Understanding Heidegger's Being and Time

Martin Heidegger's magnum opus, "Being and Time," delves into the fundamental question of Being, a concept he argues has been neglected by Western philosophy since the time of the ancient Greeks. Heidegger introduces the term "Dasein," which translates to "being-there" or "being-in-the-world," to reframe the way we understand existence. Unlike traditional philosophical notions that separate subject and object, Heidegger’s Dasein emphasizes the interconnectedness of the individual and the world. This essay explores Heidegger's concept of Dasein, its temporal development, the implications of being-toward-death, and the notions of thrownness, projection, care, and authenticity.

What is Philosophy: A Brief Note

Literally meaning, “the love of wisdom”, most of (western) philosophy started out as an eminently practical activity in Ancient Greece⇁it was axiomatic for much Socratic philosophy that it must enquire into, and teach what it might mean to live a good human life which was also assumed to be a happy one. With the arrival of modern philosophy, however, it became more theoretical in nature, starting with the likes of Descartes. 

Aesthetics and Public Administration: A Post-structuralist Perspective

Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and, hence, serves as the foundation of the philosophy of art. Analyzing public administration through an aesthetic lens would include the aesthetic analysis of public areas, buildings, statues, etc. I would take a more critical approach to the aestheticization of public administration through the lens of critical theory, mainly drawing from theorists such as Guy Debord and Jean Baudrillard.

Rousseau's Critique of Modern Civilization

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's critique of modern civilization is contained in two essays, "Discourse on the Arts and Sciences" and "Discourse on the Origins and Foundations of Inequality Among Men".

The common argument we see, which is materialist in nature, in both of his essays is that the fundamental human nature of individuals can be altered by the kind of society they live in. As Marx would later write, "It is the social being of man that affects their consciousness and not the opposite".

Rousseau can be, as we shall see, seen as a precursor to Marx. He can also be seen as a precursor to the entire field of critical theory if we rely on the definition that "critical theory is *any* approach to social philosophy that focuses on the critique of society and culture".

An Analysis of "The Man Who Sleeps"

 “To want nothing. Just to wait, until there is nothing left to wait for. Just to wander, and to sleep. To let yourself be carried along by the crowds, and the streets. To waste your time. To have no projects, to feel no impatience. To be without desire, or resentment, or revolt.”

― Georges Perec

Thomas Kuhn: On the Philosophy of History of Science

In the late nineteenth century, a divide started to emerge in western philosophy: first, the British and American “analytic philosophy”, which was composed dominantly of the logical positivists, who believed that science and all human knowledge could be reduced down to a formal logical system and method; and second, the European “continental philosophy”, which consisted of various schools of thought like Western Marxism, Structuralism, Post-structuralism, Postmodernism, etc. The continental philosophers were generally critical of not only the logical positivists and analytic philosophy but also science in general (whereas the analytic philosophers were highly appreciative of science and its role in society). 

Marx, Lacan and Deleuze: A Reconcilation

Karl Marx's analysis of the mode of production and Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic theories offer profound insights into the workings of society and the human mind. However, both theories have limitations when considered in isolation. Marx effectively demonstrates how the mode of production shapes human consciousness, but he does not delve deeply into the intricacies of psychology. Lacan, on the other hand, provides a detailed understanding of human psychology but does not thoroughly explain how different modes of production influence the mind. This essay explores how combining the theories of Marx and Lacan can offer a more comprehensive model of mind and society, particularly in understanding the role of desire in a capitalist context.

Capitalist Realism, Control Societies and Mental Health

In contemporary society, the pervasive influence of capitalism extends beyond the economic realm into the psychological well-being of individuals. Mark Fisher's concept of "capitalist realism" and Gilles Deleuze's idea of "control societies" provide critical frameworks for understanding the intersection of capitalism and mental health. This essay explores how capitalist realism perpetuates a view of mental health that benefits the capitalist system by promoting individualism, depoliticizing mental illness, and creating a lucrative market for pharmaceutical companies. It also examines how this system reinforces neoliberalism by focusing on individual adjustment rather than social change.

