PHIL2634 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Richard Rorty, Survivalism, Political Correctness
Document Summary
One should be careful not to confuse the ruling ideology with the ideology which seems to dominate. B earing in mind walter benjamin"s reminder that it is not enough to ask how a certain theory or art declares itself with regard to social struggles-one should also ask how it effectiviety functions in these very struggles. The politico-economic struggle is transformed into a pseudo-psychoanalytic drama of the subject unable to confront its inner traumas. He gives the problem of post-colonialism in post colonial studies -the true corruption of american academia is not financial, but conceptual: notions of european critical theory. All of the radical academics count on the long-term stability of the american capitalist model, with a secure tenured position as their ultimate professional goal- their safe living environment of the symbolic class in dev western societies. Their correct zeal when dealing with sexism, racism is a defence against their own innermost identification-let talk about change but nothing will really change.
