Episode #191 - The modern concentration camp and the failure of human rights. (Giorgio Agamben)
Giorgio Agamben
Key Takeaways:
Critique of Human Rights: Agamben challenges the concept of human rights, questioning its effectiveness and suggesting it can be used to justify imperialist actions, as seen in historical events like the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The Notion of 'Bare Life': The concept of 'Bare Life' is discussed, referring to a state where individuals are stripped of political and personal agency, exemplified by the treatment of prisoners in contexts like Guantanamo Bay.
State of Exception as a Norm: Agamben's idea that in modern politics, states of emergency become the norm, granting governments excessive powers, is a central theme. This is linked to historical and contemporary examples, including actions taken under the guise of national security.
Potentiality and Modern Institutions: The podcast also touches on Agamben's view of modern institutions, suggesting they often fail to recognize or cultivate individual potentiality.
Recommended Reading:
The Omnibus Homo Sacer by Giorgio Agamben (2017)
This comprehensive collection brings together all nine volumes of Giorgio Agamben's influential "Homo Sacer" project. Spanning two decades, this project delves into the deep foundations of Western institutions and discourse, tackling issues like sovereignty, biopolitics, and the state of exception. Each volume addresses crucial contemporary questions through the lens of historical and philosophical analysis.State of Exception by Giorgio Agamben (2005)
In this influential work, Agamben explores the concept of the 'state of exception', a crucial idea in his thinking. He examines how emergencies are used as a basis for suspending laws and democratic processes, thereby revealing how sovereign power operates and is extended in modern politics.The Use of Bodies by Giorgio Agamben (2016)
This work concludes Agamben's Homo Sacer series and represents a significant contribution to his overall philosophical project. It presents a novel reading of Aristotle, a reworking of Western ontology, and explores the concept of 'form-of-life', which has been a central idea in Agamben's work. The book offers a new perspective on the relationship between life, the body, and political philosophy.
See the full transcript here.
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