engleski

In the Name of the Virus. Intellectuals and the Pandemic

The literature on the COVID-19 pandemic is expanding daily. This essay explores a diverse range of texts written by Western intellectuals of different backgrounds during the first phase of the pandemic and discusses some of the most widespread ideas and emotions conveyed by these texts. Four major themes are addressed: 1) political and ideological uses of the virus ; 2) conceptualizations of nature and of humanity’s relationship to it ; 3) discussions surrounding the fear of infection and death in secular and medicalized societies ; 4) the sense of estrangement expressed by many intellectuals during home confinement. In the conclusion, these views are placed in the context of the increasing popularity, in our societies, of various forms of cultural pessimism.

COVID-19 pandemic ; Intellectuals ; cultural pessimism

nije evidentirano