Family Resemblances between Contemporary Post-Subjectivist Philosophy and Animistic Religions
Ontology and Epistemology
Leo Luks
Argo Moor
Published 2016-04-01
https://doi.org/10.15388/Problemos.2016.89.9886
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Keywords

20th century philosophy
history of religions
post-subjectivism
animism

How to Cite

Luks, L. and Moor, A. (2016) “Family Resemblances between Contemporary Post-Subjectivist Philosophy and Animistic Religions”, Problemos, 89, pp. 48–61. doi:10.15388/Problemos.2016.89.9886.

Abstract

Criticism of the Cartesian subject and attempts at establishing a post-subjectivist philosop­hy are prevalent in contemporary continental philosophy. People living in modern Western cultures are frequently characterized as residing in a permanent state of identity crisis. The question “who comes after the subject?” is topical both in philosophy and in the daily life of Western people. In this interdisciplinary study, we argue that that there are considerable family resemblances between the aims of post-subjecti­vist philosophy and animistic religions. We will first provide the requisite background for understanding the animistic treatment of subjectivity by describing three principles: the Principle of Unity, the Principle of Balance, and Complementary Polar Thinking. These principles further develop our treatment of the concept of network thinking, as outlined in our previous joint paper, “Networks and Hierarchies: Two Ways of Thinking”. We will then compare the animistic treatment of subjectivity with current critiques of the subject. Although we will not express a normative request for the resurrection of animism, we nonet­heless cannot exclude the possibility that the study of animistic principles may provide local solutions to the postmodern crisis of the subject.

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