre Manent offer contrasting yet complementary views on “the political form.” Lefort emphasizes the openness and indeterminacy of democracy, arguing that a healthy political form requires constant contestation and pluralism. Manent, by contrast, stresses the importance of stable political structures, particularly the nation-state, as essential for preserving a shared moral order and …
We can analyze each bit of the poem discursively but we cannot, as readers, see them altogether as vision, a fact being brought home to me even as I type for my computer is resisting Avison’s compounds ‘stormcloud’ and ‘branchtip’ with garish red lines! The poem is a fragmentary witness to whatever it is Avison …
Aesthetic relativism, as a concept, did not simply emerge out of nowhere in our lifetime. Its roots can be traced back to the existentialist and structuralist movements of the 20th century, which not only questioned the objective nature of beauty, but rejected it alongside truth and morality, as well. These movements paved the way for …
Christ’s gaze, though detached from earthly suffering, conveys a meditative serenity, contrasting sharply with the innkeeper’s material focus. This juxtaposition highlights the transcendence of the divine amidst the mundane. His gaze in the painting appears almost childish, immature, and detached, imbuing it with a transcendental quality.
In this new vision, the divine arises from human willpower, guiding us across the abyss. This god is rooted in an archaic substrate beyond rationality, embodied in the pure expression of creativity—an unstoppable cosmic instinct. This divine presence shines brightest during the wild, unrestrained Dionysian festivals, outside the established order and Apollonian restraint, where blood, …
