The politics of rationality : a critique
In this thesis, I challenge the validity of a pervasive conception of political action and decision-making that grounds both on the so-called âpublic use of reasonâ. The latter, underpinned by a notion of âpureâ reason inherited from the Enlightenment and largely sustained by liberal theory, not only promotes a reductionist view of human rationality, but also implicitly leads us to disregard a critical aspect in contemporary politics: the political role of the emotions. The opportunity to exploit the emotions in order to pervert the democratic process follows from that disregard. Reading it in light of Schmitt and Agambenâs ideas on the state of exception, I examine the pervasiveness of emotional dynamics in contemporary western politics, illuminating phenomena such as democratic propaganda, the ongoing âwar on terrorâ, and the persistent threat of global economic collapse. I subsequently posit that the rationalistic hubris of the politics of (limited) rationality opens the door for irrational politics, ultimately enabling the creation of a permanent state of exception through the manipulation of misguided emotional inclinations. In order to address this problem, I argue for an abandonment of
De-Brito-Serra, Bruno Daniel
The politics of rationality : a critique. In this thesis, I challenge the validity of a pervasive conception of political action and decision-making that grounds both on the so-called âpublic use of reasonâ. The latter, underpinned by a notion of âpureâ reason inherited from the Enlightenment and largely sustained by liberal theory, not only promotes a reductionist view of human rationality, but also implicitly leads us to disregard a critical aspect in contemporary politics: the political role of the emotions. The opportunity to exploit the emotions in order to pervert the democratic process follows from that disregard. Reading it in light of Schmitt and Agambenâs ideas on the state of exception, I examine the pervasiveness of emotional dynamics in contemporary western politics, illuminating phenomena such as democratic propaganda, the ongoing âwar on terrorâ, and the persistent threat of global economic collapse. I subsequently posit that the rationalistic hubris of the politics of (limited) rationality opens the door for irrational politics, ultimately enabling the creation of a permanent state of exception through the manipulation of misguided emotional inclinations. In order to address this problem, I argue for an abandonment of
politics rationality critique challenge validity pervasive conception political_action decision_making ground so_called public use reason latter underpinned notion pure reason inherit enlightenment largely sustain liberal theory promotes reductionist view human rationality also implicitly lead disregard critical aspect contemporary politics political role_emotion opportunity exploit emotion order democratic process follow disregard reading light idea state exception examine pervasiveness emotional dynamic contemporary_western politics illuminate phenomenon democratic propaganda ongoing war terror persistent threat global economic collapse subsequently posit rationalistic politics limit rationality open door irrational politics ultimately enable creation permanent state exception manipulation misguide emotional inclination order_address problem argue abandonment