When a discipline is in crisis, attempts are made to change or supplement its theses within the terms of its basic framework - a procedure one might call 'Ptolemization' (since when data poured in which clashed with Ptolemy's earth-centered astronomy, his partisans introduced additional complications to account for the anomalies). But the true 'Copernican' revolution takes place when, instead of just adding complications and changing minor premises, the basic framework itself undergoes a transformation. So, when we are dealing with a self-professed 'scientific revolution', the question to ask is always: is this truly a Copernican revolution, or merely the Ptolemization of the old paradigm?-Slavoj Zizek, "The Sublime Object of Ideology"
Thursday, December 25, 2014
On the Ptolemization of the Modern Epoch
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10 comments:
Sounds like Animal Farm. I have to admit that I do feel some guilt for being an "obstructionist" (not!)
The pigs in charge will send us both to the knackery!
I say to hell with Ptolemy
DC needs a lobotomy.
It's hard to rhyme with 'Ptolemy'... ;)
Follow me
Hollow tree
Swallow free
Collar me
Solemnly
Fancy free
Calmingly
Charmingly
Told to me
I still like lobotomy, however. DC sure could use ine.
I Stand Corrected....
YOU?
NEVER! ;-)
Could we simplify this a bit and simply say those in control of the flow of "news," "information," and "funding" of our institutions, both academic and political, are presenting a "narrative" in support of an "agenda," rather than an honest pursuit of truth?
Isn't that what it all boils down to?
I believe it should be fairly obvious to any person of at-least-average intelligence with eyes and ears who hasn't yet been indoctrinated.
The question lurking behind that, of course, is Where Could You Hope to Find Such a Person?
The death of rugged individualism, regional character and independent modes of thinking began with the advent of mass communication.
If we must blame someone for out present sad condition, perhaps it ought to be Marconi, Edison, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford and whoever invented and first mass produced radio, television, the personal computer and the internet.
Small and Personal is Good.
Big is Bad.
The Bigger the Badder. ;-)
Cynicism is not only a "critique" of ideology, it is a "symptom" representing an underlying ideology.... a ptolemization of it. The modern "progressive" is this cynic (Jon Stewart).
Big is big and small is small. Neither is good or bad unto itself, unless it involves the "control" of "others".
...or the "attempt" to control.
And isn't THAT what "journalism" is all about?
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