Pablo Oyarzun is one of the foremost Benjamin scholars in Latin
America. His writings have shaped the reception of Benjamin’s work
in Latin America and have been central to the effort to identify the
tasks and responsibilities of the kind of critical theory that would
interrupt social violence.
In this book Oyarzun examines some of the key concepts in Benjamin’s
work - including his concepts of translation, experience, history and
storytelling - and relates them to his own systematic reflection on
the nature and implications of ‘doing justice’. What is meant by
the words ‘justice was done’? The passive voice is important here.
On the one hand, justice does nothing: it is not an agent, it can only
prevail or fail, and if it fails, it does so without limit. On the
other hand, the passive voice alludes to the agents of an action while
covering them up; the allusion is the masking of the identity and
traces of the person who accomplishes the action. And this cover-up
can be dangerous: it can cover-up the executioners, who are subjects
that everyone can confirm anonymously, without their being recognized
and without their wanting to be recognized. Justice, argues Oyarzun,
can only be done in the active effort to do justice - or, as Benjamin
would say, in the striving to turn the world into the highest good.
This book by one of Chile’s most distinguished philosophers will be
of value to anyone interested in Benjamin’s work and in the
development of critical theory in Latin America.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781509541997
Publisert
2020
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Polity
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter