Read the full article which is published on Philosophy Bits (external link)As my awareness of self and world expands and deepens, I begin to better understand the sources and scope of my suffering. I gradually become more aware of the simple fact that much of my ordinary experience includes various forms of suffering.
When the world seems to contradict and oppose me, I suffer from frustration or anger. When I compare my life to the lives of those who seem to be doing better than me, I suffer from envy. When memories of what I’ve lost spring to mind, I suffer from grief. When my present circumstances feel stagnant and hopeless, I suffer from despair. When I feel overwhelmed by demands and obligations, I suffer from stress. When the dangers of an uncertain future are approaching, I suffer from anxiety.
As I look more carefully at the particular forms of suffering I experience, I also start to see how these forms depend on my attachments. This is frequently a distressing process, because it means coming to terms with the broad reach of suffering. Discovering that suffering arises merely from my way of life and the structure of the society in which I live can be painful.
Poststructuralism as a Regime of Truth: Foucault and the Paradox of Philosophical Authority
Foucault’s critique of power and knowledge shaped poststructuralism, yet its rejection of truth risks becoming its own orthodoxy. To remain...
