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Tangential, but can anyone eli5 this field of philosophy (the non generated form)? I recognize names like Lacan and Zizek but can't get far enough through the v
by sprobertson 10y ago
Tangential, but can anyone eli5 this field of philosophy (the non generated form)? I recognize names like Lacan and Zizek but can't get far enough through the verbal cruft to interpret anything.
- dcre 10y agoIt's such a wide set of authors that any ELI5 is going to fall very short (kind of like saying "can anyone explain 20th century European literature to me?") but the Wikipedia for continental philosophy is a tolerable intro: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_philosophy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_philosophy Of course, actually reading Nietzsche or something would be better but that's not really an ELI5.
- JonnieCache 10y agoAs I understand it, you could sum it up as: categorizations and abstractions are primarily instruments of power and control, rather than tools to further understanding. The true purpose of categories or classifications is to place people or concepts outside of them, and thus to denigrate and dominate them. Categories or labels have no "real" meaning except to serve this malign purpose. Part of the reason why these people originally wrote in such a strange way was because they wanted to try and write without applying the traditional categories and modes of thought we've all been raised with. Disclaimer: I'm not qualified to tell you this and you shouldn't listen to me. I'd welcome correction from someone who actually knows what they're talking about.
- sprobertson 10y agoI listened anyway... if that's in any way accurate it's the best explanation I've heard yet!