Slavoj Zizek

[DrZoidberg]

I'm trying to make it through the Sublime Object of Ideology with some sense of retained sanity. Is there anybody here who's read it? I'm just wondering what kind of crowd that can be found here.

I haven't seen any threads on Zizek yet.

[Arjen]

No, I have not read it (yet). I do know a little on his philosophies though. I got interested in him because of a movie in which he commits public suicide. How do you like his work so far?

[DrZoidberg]

Originally Posted by Arjen

No, I have not read it (yet). I do know a little on his philosophies though. I got interested in him because of a movie in which he commits public suicide. How do you like his work so far?

You mean his euthanasia centre for people in metaphysical crisis from the film Zizek!?

I think he rocks. I've yet to read anything that didn't make me loudly exclaim.... "f u c k you're right you bastard!!!" My hair stands on end everytime I read him. But I find it hard work. He doesn't make life easy for the reader. Its so convoluted. That's why I'm looking for somebody here to hold my hand.

edit: I think word censoring is lame. We're all adults here. I'm convinced that nothing keeps adolescents away more effectively than philosophy. Meaning conveys rudeness, not selection of words.

[Arjen]

Yeah, I ent the euthanasia centre. It cracked me up. I think it is remarkable to speak on such serious matters with the kind of humor Zizek has...albeit a bit depressive now and again.

P.S. You should relay the feedback on the censoring to Justin. I bet he'd be happy with the feedback.

[DrZoidberg]

Originally Posted by Arjen

Yeah, I ent the euthanasia centre. It cracked me up. I think it is remarkable to speak on such serious matters with the kind of humor Zizek has...albeit a bit depressive now and again.

I think he was serious. But all good humour always is, isn't it?

[Arjen]

As Charly Chaplin said: Real humor is a laugh inside a tear.

[Theaetetus]

Originally Posted by DrZoidberg

edit: I think word censoring is lame. We're all adults here. I'm convinced that nothing keeps adolescents away more effectively than philosophy. Meaning conveys rudeness, not selection of words.

Well said. Something adolescents and children are far more drawn to is the television, and it has a lot worse than a philo forum could ever provide. I admit that my piece in the creative writing forum has its fair share of profanity (only when necessary), but the content is far more adult than the 'swear' words.

As to the philosopher, Zizek sounds interesting but I am more into ancient philosophy and then a broad spectrum of thinkers from the 18, 19, 20th Centuries. I tend to prefer my philosophers to be dead.

[Victor Eremita]

Originally Posted by Theaetetus

As to the philosopher, Zizek sounds interesting but I am more into ancient philosophy and then a broad spectrum of thinkers from the 18, 19, 20th Centuries. I tend to prefer my philosophers to be dead.

Aside from three exceptions, John Searle, Hubert Dreyfus and Hilary Putnam, I agree with the dead part. Which doesn't matter to Zizek, because he's more of a cultural theorist than philosopher.

(P.S. I can't believe Claude Lévi-Strauss is still alive!)

[Theaetetus]

Originally Posted by Victor Eremita

(P.S. I can't believe Claude Lévi-Strauss is still alive!)

It always seemed like when he came up in my anthropology courses we spoke of him like he was dead. I guess you live a hundred years and people begin to forget you are still alive.

[Arjen]

As they say in the philosophy department:

"The only good philosopher is a dead philosopher!"