Not just theory

a plaidoyer for theoretical activism

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59391/inscriptions.v7i2.244

Keywords:

situated knowledge, relational ontology, objectivity-in-parentheses, provincializing Europe

Abstract

Donna Haraway suggests that traditional Western knowledge is inherently linked to the marginalization of non-Western visions. Similarly, Walter Mignolo criticizes the “colonial matrix of power” that dominates not only epistemology but also excludes incommensurable perspectives. He embraces Humberto Maturana’s idea of “objectivity-without-parenthesis” to highlight the exclusive nature of Western knowledge and its aspiration toward universality. On this basis, this essay argues that the traditional view of academic authors as impartial and detached needs to be reconsidered. Academic practice must move beyond this framework to create a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of knowledge. To achieve this, the text will explore the concept of “queer writing,” which views the context in which academic expression occurs as the necessary condition for its possibility. Therefore, the text will (1) specify the image of Western knowledge and universality, (2) identify the crucial shifts in the course of its development, and (3) outline possible interventions.

Author Biography

  • Philipp Quell, University of Vienna

     

    Philipp Quell, a German native, initially studied mechanical engineering at TU Munich. After working as an engineer for six months, he moved to Vienna to study Performing Arts at the University of Music and Performing Arts (MdW). During this time, he also participated in productions at Burgtheater. Following this, he spent two years working at the Theatre Ansbach and the Summer Festival Bad Hersfeld. Concurrently, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy. He completed his Master's degree in March with a thesis titled "Phenomenologie(s) of the One - is Aristotle que(e)r?". During his Master's program, he was involved in performances that combined Philosophy and the Arts and published papers on aesthetics, political theory, and ontology. He also edited a volume of the Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory and co-founded the philosophical forum Khôra with Adrian Fleisch and others.

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Published

2024-07-15

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Academic articles