Naslov
“The debate of the century” as a spectacle: an indicator of the spiritual situation of our age

Autori
Uzunić, Mislav

Izvornik
La Nottola di Minerva (1973-3003) XX (2022); 70-79

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, ostalo

Ključne riječi
the debate of the century, Žižek, Peterson, the spectacle, the anticipation

Sažetak
In 2019, Slavoj Žižek and Jordan Peterson participated in what was dubbed“the debate of the century”, a philosophical spectacle. The anticipation of the intellectual conversation as a spectacle was catalyzed by (post)modern marketing and communication means and strategies, mainly the Internet. Both Žižek and Peterson are recognized public intellectuals with fundamentally different worldviews, making the sensationalist claims somewhat valid. However, the “philosophical boxing match” did not happen, which left many spectators dissatisfied. Such reactions – to perceive an intellectual conversation as an aggressive mastering over the opponent – indicate at a dangerously problematic spiritual situation of our age and warrant a philosophical elaboration. The philosophical and problem focus thus shifts from the contents of the debate itself and its intellectual significance to the formal relation between a) the speakers (Žižek and Peterson), between b) the speakers and the audience, and c) this event and its wider social context. All three relations can be considered as being based on the idea of an intellectual debate as a spectacle.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filozofija

POVEZANOST RADA