{"product_id":"the-agonistic-condition-materialism-and-democracy-9781399549608","title":"The Agonistic Condition: Materialism and Democracy","description":"\u003cp\u003ePolitical theory influenced by philosophy examines the political as the sphere of human interaction that is distinct from politics, the sphere of political institutions and parties. The political is usually described in conflictual terms, such as Marx's \u003ci\u003eclass struggle\u003c\/i\u003e, Heidegger's \u003ci\u003epolemos\u003c\/i\u003e, Rancière's \u003ci\u003edissensus\u003c\/i\u003e, or the discourse of agonistic democracy. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis book challenges the premise of such constructions of agonism, namely, that the political is essentially distinct from means and ends calculations. He argues that this premise is derived from the critique of instrumental reason, which assumes that utilitarianism is correct that instrumental ends are measurable. This forgets an ancient tradition that describes phronesis as the primary ethical and political virtue because it calculates the good, which is however impossible to measure with any certainty. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Agonistic Condition\u003c\/i\u003e shows that a new consideration of phronesis can help political philosophy and theory to develop more robust conceptions of power that better describe the world we live in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVardoulakis, Dimitris:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Dimitris Vardoulakis is Professor of Philosophy at Western Sydney University. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Doppelgänger: Literature's Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e (2010), \u003ci\u003eSovereignty and its Other: Toward the Dejustification of Violence\u003c\/i\u003e (2013), \u003ci\u003eFreedom from the Free Will: On Kafka's Laughter\u003c\/i\u003e (SUNY, 2016) and \u003ci\u003eStasis Before the State: Nine Theses on Agonistic Democracy\u003c\/i\u003e (2018). He has edited or co-edited numerous books, including \u003ci\u003eSpinoza Now\u003c\/i\u003e (2011) and \u003ci\u003eSpinoza's Authority\u003c\/i\u003e (two volumes, 2018). He is co-series editor of \u003ci\u003eIncitements\u003c\/i\u003e and founding editor of the journal \u003ci\u003ePhilosophy, Politics and Critique\u003c\/i\u003e, both at Edinburgh University Press.","brand":"Edinburgh University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51690520117522,"sku":"9781399549608","price":135.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_73722ede-5cfc-4540-8d5a-3ac5b48a7fca.jpg?v=1761737979","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-agonistic-condition-materialism-and-democracy-9781399549608","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}