The Unaccountable Subject: Judith Butler and the Social Conditions of Intersubjective Agency

Hypatia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Dow Magnus

Judith Butler's Kritik der ethischen Gewalt1 represents a significant refinement of her position on the relationship between the construction of the subject and her social subjection. While Butler's earlier texts reflect a somewhat restricted notion of agency, her Adorno Lectures formulate a notion of agency that extends beyond mere resistance. This essay traces the development of Butler's account of agency and evaluates it in light of feminist projects of social transformation.

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lygia Sigaud

The article examines a 30-year experience of collective ethnography in the sugarcane plantations of Brazil's Northeast. Over this period, the research group has worked in different temporal and spatial contexts, continually exchanging its findings. The author draws on her experience as part of the research group in order to focus on the conditions of entering the field, the seasonal variations and geographic displacements, the research group's morphology and the overall implications for anthropological knowledge. Debates over ethnography have neglected the relationship between the social conditions in which anthropologists carry out their work and what they are able to write about the social world. This article sets out to fill this gap.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-180
Author(s):  
Henry Kerger

Abstract The subject of this article points beyond a purely literary or literary-historical approach. The question is, whether and how a human being is able to change the (social) conditions of their life by changing himself through transition into another form of existence. In order to overcome established (social) conditions and one’s self, it is necessary to begin with a vision, a utopian dream. Those who pursue the utopian dream of overcoming their current (social) conditions must acknowledge their own good and evil, that is, their position vis-à-vis equality and justice, law and morality. The person itself, and its personality, is revealed in the relation between the utopia of changing its current way of life and its social reality. The ultimate question is: what is the essence of humanity, the ecce homo? Both the transition into a new form of being and the utopian dream differ decisively in Don Quixote and Zarathustra. It is not my concern to compare them as literary figures.


Hypatia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-606
Author(s):  
Natalie Helberg

AbstractIn this article, I explore the relationship between performativity, as it appears in Judith Butler's work, and plasticity, as it appears in the work of Catherine Malabou. I argue that these concepts are isomorphic. Butler and Malabou both hold that resistance to contemporary forms of power, or “insubordination,” is contingent on a subject's ability to become other than what it is; Butler articulates this ability in terms of performativity, and Malabou articulates it in terms of plasticity. I reveal the social-constructivist dimension of Malabou's work while also making apparent the extent to which Butler's work, contrary to her own way of conceptualizing it, and hence surprisingly and uneasily, presupposes a biologically basic capacity for change. Plasticity is this biologically basic capacity. Both thinkers affirm the idea that insubordinate forms of transformation can be impeded by the discourse that conditions what a subject can think. I suggest that this is an insight that must be heeded, even as I seek to affirm a form of plasticity beyond discourse.


Urban Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 2087-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crispian Fuller ◽  
Karen West

This paper seeks to provide a conceptual framework in which to examine the social practices of contemporary austerity programmes in urban areas, including how these relate to different conceptions of crisis. Of current theoretical interest is the apparent ease with which these austerity measures have been accepted by urban governing agents. In order to advance these understandings we follow the recent post-structuralist discourse theory ‘logics’ approach of Glynos and Howarth (2007), focusing on the relationship between hegemony, political and social logics, and the subject whose identificatory practices are key to understanding the form, nature and stability of discursive settlements. In such thinking it is not only the formation of discourses and the mobilisation of rhetoric that are of interest, but also the manner in which the subjects of austerity identify with these. Through such an approach we examine the case of the regeneration/economic development and planning policy area in the city government of Birmingham (UK). In conclusion, we argue that the logics approach is a useful framework through which to examine how austerity has been uncontested in a city government, and the dynamics of acquiescence in relation to broader hegemonic discursive formations.


Slavic Review ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. von Lazar

This article examines the relationship between the semantics of ideology and political practice under the pressure of socio-economic change in Hungary of the early 1960s, especially 1962-63. The events of 1956 forced the Communist Party elite to recognize the imperative need for internal social change and for control over its dynamics. Manipulation of social forces and ideological currents became a day-to-day concern as soon as it was realized that the political system must rely to an increasing extent upon the introduction of policies which induced support for the system itself—a need undoubtedly arising out of the social transformation that accompanies a developing and modernizing industrial society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Endang Kumala Ratih ◽  
Anik Juwariyah

