Kapinallisen politiikka: tutkielma vastarinnasta ja taipumattomuudesta

by Michel Onfray, Tapani Kilpeläinen (Translator)

Michel Onfray (s.1959) on yksi tärkeimmistä nykyään elävistä filosofeista, ja kotimaassaan Ranskassa tämä omintakeinen nietzscheläinen hedonisti on ollut luettu ja kiistelty hahmo jo viidentoista vuoden ajan. Leiskuvakynäisenä poleemikkona ja peräänantamattomana materialistina kunnostautunut Onfray on ennen kaikkea esseisti, jonka pyrkimyksenä on filosofian demokratisoiminen. Filosofeilla ei hänen mukaansa ole pienintäkään oikeutta piiloutua hämärän oppisanaston suojiin. Kapinallisen politiikassa (1997) Onfray esittelee ajattelunsa poliittisen puolen. Hän tuomitsee jyrkästi uusliberalismin, sillä hänen mukaansa kapitalismi estää ihmisten enemmistöä nauttimasta elämästään. Lääkkeeksi Onfray ehdottaa individualistista anarkismia, jonka periaatteena on Chamfort'n maksiimin mukainen nauttiminen ja nautinnon tuottaminen: Onfrayn tähtäimessä on tiukan vasemmistolainen nauttivan ruumiin filosofia. Kapinallisen politiikka on ensimmäinen Onfrayn laajasta tuotannosta suomennettu teos. Onfray itse pitää kirjaa yhtenä parhaistaan.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics

370 pages

First published September 24, 1997

About the author

Michel Onfray is a French philosopher. Born to a family of Norman farmers, he graduated with a Ph.D. in philosophy. He taught this subject to senior students at a technical high school in Caen between 1983 and 2002, before establishing what he and his supporters call the Université populaire de Caen, proclaiming its foundation on a free-of-charge basis, and the manifesto written by Onfray in 2004 (La communauté philosophique). However, the title 'Popular University' is misleading, although attractive, as this 'University' provides no services other than the occasional delivery of lectures - there is no register of students, no examination or assessment, and no diplomas. After all, 'ordinary' French University lectures are open to all, free of charge. Nor is the content of the Université populaire de Caen radical in French terms, it is in its way, a throwback to less democratic traditions of learning. Both in his writing and his lecturing, Onfray's approach is hierarchical, and elitist. He prefers to say though that his 'university' is committed to deliver high-level knowledge to the masses, as opposed to the more common approach of vulgarizing philosophic concepts through easy-to-read books such as "Philosophy for Well-being".

Onfray writes obscurely that there is no philosophy without psychoanalysis. Perhaps paradoxically, he proclaims himself as an adamant atheist (something more novel in France than elsewhere - indeed his book, 'Atheist Manifesto', was briefly in the 'bestsellers' list in France) and he considers religion to be indefensible. He instead regards himself as being part of the tradition of individualist anarchism, a tradition that he claims is at work throughout the entire history of philosophy and that he is seeking to revive amidst modern schools of philosophy that he feels are cynical and epicurean. His writings celebrate hedonism, reason and atheism.

He endorsed the French Revolutionary Communist League and its candidate for the French presidency, Olivier Besancenot in the 2002 election, although this is somewhat at odds with the libertarian socialism he advocates in his writings.[citation needed] In 2007, he endorsed José Bové - but eventually voted for Olivier Besancenot - , and conducted an interview with the future French President, who he declared was an 'ideological enemy' Nicolas Sarkozy for Philosophie Magazine.

Onfray himself attributes the birth of a philosophic communities such as the université populaire to the results of the French presidential election, 2002.

Reviews

[Enrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una alternativa sólida para quienes no quieran leerse El capital de Karl Marx.
Como Marx, Michel Onfray describe las condiciones de la clase obrera a través fundamentalmente de Nietzsche, pensadores anarquistas como Proudhon o Stirner, y actualizándolo con pensadores del siglo XX como Foucault, Deleuze, Guattari... (acerca de los cuales, por cierto, Política del rebelde ofrece una introducción como fuente secundaria nada despreciable, especialmente por lo relativamente bien que se entiende). También diría que bebe mucho de la teoría de los aparatos ideológicos y represivos del Estado de Althusser, aunque Onfray no lo reconozca directamente.

Un libro lúcido, merecedor de las saturaciones de cabeza que pueda desencadenar este exceso de ideas brillantes; aunque... ¿existe lo excesivamente brillante?
La parte final, con bibliografía para ampliar, es magnífica.
Creo que me voy a morir antes de poder leer tanta bibliografía útil, pero es de agradecer.

[Paloma Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is so inspiring! It's a tough read at times due to his precise depiction of society and labour oppression, but so hopeful in the human spirit!

[Patricio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creo que es un texto muy sólido al querer transmitir el funcionamiento del capitalismo y cómo muchas ideas de la izquierda entrarían como solución o alternativa para cambiar el sistema y hacerlo más equitativo. Disfruté mucho la comparación de los círculos del infierno con la miseria humana que se vive bajo este sistema económico, así como la explicación de distintas prácticas que fomentamos y replicamos para alcanzar esa posición que tienen los ricos.
Sin embargo, no es un libro sencillo de leer. Tiene demasiadas referencias a otras ideologías, obras, autores y términos que debes entender con antelación para agarrar el ritmo de la conversación. Si no conoces alguna de esas cosas desde un inicio, no lo vas a entender leyendo más.

[Maritza Farías Cerpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro.

[Angelo Montinovo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Argomenti molto interessanti, tuttavia troppo ripetitivo ed aulico. Interessante la bibliografia per approfondire i vari argomenti.