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Why Theory

Why Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.

Ryan and Todd explore the possibilities for praxis in the vein of the notorious philosopher who expresses disdain for the possibilities of a philosophical praxis—Hegel. They look at instances of Hegelian praxis in action, including the church of contradiction developed by Peter Rollins. Hegelian praxis focuses on contradiction, failure, disappointment, and universality. Most importantly, it never operates through a preestablished road map.

Hegelian Praxis

Discussed in this episode: Hegel, Marx, Fanon, Deleuze, Foucault

Recommended in this episode:

Hegel

Preface to Phenomenology of Spirit; Lesser Logic; Introduction to History of Philosophy

Marx

"The Commodity" from Capital vol. 1; Grundrisse; The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte 

Fanon

Black Skin, White Mask; The Wretched of the Earth

Deleuze

"The Death Instinct" from Coldness and Cruelty; Difference & Repetition; Spinoza: Practical Philosophy

Foucault

Discipline & Punish

Listen to hear what is NOT recommended!

Where to Start 2: Hegel, Marx, Fanon, Deleuze, Foucault

In this episode, Todd and I discuss dialectics (as the title of the episode implies). After charting the historical development of the term, we focus on the different roles dialectics play for Kant and Hegel. Later, we finish the episode by talking about how Lacan's dialectical thinking manifests itself in his theory. This was a listener suggested episode. Shout outs to Ken in Birmingham and Sean in Dublin. Thanks so much for listening!

Dialectics

This episode provides an introduction to the preface to Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit. Ryan and Todd explore key issues from the notoriously difficult preface, including Hegel's own claim that one should not write prefaces to philosophical works. They argue that the preface provides the key to jumping in to all of Hegel's philosophy. The episode aims to lead listeners either to read the Phenomenology for themselves or to help them act as if they have read it at parties.

Preface to Hegel's Phenomenology

Ryan and Todd pick up their discussion of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit with an exploration of the "Spirit" section of this book. They probe into Hegel's conception of Sittlichkeit (or the ethical order) and his investment in the act of getting one's hands dirty ethically and politically.

Hegel's Spirit

Ryan and Todd conclude their series on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit with a discussion of the Absolute Knowing section. They explore the relationship between this section and the rest of the book as well as considering what this section has to say about the relationship between mediation and immediacy.

Hegel's Absolute Knowing

Ryan and Todd lay out the key points in Jean-Paul Sartre's vast attempt to marry existentialism and Marxism--The Critique of Dialectical Reason. They discuss the best moments of this work and then attempt to clarify how it goes awry. Its huge unspoken influence on more recent French thought is also a topic.

Critique of Dialectical Reason

In their annual Christmas special, Ryan and Todd explore the Lesbian Christmas film and the theoretical contribution that this specific type of film makes to the Christmas film genre. They discuss Carol, Happiest Season, and Let It Snow in terms of their depictions of desire and the importance of desire itself coming out.

Lesbian Christmas

Ryan and Todd work through Jacques Lacan’s Seminar X: Anxiety. Since this is the seminar that provides a great deal of Lacan’s initial theorizing of the objet a, they devote much of their time to this concept. Additionally, they discuss how Lacan responds in this seminar to existentialism, especially through his redefinition of anxiety. They conclude with an analysis of the role that sacrifice plays relative to anxiety.

Seminar X: Anxiety

Ryan and Todd pay tribute to David Lynch’s life and work by discussing each of his ten feature films in order of value as artworks (in the view of one of the cohosts). They explore the role of fantasy in Lynch’s works and how he implicates the desire of the spectator in the films.

David Lynch

Ryan and Todd are joined by theorist Paul Eisenstein to discuss the most appropriate signifier for the Left. They weigh several possibilities, including "progressivism," "socialism," and "communism," among others. They contend that the signifier for the Left must evoke contradiction and avoid the promise of future harmony.

A Signifier for the Left

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