Toula Nicolacopoulos

13 Radical Democratic Subjectivity: Possibilities and Limits

This chapter sets out Castoriadiss idea of radical democratic subjectivity and discusses its appeal by way of comparison with the dominant consumerist conceptions. It draws upon Castoriadiss discussion of difference between autonomous and heteronomous responses to the Chaos of world to explain how Castoriadis might distinguish radical democratic subjects from pseudo-democrats. The chapter also explains Hegels account of development of modern Western subjectivity to argue that Castoriadiss reliance on the will to accept the Chaos fails to distinguish radical democratic subjectivity because the generalised practice of owning that cuts across consumerist and radical democratic activities in capitalist society, also exposes the Chaos. It further illustrates the claim that Castoriadis privileges the instituting power of the subject in the way suggested. Castoriadiss radical democratic subject is the apotheosis of empty self that Hegel identifies with the dominant mode of being in the modern world, namely the abstract being of property-owning subjectivity. Keywords: Castoriadis; chaos of society; Hegel; modern western subjectivity; radical democratic subjectivity

On the other side of xenophobia: philoxenia as the ground of refugee rights.

The question of Australias moral responsibilities to onshore asylum seekers is typically framed in terms of the assessment of governments’ responsibilities towards competing international humanitarian and national interests. Our paper invites us to rethink the starting assumptions of this approach. We argue for the adoption of a conception of ‘unconditional hospitality’ as our ethical guide to receiving Australias onshore asylum seekers. To this end, we elaborate a Greek-Australian concept of ‘philoxenia’ as a form of unconditional welcoming of uninvited strangers and we discuss the implications of its adoption in relation to the issues of political sovereignty and maintenance of border controls. We argue that, in the current situation, Australians should distinguish between the moral principles that should guide our assessments of liberal governmental policies, and the principles that should guide the Australian people acting in their capacity as citizens. From the application of the concept of philoxenia to Australian political life, we derive the political maxim ‘act as if there were no borders’. We suggest that this maxim can serve to guide Australian citizens in making their ethical decisions and demands upon the state in a less than ethical world order.

The time of radical autonomous thinking and social-historical becoming in Castoriadis

This paper examines Castoriadis’ concept of time as ontological creation in relation to the activation of the project of autonomy. We argue that since Castoriadis presents as a practitioner of the creation of time as radical autonomous thinking, this is the standpoint from which to assess his claims. Through an examination of Castoriadis’ claim that the practice of autonomy depends upon it being activated by a willing singularity who accepts the Chaos of society and of the world, we argue that Castoriadis’ position presupposes an effective contrast between the autonomy of significance that he advocates and the heteronomy of insignificance that he laments. If, as we suggest, both these orientations accept the Groundlessness of the world, then Castoriadis’ appeal to the awareness of a willing singularity is not sufficient to distinguish the practice of radical autonomy. To this extent, his elucidation of the radical imaginary time of ontological creation remains incomplete.

Global Citizenship and Higher Education: A Scoping Review of the Empirical Evidence

Student attainment of capabilities associated with global citizenship remains a priority for higher education institutions. We report on a scoping review of empirical studies to explore how global citizenship is understood and enacted in higher education. The 29 included studies span the arts, psychology and social sciences, professional degrees, purpose-designed global citizenship courses, and community development, service, and educational travel programs. Notwithstanding considerable diversity in study aims, methodology, and how global citizenship was described, we were able to discern an overarching framework to describe the theoretical contributions to global citizenship education. Our findings contribute to building conceptual clarity both for educators charged with developing curricula and for higher education researchers seeking to explore and evaluate the outcomes of global citizenship education.

Cave Dwellers or Labyrinth Diggers? Castoriadis and Plato on Philosophy and Politics

ABSTRACT Beginning with a consideration of Castoriadis’s elucidation of autonomous thinking, both by way of the contrast he draws with the inherited tradition and in relation to his account of the demands of the political project of autonomy, we compare Plato’s story of the Cave to suggest that Castoriadis overestimates the power of questioning and of creating new social forms. We then argue that Castoriadis and Plato emerge as two extremes: whereas the first favours the power of questioning to the exclusion of receiving value, the second privileges the power of receiving over creation and creativity.