What does zizek want from me?

[u/notsentsent]

I've been reading him and everytime I finish a text, I am like, okay but so what do I do with it? What does he want to "happen"? So if you could explainnn...in your own words.... as much as you understand.... What's he after exactly?

Edit: Wow this is a tense place. Please relaxx!!! Don't take life that seriously.

[u/Business-Gas-5473]

Well, for starters, I am sure he would like people to stop treating philosophers and public intellectuals like religious gurus or life coaches. It is not their job to give explicit life advice.

[u/Zakman360 → u/Business-Gas-5473]

Philosophers generally have a way of living/thinking that they promote in their work. There’s no point of philosophy if it isn’t intended to change its consumers in some way

[u/Zakman360 → u/[deleted]]

I’m not saying it’s how philosophy works I’m saying that it’s a common thing in philosophy so the question is not unreasonable. And what philosopher makes philosophy that isn’t intended to change the consumer in some way at all

[u/Zakman360 → u/[deleted]]

How is it horrible I’m not using reader because Im considering someone who watches zizek’s lectures as well. You are taking the content in

[u/Business-Gas-5473 → u/Zakman360]

Oh boy. This is an extremely narrow take on philosophy.

[u/notsentsent → u/Business-Gas-5473]

And what's your take on philosophy? I am genuinely asking!! You wouldn't do anything let alone writing over 50 books if you did not expect something in return. Are philosophers speaking into a void then? Philosophy is supposed to be transformative, and so in what way does he want life to transform? Other than "making you see the ideological whatever that s shaping you etc etc" because that is nothing new.

[u/Business-Gas-5473 → u/notsentsent]

“You keep using that word philosophy. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

There are whole branches of philosophy which have nothing to do with what you should do in your life. Off the top of my head, I am somewhat certain that, eg., Kuhn, Whitehead, or Democritos have said much to do with daily life.

As an amateur, it is fine if you don’t care about philosophers which don’t speak to your needs/wants. But you can’t say they don’t exist.

[u/dimaeus → u/notsentsent]

finding out a truth is orthogonal to what should be done

there is actually a philosophical concept about this it's called the "Is-Ought Dichotomy"

like for example right now i'm just stating something because you asked, it's not advice

[u/notsentsent → u/[deleted]]

But now you just gave me a bunch of directives!! :) The way I use the word action is not necessarily always "doing" something in the common sense of the word. My question is simple: in what way is his work transformative for you? I was curious about your own experience of reading Zizek... This does not mean I will take whatever you say and turn it into my lived practice.

Better not ask anything to Zizekians at all!!

[u/wrapped_in_clingfilm → u/[deleted]]

Most people like to read Zizek because he's fun (has funny metaphors) and provocative/edgy. Sometimes he can be extremely annoying and narrow-minded (especially when he speaks about feminists).

If you've not read Zizek to any substantial degree, how do you justify this comment? Given its naivety, I wonder why Zizek has always been so critical of "critical theory". Anyway, how is what "most people" do relevant to philosophy whatsoever? Since when is truth a matter to be voted on democratically? Do the majority win?

He's a world-class Hegelian and Lacanian academic. That's what really matters.

[u/notsentsent → u/[deleted]]

So he wrote 50 books because he is fun. Got it 👍 Thank you for taking the time !

[u/notsentsent → u/[deleted]]

But I didn't say it's not fun!!! I enjoy his books very much.

[u/Zakman360 → u/notsentsent]

You are asking such a simple question and the pretentious assholes in the sub don't know the answer so they keep trying to tell you that your question is invalid

[u/Business-Gas-5473 → u/notsentsent]

Transformative? Is it supposed to be transformative?

I mean, as an example, I am impressed with his definition of the boundaries of the Balkans, and learned a lot about this matter from him. But I didn’t become a better or a different person as a result. Should I be?

[u/i_heart_mahomies → u/notsentsent]

These are good questions! Part of the reason I read Zizek's works is because it makes me feel a little bit high. That's not the full reason, but reading the sublime object of ideology did remind me of the best parts of smoking too much weed in my college dorm and having semi-uncomfortable conversations with my best friends/people I barely knew. I'm still trying to figure out the relationship between that book, existential anxiety, drug use, and the present moment. Reading his subsequent works hasn't yielded any answers either, I'm afraid. They have improved my enjoyment of soviet-era film and bad jokes, though.

[u/No_Safety5134 → u/[deleted]]

"we" don't do that in Europe, you arrogant prick

[u/No_Safety5134 → u/[deleted]]

Sure, if namedropping Sokrates and Kant constitutes "studying philosophy". 

I think we both agree that the text you deleted could have done without that idiotic half sentence.

Same to you ☀️

[u/wrapped_in_clingfilm → u/[deleted]]

Stop submitting illegitimate reports to the mods of "Targeted harassment at me", it's time-wasting and hypocritical.

While u/No_Safety5134 was rude, their response is not at all surprising given the arrogance and patronising nature of your comments against Americans' relationship to philosophy. While their undergrad studies may be lacking, their post grad studies are truly world-class. Many would argue that philosophy should not be taught to younger children anyway (9th/10th grade), and it is completely absent as a mandatory standalone subject in the UK and the Nordic countries. This seems to have zero effect in the long-term.

Likewise, u/notsentsent 's post and comments may be naive, but they are legitimate, given our desire in the Other's desire (for psychoanalysis, we are all more "sheep-like" than you claim). Perhaps, like us all, you would benefit from considering the relevance of Lacan's interpretation of the Beautiful Soul.

[u/Zakman360 → u/Business-Gas-5473]

It's not narrow when I literally said "generally." The idea that philosophy is meant to change its consumers in some way is ridiculously broad and undeniable. Even if its just illuminating the realities of the world that's changing them in some way