Zizek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of SubjectivitySlavoj Žižek is one of the most interesting and important philosophers working today, known chiefly for his theoretical explorations of popular culture and contemporary politics. This book focuses on the generally neglected and often overshadowed philosophical core of Žižek’s work—an essential component in any true appreciation of this unique thinker’s accomplishment. His central concern, Žižek has proclaimed, is to use psychoanalysis (especially the teachings of Jacques Lacan) to redeploy the insights of late-modern German philosophy, in particular, the thought of Kant, Schelling, and Hegel. By taking this avowal seriously, Adrian Johnston finally clarifies the philosophical project underlying Žižek’s efforts. His book charts the interlinked ontology and theory of subjectivity constructed by Žižek at the intersection of German idealism and Lacanian theory. Johnston also uses Žižek’s combination of philosophy and psychoanalysis to address two perennial philosophical problems: the relationship of mind and body, and the nature of human freedom. By bringing together the past two centuries of European philosophy, psychoanalytic metapsychology, and cutting-edge work in the natural sciences, Johnston develops a transcendental materialist theory of subjectivity—in short, an account of how more-than-material forms of subjectivity can emerge from a corporeal being. His work shows how an engagement with Žižek’s philosophy can produce compelling answers to today’s most vexing and urgent questions as inherited from the history of ideas. |
Contents
Psychoanalytic | 3 |
The Extimate Material | 11 |
of Reason | 21 |
Copyright | |
16 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Zizek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity Adrian Johnston Limited preview - 2008 |
Zizek's Ontology: A Transcendental Materialist Theory of Subjectivity Adrian Johnston No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
absolute abyss of freedom appearance assertion autonomy Badiou body cogito conception consciousness constituted contingency Critique culture death drive Descartes dialectical dimension distinction DRIVEN TO FREEDOM emergence entity epiphenomenal epistemological essence eternal existence experience experiential fantasy Fichte finite finitude Freud Freudian-Lacanian fundamental German idealism ground Hegel Hegelian Heidegger human identification identity Imaginary Imaginary-Symbolic reality immanent inconsistent insists insofar Kant Kant's Kantian Lacan Lacanian libidinal material materialist mediation memes mirror stage more-than-material mortal namely nature negativity notion noumenal object ontogenetic ontological PARALLAX phenomenal Phenomenology of Spirit philosophical position precisely primordial psychical psychoanalysis pure relation rigid designators Schelling Schelling 2000 Schelling's Schellingian SEMBLANCE HEGEL-ŽIŽEK SEMBLANCE OF SUBSTANCE seminar sense signifier Slavoj Žižek spirit split structure SUBSTANCE AS SUBJECT SUBSTANCE OF SEMBLANCE symbolic order temporal theory of subjectivity thing-in-itself things tion transcendent transcendental Trieb unary trait UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS unconscious VOID KANT-ŽIŽEK Žižek and Daly Žižekian