Friday Dec 6, 3.30pm, MH105
"The Paradox of Resistance"
Briana Toole (Claremont McKenna College)
Abstract: Jose Medina’s The Epistemology of Resistance proposes understanding resistance in terms of its epistemic aims, arguing that resistance must puncture ignorance and pierce through social blindness. Motivating this epistemological approach to resistance is the view that resistance must undermine the reproduction of oppressive social affairs and relations, a task that can be accomplished through epistemic disruption. Complementing this approach, I suggest putting Medina’s argument in conversation with Maria Lugones’ work regarding ‘worlds of sense’. As she argues, the ‘official’ world of sense is the officially sanctioned interpretation of reality. Once we understand resistance in these terms, it is clear – or so I argue – that resistance is subject to a paradox. To achieve the epistemic disruption that resistance aims for, resistance must push against the official world of sense. And yet, resistance remains subject to the norms and interpretations that govern this world. These norms, I argue, so severely constrain resistance that it faces a double-bind: if resistance epistemically disrupts the official world, the interpretations of that world may render the act of resistance illegible or irrational; and, if resistance conforms with the official world of sense, it risks conferring legitimacy on that which it seeks to disrupt
Flyer here; for more information, contact grant.silva@marquette.edu.
Gloria Anzaldúa Reading Group
Meets every other week starting Tuesday, October 8th at 12:30 in the downstairs lounge space, with virtual options available upon request. Contact Emily Lange for details.
Critical Phenomenology Reading Group
First meeting week of Oct 7. Contact Ian Hosbach for more information and a tentative reading schedule.
Marquette Midwest Seminar in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
For more information, visit the or contact Owen Goldin.
Classical German Philosophy Reading Group
Meets Fridays, 2pm-3pm. (Starts Oct 4, 2024). For more information, contact Michael Olson.
Grad Student Peer Workshop
Usually meets every other Friday, 3:30pm-4:30pm. For more information, contact Emily Lange.
An interview with Richard Taylor about the Aquinas and ‘the Arabs’ International Working Group just published in IPMMonthly! .
Theresa Tobin and the Education Preparedness Program (EPP) were recently featured on the Wisconsin Humanities podcast, Human Powered! And for more information on the Education Preparedness Program, as well as soon-to-come details about applying to take a blended course yourself, keep an eye on the EPP website.
