A world without foundations: Politics, society and history in post-foundationalist thought

September 23, 2015 - September 24, 2015
Instituto de Humanidades, Universidad Diego Portales

Santiago
Chile

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Speakers:

Oliver Marchart
Academy of Arts Düsseldorf
(unaffiliated)
Martín Plot
Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales, Argentina

Organisers:

Rodrigo Cordero
Universidad Diego Portales
Universidad Diego Portales

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[versión en español abajo / Spanish version below]

In political as well as scientific debate, not having “foundations” for the things one says or does is often considered as indicating a failure to comply with certain moral or epistemic standards, as it suggests the absence of grounds upon which one’s words and actions may be interpreted, evaluated and justified. In view of this fact, it may seem surprising that “post-” or “antifoundationalism” has become established as a label and general description for a particular strand of contemporary philosophical, political and social thought. The term designates a kind of thinking that conceives the human being, society, history, or the cosmos at large as lacking any fixed ground or telos (revealed divine precepts, universal moral and political principles dictated by reason, immutable laws of nature, etc.), a thinking that insists on the contingency, fragility, and plurality of our modes of living. Thinkers as diverse as Arendt and Foucault, Laclau and Deleuze, Agamben and Badiou—to name but a few of the most prominent—have been associated with this description.

This conference is intended to explore the very idea of anti- or post-foundational thought from an interdisciplinary perspective (including philosophy, sociology, politics, history, among others). More specifically, it seeks to discuss the various challenges that this way of thinking confronts. How can one think without solid foundations? Can such an approach be consistently carried out, i.e., can it avoid the risk of self-contradiction? Does it lead to the sterile conclusion that “anything is possible” or “anything goes”? Are the thinkers who commonly receive the label adequately understood in this way?

Support: FONDECYT Iniciación Project No. 11121346

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Tanto en discusiones políticas como científicas, no tener “fundamentos” para las cosas que uno dice o hace a menudo es considerado como indicador de una falta de adhesión a ciertos estándares morales o epistémicos; en efecto, ello sugiere la ausencia de una base sobre la cual nuestras acciones puedan ser interpretadas, evaluadas y justificadas. En este marco, puede parecer sorprendente que el “post” y “antifundacionalismo” se hayan convertido en etiquetas y descripciones generales de una variante particular del pensamiento filosófico, político y social contemporáneo.  El término designa un tipo de pensamiento que concibe al ser humano, la sociedad, la historia e incluso la naturaleza como carentes de un fundamento fijo o telos (preceptos divinos revelados, principios morales y políticos universales dictados por la razón, leyes inmutables de la naturaleza, etc.); y que enfatiza la contingencia, fragilidad y pluralidad de nuestras formas de vida. Pensadores tan diversos como Arendt y Foucault, Laclau y Deleuze, Agamben y Badiou —por nombrar solamente a los más destacados— han sido identificados con esta descripción.

El presente coloquio busca explorar la idea misma del pensamiento post y antifundacional desde una perspectiva intersdiciplinaria (incluyendo filosofía, sociología, ciencia política, historia, entre otras). Específicamente, busca abordar los desafíos que este modo de pensar el mundo confronta. ¿Cómo puede uno pensar sin fundamentos?  ¿Puede tal forma de pensamiento ser llevada a cabo de modo consistente, sin caer en el riesgo de contradecirse? ¿Puede conducirnos a conclusiones estériles tales como que “todo es posible” y que “todo vale”? ¿Es la etiqueta post o antifundacional una manera adecuada de entender a los pensadores identificados con esta descripción?

Apoya: FONDECYT Iniciación Project No. 11121346

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