I grew up watching Slavoj Zizek, a man whose life's aim is to "revitalise the left". I am no longer a leftist, but reading Roger Scruton (or other conservatives) on Zizek, and reading the responses Zizek's followers give, one gets the clear impression that the Scrutons and Zizeks of the world are not on the same wavelength. There is something very different, at a fundamental level, with the two traditions of Western philosophy that makes them struggle to criticise each other effectively. And it is largely a function of adjustments made for the intended audience. As dense as the prose of an analytical philosopher can be, they have a set of ethical constraints of their writing style. They must address all readers, regardless of their persuasion or level of knowledge. They must write clearly, and set out their premises and conclusions unambiguously and transparently. To read a faithful adherent of the analytical tradition is like drinking cool springwater, it is deliberately naive, serving to promote intellectual honesty (even at the cost of occasional irrelevance).
The Instrumental Ecumenism of Slavoj Zizek
The Instrumental Ecumenism of Slavoj Zizek
The Instrumental Ecumenism of Slavoj Zizek
I grew up watching Slavoj Zizek, a man whose life's aim is to "revitalise the left". I am no longer a leftist, but reading Roger Scruton (or other conservatives) on Zizek, and reading the responses Zizek's followers give, one gets the clear impression that the Scrutons and Zizeks of the world are not on the same wavelength. There is something very different, at a fundamental level, with the two traditions of Western philosophy that makes them struggle to criticise each other effectively. And it is largely a function of adjustments made for the intended audience. As dense as the prose of an analytical philosopher can be, they have a set of ethical constraints of their writing style. They must address all readers, regardless of their persuasion or level of knowledge. They must write clearly, and set out their premises and conclusions unambiguously and transparently. To read a faithful adherent of the analytical tradition is like drinking cool springwater, it is deliberately naive, serving to promote intellectual honesty (even at the cost of occasional irrelevance).