A che punto siamo? L'epidemia come politica

Perhaps the only important thing that has really been written during the pandemic period. Agamben returns again and again to the crucial question: how is it that humanity was willing to sacrifice everything that makes life worth living in the name of maintaining bare life, when it had never done so

not gonna waste your time with a long review but a highlight for me was when Agamben, in an interview, basically said that the black death was handled better than covid because people could still go outside and be social. amazing brain

A Series of very short essays that make for an easy and smooth read. Rushed through most of it tbh. His constant use of terms like "so called experts" may sound unsavory for some (it was for me) but if you let it stop you or taint your reading you'll miss on some genuinely interesting questions Agambe Leggi tutto

Giorgio Agamben was perhaps THE pre-eminent philosopher darling of the radical left in the 90s and early 2000s. When COVID hit he was cancelled by the very same people who had taken a ride on his coat tails for that time. Of course, Agamben's whole schtick was always about "Bio-Power", and his post

Αυτό ακριβώς που λέει ο υπότιτλος. Πού σταματά η προστασία της υγείας και πού ξεκινά η πολιτική. Σκέψεις για την κοινωνικοπολιτική χροιά της επιδημίας, που όλους μας έχουν απασχολήσει από τότε ο κόσμος τέθηκε σε «κατάσταση εξαίρεσης» Leggi tutto

Perhaps I'm not convinced by his predictions yet, as it may be too early to know how the world will develop. For instance, it may well be true that "'social distancing' (as it has been euphemistically termed) will be society’s new organising principle." But perhaps not. Perhaps medicine is a new rel Leggi tutto

One-day reading providing a clear viewpoint on how illiberal Italy (and Europe) have become in 2020, taking advantage of the pandemic. How long will it last?