Žižek And So On Žižek's Concrete Eurocentrism w/ Matthew Flisfeder
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Sep 23, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Matthew Flisfeder, a communications professor and author, delves into Žižek’s take on Eurocentrism and concrete universality. He explains how universality arises from conflicts within particulars and examines the political implications of these ideas. The conversation also covers Žižek's 'super-anthropocentrism' and critiques on Althusser's anti-humanism. Flisfeder wraps up with a compelling discussion on geoengineering, emphasizing the necessity for global legal coordination in environmental action.
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Reclaiming Communism As Concrete Project
- Žižek recovers concepts like communism by making them concrete, not as transcendental absolutes.
- His Hegelian turn emphasizes the state-form and a different use of 'communism' than classical Marxist-Leninist expectations.
History As Holograph Of Unchosen Choices
- Žižek's 'holographic history' means each historical choice leaves a spectral remainder of the choices not taken.
- Fantasy and desire are driven by the narrative of those unchosen possibilities haunting the present.
Žižek’s Political Risks Contradict Critics
- Critics say Žižek avoids being wrong, but Flisfeder notes Žižek's real-world political engagement contradicts that claim.
- Žižek ran for office, defended contentious positions, and publicly risked being mistaken repeatedly.