What Marx takes from Hegel?

Karl Marx, one of the most influential thinkers in history, was profoundly shaped by the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Although Marx diverged from Hegel in significant ways, particularly by grounding his philosophy in materialism rather than idealism, he incorporated several key elements of Hegelian thought into his own theories. This essay explores five major Hegelian concepts that Marx adopted: the historical nature of thought and humanity, the process of self-transformation and self-actualization, the development of history through conflict and contradiction, the overcoming of alienation, and the dialectical method as a critical approach to understanding the world.

How the Rich Get Rich?

The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few is a persistent and growing phenomenon in modern society. Understanding how the rich get rich involves examining various mechanisms that contribute to this accumulation of wealth. This essay explores three primary factors that facilitate the enrichment of the wealthy: family wealth and social/economic privilege, labor exploitation, and government help. By dissecting these elements, we can gain a deeper insight into the systemic forces that perpetuate economic inequality.

Ideoligical Reproduction of Capitalism: Schools and Colleges

The critique that schools and colleges primarily serve to mold individuals into compliant 9-5 workers is not new. This view contends that educational institutions function as instruments within a larger ideological apparatus designed to perpetuate the capitalist system. This essay examines how schools and colleges contribute to maintaining the status quo by instilling discipline, obedience, and conformity, and argues that any meaningful solution requires a fundamental transformation of the current socio-economic order.

Marx-Engels Introductory Reading List

In a capitalist society where most hours of an individual are lost in work just to ensure one's survival, not everyone has the privelage to read the entire works of someone like Karl Marx, including the 3 volume dense text, Capital. Here, I have curated an introductory reading list of Marx and Engels's works:

On Marx's Alienation

Karl Marx, a towering figure in the realm of social theory, introduced the concept of alienation as a multifaceted phenomenon impacting individuals in capitalist societies. This essay explores the four types of alienation identified by Marx, delving into their implications for individuals and society as a whole. From detachment from nature to the fragmentation of self, Marx's insights provide a lens through which we can scrutinize the pervasive impact of capitalism on the human experience.

On Antonio Negri's "Empire"

Antonio Negri's seminal work, "Empire," offers a profound analysis of the contemporary global order, challenging conventional notions of power and sovereignty. According to Negri, Empire transcends geographical confines, encompassing the entire globe while wielding unprecedented influence over the flows of capital. This essay delves into the key concepts presented by Negri, exploring the fusion of capital and law within Empire, its impact on traditional structures of repression, and the perpetual crisis that defines its existence.

Thoughts on Ideology and Master-Slave Morality

“Suffering and hardwork are necessary for a good life”, “We should learn to adapt easily to fit in different environments” and other statements like these are examples of flawed ideological beliefs which are believed by a significant number of people. The first statement fetishizes suffering and normalizes exploitation under, in the present context, the capitalist system. The second statement turns people’s dissatisfaction with the system into the fault of the individual, making people believe that if one doesn’t fit in, then it is only them who is at fault, not the society or the socio-economic system. These, especially the belief, “learn to fit in or learn to adapt”, are also reflections of what the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche called "slave thinking" or "slave morality". In general, most ideological beliefs would also be good examples of slave morality.

The word Ideology is used here, not in the general sense, but in the context of critical theory, as a set of beliefs that uphold the status quo. You can know more about the concept of Ideology here.

Hauntology and Lost Futures

In his work, The Ghosts of My Life, which is a collection of writings, the author Mark Fisher argues that we are haunted by futures that failed to happen. In the following short piece, I try to extract the main idea of "Hauntology" and "Lost Futures" from his work.

General Concepts of Psychoanalysis & Misconceptions

This essay summarizes the major concepts of psychoanalysis, a revolutionary theoretical framework that psychologist Sigmund Freud developed to map the human mind, and clears some general misconceptions surrounding his ideas.

