Imbecile’s Guide to Public Philosophy

<p> This book studies the role of serious philosophizing in everyday life and looks at how authoritarianism negates philosophical and public reason. It sheds light on how philosophy can go beyond its life as a discipline limited to an esoteric group of academia to manifest itself via radical discursive practices in public life which enable us to understand and resolve contemporary socio-political challenges. It studies philosophy as a discipline which deals with one's orientations based on experience the logic of reasoning critical thinking and most of all radical and progressive beliefs.</p><p>The book argues that the contemporary rise of capitalism in modern society resonating Émile Durkheim’s cautions on anomie has favoured individualism differentiation marginalization and exploitation balanced on an eroding collective consciousness and a steady disintegration of humanity and reason. Taking this into consideration it discusses how philosophy both mainstream and marginal can revive democracy in society which then is able to confront global authoritarianism led by the figure of the imbecile. Finally it also provides a range of new perspectives on the questions of civic freedom hegemony of language social justice identity invisible paradigms gender justice democracy multiculturalism and decolonization.</p><p>This book is an invigorating compilation of essays from diverse disciplines engaging the need to create a humanistic public philosophy to transcend the state of imbecility. It will be of great interest to students scholars and researchers of philosophy contemporary politics history and sociology as well as general readers.</p>