A New Philosophy of Modernity and Sovereignty: Towards Radical Historicisation

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Tackling important philosophical questions on modernity what it is, where it begins and when it ends Przemyslaw Tacik challenges the idea that modernity marks a particular epoch, and historicises its conception to offer a radical critique of it. His deconstruction-informed critique collects and assesses reflections on modernity from major philosophers including Hegel, Heidegger, Lacan, Arendt, Agamben, and iek. This analysis progresses a new understanding of modernity intrinsically connected to the growth of sovereignty as an organising principle of contemporary life. He argues that it is the idea of modernity, as a taken-for-granted era, which is positioned as the essential condition for making linear history possible, when it should instead be history, in and of itself, which dictates the existence of a particular period. Using Hegels notion of spirit to trace the importance of sovereignty to the conception of the modern epoch within German idealism, Tacik traces Hegels influence on Heidegger through reference to the star in his late philosophy which represents the hope of overcoming the metaphysical poverty of modernity. This line of thought reveals the necessity of a paradigm shift in our understanding of modernity that speaks to contemporary continental philosophy, theories of modernity, political theory, and critical re-assessments of Marxism.

Reviews

This book is an uncompromising philosophical investigation that addresses in a clear way the conundrum of sovereignty and modernity. Drawing on the best of the traditions of critique from Kant and Hegel to Lacan, Agamben and iek, it constitutes an important contribution to philosophy, but also to those disciplines at the borders of the philosophical enterprise such as law, politics and history. It is up to us to make use of the efforts in philosophical depth, erudition and attention the author has put in writing this book. * Dr Cosmin Cercel, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham School of Law, UK *
Combining a brilliantly articulated handling of Western modern and contemporary philosophy with sharp prose and argumentative bravery, Tacik leads us into a journey across the confusion and paradoxes that the thought of Modernity has produced and re-produced towards a radical critique of its conceptual basis. This is an indispensable contribution to one of the central questions haunting our collective imaginary. * Gian Giacomo Fusco, Lecturer in Law, University of Kent, UK *

Author Bio

Przemyslaw Tacik is Assistant Professor at Jagiellonian University, Krakw, Poland.