Stupidity in politics its unavoidability and potential / Nobutaka Otobe.
| Author/creator | Otobe, Nobutaka |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | Abingdon, Oxon ; New York : Routledge, 2021. |
| Description | pages cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Taylor & Francis eBooks |
| Subjects |
| Series | Routledge studies in social and political thought |
| Contents | Introduction: the unavoidability of stupidity -- Problematizing: deleuze on the image of thought, and stupidity as an endogenous problem of thinking and politics -- Tracing: democracy and intensified problematic of stupidity in Rousseau, J. S. Mill, Tocuqeville, and Flaubert -- Facing/Missing: the problematical thinking and Kant's critical project theory of political judgement as a critical project -- Being: Kobayashi and his unrepentance of wartime critique -- Conclusion: the potential of stupidity. |
| Abstract | "Stupidity permeates our perception and practice of politics. We frequently accuse politicians, bureaucrats, journalists, voters, "elites," and "the masses" for their stupidities. In fact, it is not only "populist politicians," "sensational journalism," and "uneducated voters" who are accused of stupidity. Similar accusations can be, and in fact have been, made concerning those who criticize them as well. It seems that stupidity is ubiquitous, unable to be contained within or attributed to one specific political position, personal trait, or even ignorance and erroneous reasoning. Undertaking a theoretical investigation of stupidity, this book challenges the assumption that stupidity can be avoided. Otobe argues that the very ubiquity of stupidity implies its unavoidability - that we cannot contain it in such domains as error, ignorance, or "post-truth." What we witness is rather that one's reasoning can be sound, evidence-based, and stupid. In revealing this unavoidability, he contends that stupidity is an ineluctable problem not only of politics, but also of thinking. We become stupid because we think: It is impossible to distinguish a priori stupid thought from upright, righteous thought. Moreover, the failure to address the unavoidability of stupidity leads political theory to the failure to acknowledge the productive moments that experiences of stupidity harbor within. Such productive moments constitute the potential of stupidity - that radical new ideas can emerge out of our seemingly banal and stupid thinking in our daily political activity"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2020018469 |
| ISBN | 9781138588431 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | (ebook) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |