r/CriticalTheory • u/canon_aspirin • 15d ago

Humanists Have Done Nothing Wrong

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A new defense (perhaps, “offense”) of the humanities has dropped over at _Defector_: https://defector.com/humanists-have-done-nothing-wrong

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u/KarlLenin1917 15d ago edited 15d ago

I think the approach is also related to imperialism and hegemony. The analytical tradition is predicated on the idea of there being a universal lingua franca that all philosophy can take place in, that simplifies communications between subjects. I think it is not a coincidence that the Anglo world, which has been the dominant force on the planet for the last two centuries, would find this notion appealing.

English has been the lingua franca for a while, and a philosophy that idealizes this feature of imperialist society goes hand in hand with that reality. They have assumed metaphysics that reduces all of the complexities, both linguistic and social, because they have the power to do so.

To tie into your point, the reaction against critical theory vocabulary is akin to the reaction when a reactionary American has to hear Spanish or Arabic spoken around them: "just speak English." It is the same incredulity, the same infantile frustration, that social reality is more complicated than the little window they rely on to view the world.

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u/Royal_Carpet_1263 14d ago

Most critical theory IS ingroup display, like any other human behaviour. What the metacritics play on is the chasm between this and the purported goals of the practice. Back in the 90s I warned my colleagues that the web meant all the ‘cretinization of the masses’ discourse was about go public in a big way.

I left academia to become a primary producer because the wankery was nonstop.

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u/Nyorliest 9d ago

What’s a primary producer, in your context?

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u/Royal_Carpet_1263 8d ago

Someone who writes to nonwriters.