Pathologizing modernity : critical implications of the conceptions of 'pathology' and 'higher sanity' in the works of Theodore Roszak and Ken Wilber
In this thesis I argue that 'critical theorists', and the left in general, have paid insufficient attention to the psychological and pathological dimensions of the problems of modernity, including its environmental predicaments. To address this theoretical lacuna, I critically examine the conceptions of 'collective pathology' and 'higher sanity' as articulated in the relatively neglected work of Theodore Roszak and Ken Wilber, my position being that these two thinkers offer the most sophisticated readings of modernity and its 'ecological crises' in terms of pathology currently available. I also demonstrate a number of crucially significant implications of their work for contemporary critical theory. Consequently, the thesis is organized in two parts: in Part One I examine the work of Roszak and Wilber; in Part Two I explore major, critical implications of their work. The thesis begins with a critical examination of the concepts of 'pathology' and 'higher sanity' in Roszak and Wilber. I subsequently show how a critique in terms of these concepts alerts us to specific legimating tropes in ecocritical theory which have deligitimized competing discursive practices, and how such conceptions address and illuminate
Coope, Jonathan
GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Pathologizing modernity : critical implications of the conceptions of 'pathology' and 'higher sanity' in the works of Theodore Roszak and Ken Wilber. In this thesis I argue that 'critical theorists', and the left in general, have paid insufficient attention to the psychological and pathological dimensions of the problems of modernity, including its environmental predicaments. To address this theoretical lacuna, I critically examine the conceptions of 'collective pathology' and 'higher sanity' as articulated in the relatively neglected work of Theodore Roszak and Ken Wilber, my position being that these two thinkers offer the most sophisticated readings of modernity and its 'ecological crises' in terms of pathology currently available. I also demonstrate a number of crucially significant implications of their work for contemporary critical theory. Consequently, the thesis is organized in two parts: in Part One I examine the work of Roszak and Wilber; in Part Two I explore major, critical implications of their work. The thesis begins with a critical examination of the concepts of 'pathology' and 'higher sanity' in Roszak and Wilber. I subsequently show how a critique in terms of these concepts alerts us to specific legimating tropes in ecocritical theory which have deligitimized competing discursive practices, and how such conceptions address and illuminate
modernity critical implication conception pathology higher work argue critical theorist leave general pay insufficient attention psychological pathological dimension problem modernity include environmental predicament address theoretical lacuna critically_examine conception collective pathology higher articulate relatively neglected work position thinker offer sophisticated reading modernity ecological crisis term pathology currently available also number crucially significant_implication work contemporary_critical theory consequently organize two_part part_one_examine work part_two explore major critical implication work begin_critical examination concept pathology higher subsequently show critique term concept specific theory compete discursive_practice conception address illuminate