A Critical Analysis of "The Story of Stuff"

The Story of Stuff is a short animated documentary about the lifecycle of material goods. Although, from a shallow watching of the documentary, it would seem as if it is a good critique of the capitalist system, I shall analyse, how it falls short of its goals in many ways. This essay presents a critique of "The Story of Stuff", mainly using a Marxist perspective.

On the Meaning of Life from a Socio-political Perspective

When someone asks the question, “What is the purpose of (human) life?”, they usually do so from an individualistic perspective, and in this process they isolate many concepts from their broader socio-historical context. The question, which certainly holds great significance, cannot be asked as something alien to things like society, politics, history, and culture.

A Critical Analysis of Frozen (2013)

“The whole Walt Disney ideology eats out of your hand with these pretty little sentimental creatures. For my own part, I believe that behind these smiling eyes there lurks a cold, ferocious beast fearfully stalking us.”

— Jean Baudrillard, America (1968)

A Socio-philosophical Analysis of American Psycho (2000)

American Psycho was released in 2000 and is based on a novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis (1991). The film is a satire on ‘80s yuppie culture. This essay identifies various sociological and philosophical themes present in the film while utilising theoretical frameworks like post-structuralism, Marxism and feminism to analyse the film.

Althusser's Concept of Ideology: Unmasking the Structures of Power

In his essay, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses", Louis Althusser presents a thought-provoking analysis of ideology and its pervasive influence in society. He contends that ideology is not simply a collection of abstract beliefs, but rather a system of dominant ideas that serves to maintain the existing status quo and uphold the interests of those in power. Althusser, being a Marxist, argues that this ideological apparatus is intricately linked to the material and economic base of society, ensuring its perpetuation. By examining various state and private apparatuses such as schools, politics, and what Adorno and Horkheimer called "the culture industry", Althusser reveals the mechanisms by which ideology is disseminated and internalized. Ideology is the societal superstructure (as described by Marx), existing to uphold, in the contemporary period, the prevailing capitalist economy and preserve the existing power dynamics. 

On the Co-existence of Modernity and Tradition

Modernity and tradition are often seen as antagonistic forces, especially in the non-western world, which might be due to the western origins of modernity and the general way in which it is perceived. If we do consider both as contradictory (“you can’t be modern and traditional at the same time”), then, by basic logic, the co-existence of modernity and tradition becomes an impossibility.

But, if we conceive modernity as a dialectical system, something which continuously evolves by the overcoming of its internal and external contradictions, we shall be able to see the possibility of the co-existence of modernity and tradition. So, modernity is not a static thing, but, on the contrary, it is an ongoing process. Modernity has its own values, beliefs, and practices that we deem as “modern”. 

An Analysis of Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez

This is a 1656 painting called "Las Meninas" by the leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, Diego Velazquez:

The Post-Structuralist Reading List

Post-structuralism, commonly also referred to post-modernism, is a school of thought in the humanities and social sciences, that developed in the late twentieth century in France. No theorist who is given this label actually uses it to describe themselves. With that said, post-structuralists are a group of loosely connected theorists, mainly coming from France. Here, I have curated a reading list, meant to be read in the provided order, on the most important of these theoists, Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze and Jean Baudrillard.

Reading List on Freud

Sigmund Freud, the revolutionary psychologist and his theoreticla framework called Psychoanalysis, are generally misunderstood by contemporary mainstream psychologists and society at large. However, when one reads Freud oneself, these misconceptions start to fade away and Freud starts to make more sense. Here I have provided an order in which one should read the most important works of Freud:

YouTube Channels for Accessible Theory Content

During the COVID crisis, many YouTube channels providing accessible content on critical theory and philosophy have emerged due to the heigthening of social, economic and political problems. 

I have listed some of my personal favourites: