Stathis Gourgouris Livres

Exploring the concept of secular criticism, the book redefines contemporary secularism debates by linking the secular imagination to society's ability to envision and construct new forms of existence. It argues that this secular space fosters a yearning for radical democratic politics that challenges both religious and secular forms of oppression. Through this lens, it critiques the modern tendency to seek comfort in transcendentalism, advocating instead for a dynamic engagement with the world's complexities.

Exploring nation formation through the lens of social imaginary, this study integrates perspectives from literary criticism, cultural studies, psychoanalysis, philosophy, and economics. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding how nations are constructed and perceived, highlighting the interplay between cultural narratives and social identity. The work is positioned as a significant contribution to the field, providing fresh insights into the complexities of national identity and collective imagination.

The special issue of Boundary 2, titled Critical Secularism, gathers esteemed scholars in cultural studies and literary theory to examine and challenge the prevalent narratives of secularization in contemporary culture. Through various essays, it explores the complexities and implications of secularism, encouraging a re-evaluation of its role in shaping modern societal narratives.

The book advocates for a transformative approach to humanism and democracy, positioning them as vital sources of liberating meaning. It explores their implications not only in immediate political contexts but also in broader, global frameworks of existence. Through this lens, it challenges conventional notions and encourages innovative thinking about how these concepts can inspire change and empowerment across diverse aspects of life.

This volume, the first sustained critical work on the French political philosopher Étienne Balibar, collects essays by sixteen prominent philosophers, psychoanalysts, anthropologists, sociologists, and literary critics who each identify, define, and explore a central concept in Balibar's thought. The result is a hybrid lexicon-engagement that makes clear the depth and importance of Balibar's contribution to the most urgent topics in contemporary thought. The book shows the continuing vitality of materialist thought across the humanities and social sciences and will be fundamental for understanding the philosophical bases of the contemporary left critique of globalization, neo-liberalism, and the articulation of race, racism, and economic exploitation. Contributors: Emily Apter, Étienne Balbar, J. M. Bernstein, Judith Butler, Monique David-Ménard, Hanan Elsayed, Didier Fassin, Stathis Gourgouris, Bernard E. Harcourt, Jacques Lezra, Patrice Maniglier, Warren Montag, Adi Ophir, Bruce Robbins, Ann Laura Stoler, Gary Wilder

In wide-ranging essays that are at once poetic and polemical, Stathis Gourgouris offers a philosophical anthropology that confronts the legacy of monarchical thinking: the desire to subjugate oneself to unitary principles and structures, whether political or moral, theological or secular.