Biopolitical  Identity  Movements  and  Material  Rationality:  A  Contribution  To the Discussion On the Need For a New Version of Critical Theory Cover Image

Biopolityczne ruchy tożsamościowe i racjonalność materialna. Przyczynek do dyskusji o potrzebie nowej wersji teorii krytycznej
Biopolitical Identity Movements and Material Rationality: A Contribution To the Discussion On the Need For a New Version of Critical Theory

Author(s): Waldemar Bulira
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Environmental and Energy policy
Published by: KSIĘGARNIA AKADEMICKA Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: biopolitics; new social movements; postmodern politics; public sphere; critical theory; material rationality

Summary/Abstract: In the article, the author argues for the need to formulate a new version of critical theory. This would be a theory that, unlike the proposal developed by members of the Frankfurt School, builds its identity around the so called substantive (material) rationality. According to the author of the paper, the usefulness of this new version of critical theory is revealed when it is applied to the phenomena occurring in the postmodern public sphere, especially in the context of the analysis of biopolitical identity movements. The article consists of three parts. The first briefly recalls the main critical arguments made by Frankfurters against instrumental rationality. The second attempts to define the concept of substantive rationality. The last – third – part of the article, the author begins with a definition of biopolitics, and then focuses his attention on a specific version of it, which are the aforementioned biopolitical identity movements.

  • Issue Year: 21/2024
  • Issue No: 90
  • Page Range: 121-136
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish
Toggle Accessibility Mode