<p><em>Nowadays social relations in a society are less aware of, be it with nature, society, and society with God, especially in today's young people who are mostly influenced by digital technology that is growing very rapidly and is inherent in life which makes them very focused with cellphones and indirectly make them individualistic creatures. Through this article, the writer hopes to provide insight, especially to young people, that awareness of social relations is needed that can be realized through culture. The relationship between humans and God, humans and nature, and humans with each other has indirectly formed a social relationship, such as the Karo traditional ceremony, which is worship of the spirits of the ancestors in which there are several rituals as an expression of gratitude for a good harvest. . The Karo Day traditional ceremony involves village communities, one of which is in Tosari Village. The relationship between society and God, society and nature, society and each other, which is formed from the implementation of the Karo Day traditional ceremony, indirectly has a social relationship. This relationship was investigated using the social construction approach of Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann. Data collection includes: 1) observation, by looking at the phenomena that are directly or indirectly related to the subject and object of research; 2) interview with the perpetrator; and 3) literature study and documents in the form of photos. The results of this study indicate that traditional ceremonies have an important role in maintaining and forming a social relationship. The Karo traditional ceremony is carried out every year by the Tengger tribe who believe in their ancestors, making a community that is full of tolerance, and adheres to values.</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong><strong><em>Karo Traditional Ceremony, Tengger Tribe Community, Social Construction</em></strong><strong><em></em></strong></p><h2> </h2><p><strong>Abstrak</strong></p><p>Pada jaman sekarang hubungan sosial dalam suatu masyarakat kurang disadari, baik itu dengan alam, masyarakat sesamanya, dan masyarakat dengan Tuhan, khususnya dilingkungan anak muda jaman sekarang yang kebanyakan sudah terpengaruh oleh tekonologi digital yang berkembang sangat pesat dan melekat dalam kehidupan yang menjadikan mereka sangat terfokus dengan handphone dan secara tidak langsung menjadikan mereka makhluk individualis. Melalui artikel ini penulis berharap dapat memberikan wawasan khususnya kepada anak muda bahwa diperlukan kesadaran tentang hubungan sosial yang dapat direalisasikan melalui kebudayaan. Hubungan manusia dengan Tuhan, manusia dengan alam, dan manusia dengan sesamanya secara tidak langsung telah membentuk sebuah hubungan sosial, seperti pada upacara adat Hari Raya Karo yang merupakan pemujaan terhadap roh para leluhur yang didalamnya terdapat beberapa ritual sebagai pengungkapan rasa syukur atas hasil panen yang bagus. Upacara adat Hari Raya Karo melibatkan masyarakat desa, salah satunya didesa Tosari. Hubungan antara masyarakat dengan Tuhan, masyarakat dengan alam, masyarakat dengan sesamanya yang terbentuk dari pelaksanaan upacara adat Hari Raya Karo secara tidak langsung telah terjadi suatu hubungan sosial. Hubungan tersebut diteliti dengan menggunakan pendekatan konstruksi soial Peter L. Berger dan Thomas Luckmann. Pengumpulan data meliputi : 1) observasi, dengan melihat fenomena yang berhubungan langsung maupun tidak langsung dengan subjek dan objek penelitian; 2) wawancara dengan pelaku; dan 3) studi kepustakaan dan dokumen berupa foto. Hasil dari penelitian ini bahwa upacara adat memiliki peranan penting dalam menjaga dan membentuk sebuah hubungan sosial. Upacara adat Karo yang dilakukan setiap tahunnya oleh masyarakat suku Tengger yang percaya dengan leluhur, menjadikan masyarakat yang penuh toleransi, dan mentaati nilai-nilai.</p><p><strong>Kata Kunci : </strong><strong><em>Upacara Adat Karo, Masyarakat Suku Tengger, Konstruksi Sosial</em></strong></p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sabrina Menezes ◽  
Letícia Strehl

The present article analyzes the relationship between characteristics of the journal Neotropical Ichthyology and its impact factor (IF) between 2006 and 2011 using bibliometric descriptive quantitative methods. To perform this analysis, two samples of journals included in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) were studied. One sample was composed of journals classified within the subject of zoology, and the other contained journals from different areas published in Brazil. The instrument used for data collection was a database created in Microsoft Excel 2007 and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. The results show that despite its short history, Neotropical Ichthyologyhas exhibited a distinctive impact, as manifested in a significant progression in the IF of this journal in the field of zoology during the investigated period.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Syahrul Ulum ◽  
Alfa Warda ◽  
Zuris Dwi Elina ◽  
Ilmi Sephia Ardiana

This study aims to find out how the role of the preacher in bringing changes to the social conditions of the people who used to work in the Dadapan prostitution localization, Kediri City. Da'i plays an important role as a propagator of religion to protect the community. Thus, the relationship between the preacher and his community must be close regardless of the background or social conditions of the community. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method and is equipped with George Homans' social exchange theory, namely as an analytical tool to understand and seek clarity of cases so that researchers know more clearly about the phenomenon of da'wah in the ex-Dadapan localization community. The results of this study conclude that the da'wah process that occurs in Dadapan Village in social exchange theory explains that they are willing to interact when the interaction produces benefits for themselves. Therefore, in the dynamics of increasing religious understanding in the ex-Dadapan localization, it is necessary to have a reward given so that people want to interact in discussing religious studies.


Author(s):  
Mariel Pérez

El presente artículo estudia el clero rural de la diócesis de León entre los siglos XI y XIII con el fin de profundizar nuestros conocimientos sobre las transformaciones sociales que implicó la formación de las estructuras parroquiales en el norte ibérico. El trabajo analiza los cambios que se produjeron en la relación entre el clero rural y las comunidades locales en las que ejercían el oficio religioso, tomando en consideración el desarrollo del poder episcopal sobre las iglesias locales y sus clérigos, los requisitos y procedimientos asociados a la ordenación clerical y el nombramiento eclesiástico, el rol que desempeñaban las comunidades rurales en la elección de los clérigos locales, y los conflictos que enfrentaron al clero diocesano con las comunidades por el control de las iglesias locales y sus clérigos.This paper examines the rural clergy of the diocese of León between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries in order to shed light on the social transformation resulting from the development of the parish system in northern Iberia. The study analyzes the changes in the relationship between rural priests and the local communities where they held office. This study takes into consideration the reinforcement of episcopal power over local churches and priests; requirements and procedures associated with clerical ordination and ecclesiastical appointment; the role played by rural communities in the election of their local priests; and the disputes between the diocesan clergy and the communities over the control of local churches and its priests.


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